Creamy, Cheesy, and Bursting with Italian Flavor 🌶️🇮🇹
These Ricotta Stuffed Peppers are a cozy, flavor-packed dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious! Sweet bell peppers are filled with a rich blend of creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, seasoned with garlic and Italian herbs, then baked until tender and golden. It’s the perfect vegetarian comfort meal — light yet satisfying, and ready in under an hour. Serve them with a side salad or warm garlic bread for a simple weeknight dinner that feels restaurant-worthy. 💛🍽️
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 4
📝 Ingredients
- 4 large bell peppers (any color), halved and seeds removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg (to bind)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish 🌿
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Baking dish
- Large mixing bowl
- Spoon or spatula
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Aluminum foil
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish and spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom.
- Prep peppers: Halve the bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.
- Make the filling: In a bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy. 🧀
- Stuff the peppers: Spoon the ricotta filling into each pepper half, pressing down gently to fill completely.
- Bake: Place stuffed peppers in the baking dish, spoon a bit of marinara on top, and cover with foil. Bake 25 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and enjoy warm! 😋
💡 Pro Tips
- Make ahead: Assemble peppers up to a day in advance, refrigerate, then bake when ready.
- Add protein: Mix in cooked quinoa, lentils, or chopped spinach for extra heartiness.
- For extra flavor: Sprinkle a little extra mozzarella on top before baking.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in the oven or microwave.
