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Savory Italian Sausage and Rice Stuffed Banana Peppers

Italian Sausage and Rice Stuffed Banana Peppers - featured image
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A comforting and texture-rich dish featuring tender banana peppers stuffed with a savory mixture of Italian sausage, rice, and herbs, baked to perfection.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 large fresh banana peppers
  • 1 pound sweet or mild Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 cup cooked long-grain white rice or brown rice
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup plain tomato sauce or marinara
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional – oregano, basil, or Italian seasoning blend)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Rinse and dry the banana peppers. Slice off the tops and carefully remove seeds and membranes to create hollow boats. Set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove excess fat if necessary.
  4. Add diced onion to the sausage and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Transfer the sausage mixture to a bowl. Stir in cooked rice, tomato sauce, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, Italian herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. The mixture should be moist but not runny.
  6. Using a spoon or small scoop, fill each banana pepper generously with the sausage and rice mixture, pressing lightly to pack it in without overstuffing.
  7. Place the stuffed peppers side-by-side in a baking dish. Spoon any leftover filling around the peppers if desired.
  8. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the tops of the filling start to brown slightly.
  9. Let the stuffed peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

If peppers brown too fast but remain firm, loosely cover with foil halfway through baking to retain moisture. Do not overcook rice before mixing; it will finish cooking in the oven. Remove sausage casings for better texture. Let peppers rest after baking for easier handling and cleaner slices. Can substitute ground turkey or plant-based sausage for variation. For gluten-free, verify sausage and tomato sauce ingredients. Quinoa or cauliflower rice can replace rice for different textures or low-carb options.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffed banana peppers, Italian sausage, rice stuffed peppers, easy dinner, comfort food, baked peppers

Find it online: https://emmaoven.com/savory-italian-sausage-and-rice-stuffed-banana-peppers-recipe-easy-step-by-step/