Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
This Unstuffed Pepper Skillet is a deconstructed version of stuffed red bell peppers. With traditional flavors, it’s also made dairy-free without cheese. This is a balanced meal that is high in protein and great for meal prepping.
A Quick Look at This Recipe
🥘 Recipe Name: Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
🕒 Ready In: 35 minutes
👩👩👧👦 Serves: 4
🔥 Calories: 255 per serving
💪 Protein: 27 g per serving
🌾 Main Ingredients: Lean ground beef, red bell peppers, onion, garlic, cooked rice, diced tomatoes, green chiles, taco seasoning
🥗 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, dairy-free, high-protein, meal prep–friendly, clean eating
⭐ Why You’ll Love It: All the classic stuffed pepper flavor in one easy skillet! This hearty, high-protein meal comes together fast with simple, wholesome ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights or healthy make-ahead lunches.
Even though I work from home, I trend toward simple recipes that are quick to throw together. I also want recipes using ingredients that are easy to find, allergy-friendly, and budget-friendly!
This Unstuffed Pepper Skillet recipe is a fun twist on stuffed peppers, but without the fuss and extensive preparation. I hope you love it too!
Key Ingredients
- Ground beef provides high-quality protein and rich flavor.
- Red bell peppers add natural sweetness and a boost of vitamin C.
- Cooked rice gives the dish heartiness and balanced carbs.
- Diced tomatoes and canned chiles create a savory, classic stuffed pepper taste.
Be sure to check the full recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurement.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step One: Cook rice in a separate saucepan. While the rice is cooking, sauté the onion and bell pepper in a large saucepan or skillet.
Step Two: Remove the veggies and add the ground beef, tomatoes, and chiles.
Step Three: Cook the meat and then stir in the cooked veggies to combine.
Step Four: Stir in the cooked rice.
Feel free to top with your choice of fresh chopped herbs, shredded cheese or dairy-free shredded cheese for extra flavor and texture.
Serve hot!
I hope you agree that this is your new favorite easy meal to make on busy weeknights. It is one of my family’s favorites.
Recipe Benefits
- Quick and easy meal with classic stuffed pepper flavors. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients like ground beef, bell peppers, rice, and tomatoes.
- Naturally dairy-free and gluten-free for a lighter, clean-eating option. Perfect for meal prep, this recipe reheats well for lunches or busy weeknights.
- High in protein and fiber to keep you full and satisfied. One serving of this dish has almost 30 grams of protein!
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Unstuffed Pepper Skillet Recipe
This Unstuffed Pepper Skillet is an easy, one-pan take on classic stuffed bell peppers. It has all the familiar, comforting flavors but skips the cheese to keep it dairy-free. Packed with protein and perfectly balanced, it’s ideal for a wholesome dinner or meal prep for the week.
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white rice, rinsed and drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 red bell peppers, cored and chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 4–ounce can diced green chiles, with the juices
- 1 14.5–ounce can diced or chopped tomatoes, with the juices
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the white rice with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook the rice for 15-18 minutes.
- While the rice is cooking, heat up the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chopped bell pepper, onion, and garlic, and sauté until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the sauteed vegetables to a bowl and set aside while you cook the meat.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and use a spatula or wooden spoon to break up the meat. Once the meat starts to cook, add the taco seasoning, green chiles, and diced tomatoes. Then, add the sauteed vegetables and carefully stir everything together.
- Once the meat is fully cooked, stir in the cooked rice. Stir one more time and serve hot.
Notes
- Be sure to use a large enough skillet that can hold the cooked vegetables, meat, and rice. I recommend using at least a 12-inch or 14-inch skillet that has a lid.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat before serving.
- If you want to add more protein to the dish, feel free to cook the rice in chicken bone broth (use the same amount of broth in place of water).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 255
- Sugar: 7.4 g
- Sodium: 231.2 mg
- Fat: 7.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 19.3 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 27.2 g
- Cholesterol: 67.8 mg
More Skillet Recipes You Might Like
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- Chicken Lettuce Tacos with Mango Salsa
- Costco Cilantro Lime Shrimp
- Chili’s Shrimp Fajitas Copycat
- Ground Bison Stir-Fry
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is a certified holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.
I’ve made this recipe at least a dozen times and it hits every time! So good.