Keto Stuffed Bell Peppers

These low carb keto stuffed bell peppers are filled with ground beef, creamy tomato sauce, and cauliflower rice. Topped with mozzarella cheese and baked to perfection!  Ready to eat in under 1 hour!  This is an easy low carb keto meal you can make any day of the week. 

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Welcome to My Kitchen Serenity!  Cauliflower.  Who knew it would become the most versatile vegetable for the low carb and keto diet.  You can make just about anything with cauliflower from mashed cauliflower to pizza crusts!  

Why You'll Love This

Cauliflower rice is a healthy, excellent replacement for regular, starchy rice.  Stuffed bell peppers have been popular for a long time.  And now for low carb and keto eaters, they're a great healthy choice as cauliflower rice replaces traditional rice.

This is one of my favorite keto ground beef recipes.  My other favorites are my Low Carb Lasagna Stuffed Portobello Mushroom recipe and my Stuffed Spaghetti Squash recipe.  Both recipes have a meaty, hearty filling that's served inside a vegetable!  Both are high protein low carb dinner recipes that you've got to try! For a change of pace, a cup of low carb soup fits the bill.  Try my Instant Pot Creamy Asparagus Soup.  All are gluten free.

Ingredients

(scroll down to the printable recipe card for complete details)

• Ground Beef - 90/10 or 80/20
• Cauliflower Rice - use frozen cauliflower rice
• Bell Peppers - there are fewer carbs in green peppers than yellow and red
• Tomato Sauce - no sugar added
• Sour Cream - full fat
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese - or use a blend
• Parsley
• Garlic Powder
• Salt & Black Pepper

Kitchen Tools Needed

Large saute pan

Large knife

Cutting board

Large bowl

Mesh strainer

Measuring spoons

Baking dish or muffin pan

Step-By-Step Instructions

This low carb main dish recipe uses hamburger meat but you can use ground turkey or even ground sausage.  This recipe also uses frozen cauliflower rice which is super convenient. I've recently discovered a muffin pan works well to hold the stuffed bell peppers upright.  I personally like this jumbo muffin pan but a regular baking dish works well, too.

Step 1.  Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium to high heat until done and drain the grease.  Lean ground beef is preferred.  While the ground beef is cooking, steam the cauliflower rice in the microwave. Use the kind you steam in the bag.

VERY IMPORTANT:  After the cauliflower has cooked, you must press out as much liquid as possible. Place the cooked cauliflower rice in a mesh strainer, then place several paper towels on top of the cauliflower and use your fist to press very firmly on the cauliflower rice. Repeat this process, switching out the wet paper towels with dry paper towels until there is no more liquid draining/dripping out of the strainer.

Step 2.  After you've cooked and drained the ground beef, add the remaining ingredients (cauliflower rice, tomato sauce, sour cream, and seasonings).  The sour cream makes the ground beef-cauliflower mixture so rich and creamy!  At this point, check the flavor and add additional seasonings if desired.

Step 3.  Cut the tops off of 5-7 large bell peppers and remove the seeds.  Add the seasoned, creamy cauliflower rice and meat mixture into each bell pepper, fill all the way to the top! (see Recipe Card Notes if you prefer very soft peppers, not firm like these).

Step 4. Place the peppers on a baking dish or in a muffin pan.  Bake for about 20-25 minutes.  (Cover before baking for softer bell peppers).  Top each bell pepper with mozzarella cheese and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until cheese is slightly browned.

Tips:

• You could also use the broiler for a few minutes to get the cheese nicely browned.  We love mozzarella cheese or the Italian blend for this recipe. 
• Green bell peppers are available year round at the grocery store but peak season runs from July through September.
• These hearty, low carb stuffed bell peppers are excellent comfort food and make great leftovers!
• Do you have a garden full of bell pepper?  Check out this article from My Frugal Home, here's the link How To Freeze Peppers.  

Each serving has approximately 8 net carbs according to the brands that I used for this recipe.

Expert Tips and FAQs

Storing Leftovers in the Fridge

Store cooked stuffed bell peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.  I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids.  Check out this 18 piece set of glass food storage containers with snap locking lids.

Freezing Leftovers

You can freeze leftover stuffed bell peppers for up to 3 months.  Make sure they are stored in an airtight container like a freezer bag and be sure to write the date on the bag for an easy reminder when they went into the freezer.  When you’re ready to eat them, let them thaw in the refrigerator then heat them in a preheated 350 oven for about 10-15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Note:  Frozen bell peppers tend to get soft when they thaw.  Please note they won't be firm or crunchy.

Make-ahead Instructions

Yes, but do not blanch or boil the peppers. Frozen bell peppers tend to get soft after they thaw. After making the filling, let the filling completely cool. Then you can stuff the peppers (don’t bake them) and freeze them. Store them in a ziplock bag or some other kind of airtight container. Then, when you’re ready to eat them, thaw the peppers in the refrigerator. They may take up to 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator. Once thawed, bake as directed.  Again, frozen bell peppers tend to get soft when they thaw.  Please note they won't be firm or crunchy.

Slow Cooker Method

Follow Steps 1-3 of the recipe card.  Add ½ teaspoon olive oil to the bottom of the slow cooker.  Place stuffed peppers in the slow cooker.  Cover and cook 4 hours on low (5 hours for a much softer pepper).  Add the cheese, cover, and cook for another 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Meat Substitutions

As stated in the recipe card, you can use ground sausage instead of ground beef.  You can also use ground pork or ground chicken.  Low carb stuffed peppers with ground turkey is another outstanding option!

Tomato Sauce Substitution

If you don't like tomato sauce, you can substitute 8 ounces of cream cheese.  Eight ounces of cream cheese has 1 net carb per serving, according to the brand you use.

Please try these easy Low Carb & Keto recipes from My Kitchen Serenity:

Hearty Low Carb Keto Chili

Low Carb Keto Pizza

Low Carb Oatmeal (Noatmeal)

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Spicy Roasted Cauliflower

Broccoli Slaw

Skillet Chicken Thighs over Cauliflower Rice

If you try this delicious stuffed bell pepper recipe, please let me know in the comments below. 

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Notes:  Different brands will vary on the net carbs so keep that in mind.  For the most part, they should be fairly close.  Use a site like HappyForks.com, MyFitnessPal.com, or FatSecret.com to figure out this information based on the brands or ingredients you used.  

Now the legal stuff (because my mama didn’t raise a fool):  Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional.  I am simply sharing my personal favorite recipes on this blog.  Please consult with your physician before starting any diet or exercise program.  I provide net carb information for my low carb recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers.  I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.