Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza Peppers Recipe

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Pepperoni pizza may be tasty, but sometimes, you might want to ditch the crust. Not only can it be time-consuming to make, but it's also often full of refined carbs. Why not use bell peppers instead? By stuffing these vibrant veggies with pepperoni pizza ingredients, you can get the same classic flavor without the crust. These stuffed pepperoni pizza peppers are gluten-free, kid-friendly and easy to make.

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Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

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Things You'll Need

  • 4 bell peppers

  • 1/3 cup yellow onion, diced

  • Olive oil

  • 1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage (removed from casings)

  • 1/3 cup mini or regular pepperoni

  • 1 cup pizza or pasta sauce

  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

  • 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano

  • 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley

  • Salt and pepper

  • Fresh parsley (for topping)

Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Tip

Taste your sauce first. If it doesn't have enough flavor, feel free to add more spices to the stuffing.

Step 1

Pre-heat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds.

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Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Step 2

Transfer the cut bell peppers to a large baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

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Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Tip

Pre-bake the bell peppers if you prefer a softer consistency. Simply bake them for 15 to 20 minutes before stuffing. Otherwise, you can skip pre-baking if you like a crispier texture.

Step 3

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, warm about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.

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Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Step 4

Add the Italian sausage and cook until brown, about 10 minutes. Use a spatula to break up the meat. Once cooked, drain the fat.

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Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Step 5

In a large bowl, combine the cooked sausage with pizza sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Add the spices, salt and pepper, to taste.

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Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Step 6

Mix until the sausage is fully covered in pizza sauce.

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Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Step 7

Fill each bell pepper with the sausage mixture.

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Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Step 8

Top with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese (or more, if you'd like). Add the pepperoni.

Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

Step 9

Bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and the peppers are slightly tender. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and bake for another 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Image Credit: Kirsten Nunez

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