Mini Meatloaf Pepper Rings
Stuffed Mini Meatloaf Pepper Rings make a delicious one-pot supper!
Hello everyone! I’m a little late getting this post out today. I normally post my new recipes very early in the morning, but that didn’t quite work out for me this morning. I didn’t even hear my alarm! Like not at all! Luckily my 3 year old came in my room when she did because we would have had a really late morning.
So I kind of just relaxed a little after taking my older kids to school. Rather than hurrying up to come home and start all the usual clean-up chores and email checking, I went to my parents house to bring my three year old to play for the day. They love to have her. They actually kept her when she was an infant while I was still working. So she has a special little place in their hearts and boy does she know it!
The baby and I stayed to visit for a while. It’s really nice to break routine every now and then!
Speaking of breaking routine, how about changing up your meatloaf routine a little. Do you all make meatloaf? It is one of my husband’s favorite dinners. I don’t make it too often because I’m usually experimenting with other blog recipes, but it is always a nice treat. And so are these Mini Meatloaf Pepper Rings!
They are a super easy supper to make! Even though my kiddos aren’t big on the peppers, they sure do dig any type of meatball-related dinner. This idea actually came from Sunny Anderson on Food Network several years ago. I thought it was so cool how she got so creative with bell peppers.
Now, I like to use a lean ground beef for this dish to minimize how much the meat will shrink down in the peppers. Plus it keeps it a healthier meal . I served it with a little green salad, skipped out on the carbs, and felt really good about my dinner.
Mini Meatloaf Pepper Rings
Ingredients
- 4 large bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange)
- 2 lbs. lean ground beef
- 1 1/2 tsp creole seasoning
- 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
- A pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
- 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
- 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
Instructions
- Prepare peppers by slicing off a little of the top and bottom of each pepper. Do not discard these. Cut out ribs and seeds. Slice into 3 thick rings and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment for easy clean up. Dice up remaining parts of peppers to use in meat mixture.
- Prepare meatloaf mix: Mix ground beef with seasoning, bread crumbs, egg, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, garlic, and remaining diced peppers until combined.
- Stuff each pepper with meat mixture leaving a dome of the mixture on top of each pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe pot over medium-high heat. (If you do not have an oven-safe pot, you will just transfer them into a casserole dish to bake later).
- Brown each stuffed pepper ring for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side. You may need to do this in 2 batches depending on the size of your pot.
- Once, browned on each side, pour crushed tomatoes over the stuffed pepper rings. (Transfer to casserole dish before topping with crushed tomatoes if you do not have an oven-safe pot.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes. Top with cheese and bake for 5 more minutes. Top with fresh parsley and serve.
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Loved the idea of this recipe-I just modified it a bit. I left out the tomatoes and cheese-we are beef people and like it straight. Put it on the grill and then it seemed the grill was too hot so I finished it in the oven. A real winner! Next time I will use the Foreman grill. Have you tried that? Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Hi Sue! I love the idea of grilling these! We will try that next time because that is pretty much one of our favorite ways to cook! Thanks for visiting!
I love this so good but was wondering if u new how many calories are in this
Hi Kendra! I’m so glad you liked it! I like to use the My Fitness Pal app on my phone. You can copy and paste the link to any recipe and upload the ingredients to figure out the calories. For this one, it is about 414 calories for 2 pepper/meatloaf rings and 21g of fat. Thanks for visiting!
Made these last night for my daughter and son-in-law and they were awesome! They are on a low carb diet so I’ve trying to find new recipes to cook for them and this was a definite hit! My daughter said these are definitely on the cook again list Mom.
That’s awesome Connie! So glad everyone liked it!
This was great. I used ground turkey. Thank you for sharing. I will definitely make again.
Oh good! Thanks for sharing Denise!
I love to cook, its something that I find very calming and rewarding, but I am not a fan of meat loaf. However my daughter absolutely loves peppers in all forms and her dad is always asking for meat loaf because I don’t think I have ever cooked it. This recipe looks like something that I would enjoy and the same with my boyfriend and little girl. I will definitely have to bookmark this page for a supper very soon! 🙂
Hi Caitlin! My kids love this one because it’s kind of like a meatball too. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for visiting!!
Made this a few times now. Each time it is amazing. I use San Marzano tomatoes and sharp havarti cheese for the top. Didn’t have Italian bread crumbs so I crushed up some pretzels and now it is part of the recipe. I make a half order but use the full amount of parm and pretzels (bread crumbs).
When the wife says “(censored), this is good!”, you have a winner!
Hi Mike! I’m so glad to hear this has become a favorite! I love the idea of havarti!! Thanks for visiting!
This is so darned yummy! I made it with lean ground turkey and oh my gosh! Delish! I ate it every day for lunch. Then made another batch and ate it everyday for lunch again! I get happy just thinking about eating it! Thank you. It’s simple and delicious!
So happy to hear you loved it Denise!! Thanks for visiting!!
These mini meatloaf pepper rings are fabulous, yummy, no fuss prep & cook .Passed recipe onto my son & aunt.. this is a winner recipe!
Hi Tracy! Thanks for letting me now how you liked them!! We love this recipe too!
How would I go about freezing these? Great for a weeknight dinner!
Hi Rebecca! You could freeze them before cooking, and then let them thaw in the fridge before cooking. You could also cook them on the stove without adding tomatoes. Freeze them. Partially thaw them and bake them in a dish with the tomatoes.
I’m making these tonight for the second time this month! As much as I like meatloaf, I’m never really happy with any recipes I’ve tried myself, but my husband and I (and my dad) loved this! I make it with fresh green beans and mashed potatoes. One ring with those sides fills me up completely, and I look forward to the leftovers all week!
Hi Aubrey! I’m so glad to hear you love this recipe as much as I do! Thanks for visiting!!
After reading all the wonderful reviews. I will make .So happy for you..thank you
Awesome Shirley! We love this one! Thanks for visiting!
Thank you! My family love this recipe so much!
Hi Jaren, this is such a great recipe that I have already tried it three times. And every time I try and experiment with it (I used mayonnaise once), it surprises me with a new taste and look. I wish I could share pictures here (they’re on my Facebook’ I’ll share it on your page). My whole family enjoyed it, including the man who takes a lot to impress. So, I win because of your lovely recipe, Jaren. Next I;m going to try your your stuffed bell peppers.
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know!
I love, love this recipe. I make it often & everybody loves it! The real secret to this recipe is to buy GOOD QUALITY! Can tomatoes.
Hi Paula! So glad you like the recipe! We love this one too!
Do you know the numbers for keto? N
Hi Linda! I am not familiar with keto, so I am really not sure.
This recipe is a hit! Husband and I loved them!
Do you do several layers of peppers if you use the oven safe pot? If so, what do you recommend when it comes to the part of topping with cheese and baking that to melt? If it’s in layers, how you fo get the sauce to cover the higher layers?
Thanks,
Juli
I have a pretty large roasting pot that I use for this recipe. You can layer them and add an extra can of crushed tomatoes if you have a smaller pot.
Thank you for posting this recipe! I’m not a meat loaf lover but the hubs is…..it’s a great middle ground and so easy to make low carb!
I’m not one to post on blogs but this one is WORTHY. It’s becoming a staple at my house.
P. S. And for those who aren’t eating low carb, they make a great burger on a bun next day – IF there are any left.😁🙃
Hi Debbie! I’m so glad you loved it! It’s definitely one of my favorites!
Such a great idea! Sharing it on the blog yum!
Could you tell me how many servings this makes?
Hi Mary! This recipe serves about 6 to 8 people.