Unstuffed Peppers Skillet

A wooden spoon pulling a a scoop of unstuffed peppers from the skillet.

This unstuffed bell peppers skillet is a delicious one-pot meal and a great way to use leftover rice. It’s ready in 30 minutes and takes all the work out of traditional stuffed peppers which makes it an easy option for a weeknight dinner!

Course dinner, Main, Main Course, Main dish

Cuisine Italian

Diet Diabetic, Gluten Free

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 191kcal

Author Jessy Freimann

Equipment

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed (you can also use spicy sausage)
1 cup diced onion,
1 ½ cups diced red bell pepper,
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 teaspoon Kosher salt to taste
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
1 medium tomato seeded and diced
8 ounces tomato sauce
4 ounces water (use the sauce can, filled half way)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 Tablespoons Romano cheese or Parmesan
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese,

Instructions

Heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil in large saute pan over medium high heat.
Add Italian sausage and brown, using a wooden spoon to break into pieces, about 4 minutes. Remove from the pan leaving oil and juices in the pan and set it aside.
Add other Tablespoon oil, onions, peppers, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Sauté for about 6 minutes to soften, stirring often.
Add the tomato, the sauce, ½ a can of water (use the can that the sauce was in), Italian seasoning, Romano cheese, rice and the meat into the pan. Sauté for 5 more minutes, stirring periodically.
Top with the mozzarella cheese and cover for 2 minutes until it's melted. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Use leftover rice to cut the cooking time in half! Any cooked rice will work, whether it's brown rice, white rice, or even cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

To make removing the sausage from its casings easier, simply cut a slit down the middle lengthwise, then peel it out. I try to look for bulk sausage to skip this step.

Chop veggies evenly. This ensures even cooking and the best texture.

Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Make it spicy. Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños for extra heat.

Ingredients to prep ahead- Dice the onions, bell peppers, and garlic in advance.

Leftovers and storage- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, simply microwave individual servings until hot.

Nutrition