Hearty and delicious homemade stuffed peppers and no tomato sauce needed! This classic stuffed pepper recipe produces an amazing tasting meal perfect for the entire family.
My family absolutely adores this tomato sauce free stuffed pepper recipe. It’s filling and the perfect dinner for the hungry family.
While most stuffed bell pepper recipes call for tomato sauce, this recipe replaces it with tomato juice and tomato paste for an absolutely amazing flavor.
Don’t forget to save or pin this recipe so you can find it the next time you want to make homemade stuffed peppers for the family.
You do not need tomato sauce to produce that classic stuffed pepper flavor. Instead, we will be using tomato juice and tomato paste.
Stuffed Pepper Tip
How to Make Homemade Stuffed Bell Peppers From Scratch
This is one of my favorite, hearty family dinner recipes. It’s packed with great flavor and is relatively quick and easy to make.
Prep time is around ten minutes and bake time is right around forty-five, so you can have dinner ready in just about one hour.
You will need a 13×9 baking dish and a saucepan. And that’s it!
Instead of a baking dish, use a muffin pan to bake your stuffed peppers. It helps your peppers hold their shape and makes stuffing them a breeze. Grease each muffin cup before adding your peppers.
Tip
Recipe Ingredients
Not only can you make homemade stuffed peppers without tomato sauce, all you need are fairly common ingredients and spices.
This recipe produces a wonderful, homestyle flavor. Check the ingredient list to see if you have everything you need.
Ingredient List
- Green or Red Bell Peppers
- Water
- Tomato Juice
- Tomato Paste
- Oregano
- Basil
- Garlic Powder
- Ground Beef
- Oats
- Tomato (chopped)
- Carrots (chopped)
- Onion (chopped)
Peppers: Either green or red bell peppers can be used. You can even use both for a more interesting and colorful presentation. You will need to cut your pepper lengthwise in half and take out the seeds and membrane.
Tomato Juice: I usually use low sodium tomato juice, but regular can be used.
Tomato Paste: Along with our tomato juice, this allows us to produce that classic stuffed pepper flavor without using tomato sauce.
Spices: You will be using your spices both in your meat mixture as well as your sauce.
Ground Beef: I like to go with a low cost ground beef, low fat is preferable. Since we will be baking our beef instead of browning it in a skillet, we won’t be draining off the fat. That’s why I recommend a low fat ground beef or chuck.
Oats: This aids our final texture while bind together our stuffing ingredients. You can use quick or old fashion oats.
Simple Step by Step Instructions
There are lot of homemade stuffed pepper recipes out there, but this is the best combination of great flavor and ease to make I’ve found.
So once you have all your ingredients and equipment gathered, it’s time to make your homemade stuffed peppers!
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2: Cut peppers in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and membrane and discard. Set halved peppers aside.
Step 3: In saucepan, add 1 1/2 cup tomato juice, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, tomato paste, basil, and water. Stir over medium low heat for about two minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Step 4: In mixing bowl, combine ground beef, oats, 1/2 cup tomato juice, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, chopped tomato, chopped carrot, and chopped onion. Stir until combined.
Step 5: Place peppers in baking pan and fill each half with 1/3 a cup of your meat mixture.
Step 6: Pour sauce evenly over top of stuffed peppers.
Step 7: Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until ground beef reaches 160 degrees.
Step 8: Remove from oven and rest for a few minutes before serving.
Stuffed Peppers (Without Tomato Sauce)
Equipment
- 1 13×9 Baking Dish
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 6 medium Bell Peppers green or red, halved with seeds and membrane removed
- 1¼ Cup Water
- 2 Cups Tomato Juice
- 6 oz Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp Oregano
- ½ tsp Basil crushed
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
- 1½ Cups Oats
- 1 medium Tomato chopped
- ¼ Cup Carrot chopped
- 1 small Onion chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut peppers in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and membrane and discard. Set halved peppers aside.
- In saucepan, add 1 1/2 cup tomato juice, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, tomato paste, basil, and water. Stir over medium low heat for about two minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In mixing bowl, combine ground beef, oats, 1/2 cup tomato juice, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, chopped tomato, chopped carrot, and chopped onion. Stir until combined.
- Place peppers in baking pan and fill each half with 1/3 a cup of your meat mixture.
- Pour sauce evenly over top of stuffed peppers.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until ground beef reaches 160 degrees.
- Remove from oven and rest for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Stuffed Bell Pepper Recipe Notes
- Be certain to bake your stuffed peppers until your beef has reached 160 degrees.
- Stuff each pepper half with about one third cup of your meat mixture.
- Be sure to pour sauce evenly over peppers.
- Allow your stuffed peppers to cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to two days.