Southwestern Beef and Barley Stuffed Bell Peppers

Southwestern Beef and Barley Stuffed Bell Peppers are a spicy twist on traditional stuffed bell peppers you and your family will love!

I’ve been posting a lot of veggie-centric recipes lately and I love to eat that way.  I don’t think I’ve met a vegetable yet I don’t like!

However, sometimes a person just needs something hearty and beefy for comfort–like these Southwestern Beef and Barley Stuffed Bell Peppers.  Comfort food complete with a blanket of cheese!

I crave stuffed bell peppers and have to make them at least once or twice during the fall and winter.  I like to change them up like these!

Stuffed peppers are simply wonderful because although they take a little time to prep, this can all be done ahead of time and baked prior to serving.  They’re so delicious and hearty!

Make sure your ground beef is super fresh and don’t go longer than a day without baking the assembled peppers as raw ground beef becomes hazardous quickly.  When cooked through, stuffed bell peppers reheat and freeze beautifully, too!

I used barley instead of rice which is traditional in stuffed peppers because beef and barley pair so well together.  I especially love barley for the wonderful toothsome texture when it’s cooked properly.

Bell peppers contain a fair amount of water which can make the filling soupy so you need to extract some of that water.  I’m not a fan of cutting into a stuffed pepper and having a bunch of the juice run out.

Microwaving briefly works, however, I prefer to roast them briefly before filling–10 minutes or so.  Let the peppers cool and simply pour the liquid that accumulated in the bottom out.

Make these gluten-free by substituting rice or quinoa for the barley and healthier by using super-lean ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken.  Use half the cheese or a 2% cheese to lighten them some more.

Whether these serve six or eight will depend upon appetite.  I’m good with one pepper, but my hubby can easily eat two.  Because stuffed bell peppers are so hearty, you don’t need much more on the side.  A salad is perfect!

Let’s eat!

For more great stuffed vegetable recipes, be sure to try my:

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Lemon Parmesan Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms is the ultimate spring-inspired appetizer!  Besides being delicious, they're super simple and can be made well ahead of your get-together.

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Cheese and Artichoke Stuffed Tomatoes and Grilled Zucchini is a light, easy and elegant appetizer perfect for any summer occasion.

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Italian Beef and Farro Stuffed Peppers

Italian Beef and Farro Stuffed Peppers are the ultimate late-winter comfort food!  Green bell peppers stuffed with ground beef and farro topped with a lively tomato sauce make for a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meal!

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Chorizo and Brown Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Chorizo and Brown Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers are spicy, comforting and a great make-ahead meal for a festive late-fall family dinner or for casual entertaining.

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Quinoa Corn and Black Bean Stuffed Poblanos

Quinoa Corn and Black Bean Stuffed Poblanos is the best kind of vegetarian comfort food!  Protein-rich quinoa, corn, black beans, stuffed into smoky roasted peppers with a green chile sauce and plenty of CHEESE!

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Yield: 4

Southwestern Beef and Barley-Stuffed Bell Peppers

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Southwestern Beef and Barley Stuffed Bell Peppers are a spicy twist on traditional stuffed bell peppers you and your family will love!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 large green bell peppers, halved top to bottom and hollowed out
• 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil plus more to oil the pan
• 1/2 cup pearl (or pearled) barley
• Salt
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 can (15-ounce) tomato sauce
• 1 can (14.5-ounce) beef broth
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 pound ground beef such as chuck
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
• Sour cream, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Place peppers in an oiled baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.
3. Let peppers cool and pour out any water that accumulated in the bottom of the pepper.
4. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add salt to taste and add barley. Cook until al dente (tender but with some bite).
5. Drain, rinse with cold water, drain again and set aside.
6. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet or saute pan.
7. Add the onion and cook 7-8 minutes or until softened.
8. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano and cayenne pepper. Stir, then add tomato sauce and beef broth.
9. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until thickened slightly. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
10. Transfer 1 cup of the sauce to a large bowl and let cool. Add the barley, beef, egg, 1 cup cheese and mix well.
11. Fill peppers with equal amounts of the filling. Pour remaining sauce over the peppers, cover with foil and bake 40-45 minutes or until cooked through to 165 degrees in the center.
12. Top with cheese, return to the oven and bake another 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Notes

MAKE AHEAD: Assemble and refrigerate up to 1 day ahead. Increase baking time if cold from the refrigerator.

FREEZER-FRIENDLY: After baking, cool thoroughly and freeze in smaller portions. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

4
Amount Per Serving Calories 877 Total Fat 59g Saturated Fat 23g Trans Fat 2g Unsaturated Fat 28g Cholesterol 261mg Sodium 1082mg Carbohydrates 22g Net Carbohydrates 0g Fiber 5g Sugar 8g Sugar Alcohols 0g Protein 66g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.