Ingredients
4 large bell peppers (any color)
1 lb ground beef (80/20)
½ medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp taco seasoning (low-carb, sugar-free)
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (drained)
4 oz cream cheese (softened, full-fat)
¼ cup beef broth
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash peppers, slice in half lengthwise, remove seeds and membranes. Arrange cut-side up in a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned (5-7 minutes). Drain excess grease.
3. Step 3: Reduce heat to medium. Add chopped onion to the skillet and sauté 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
4. Step 4: Stir in taco seasoning and cook 1 minute. Add drained tomatoes and broth; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, stir in cream cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Step 5: Spoon filling generously into each pepper half.
6. Step 6: Pour about ½ inch of water into the bottom of the baking dish. Cover tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes.
7. Step 7: Remove foil. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over each pepper. Bake uncovered 10-15 minutes until peppers are tender and cheese is melted and golden.
8. Step 8: Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro, avocado, or sour cream if desired.
Notes
The water in the baking dish creates steam to soften peppers without drying them out. If you prefer softer peppers, pre-cook them in boiling water or microwave for 5-7 minutes before stuffing, then pat dry. For meal prep, assemble peppers ahead and refrigerate up to 2 days before baking. Leftovers keep refrigerated 3-4 days or frozen up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
- Diet: Keto, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pepper halves
- Calories: 495
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
