1 1⁄2 cups white basmati ricecooked according to package instructions
115.5 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
115 ounce can tomato sauce
1teaspoondried oregano
1teaspoondried basil
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
3⁄4 cup shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut the tops off the bell peppers. Using your smallest paring knife, remove the ribs and seeds from inside. Then, cut jack-o-lantern faces on one side of each pepper. Place peppers in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add ground turkey (or ground chicken) and garlic. Cook another 5 minutes, breaking apart the meat with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.
Stir in rice, black beans, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook 3 to 5 more minutes, or until the rice starts to absorb the sauce. Remove from heat.
Scoop a heaping amount of the rice filling into each pepper. Top each with an equal amount of shredded cheese.
Pour 1 1⁄2 cups of water in the bottom of the baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the peppers begin to soften.
Notes
● The water added to the baking dish helps the peppers steam and soften.
● Get creative with the jack-o-lantern faces. Cut them however you like.
● Feel free to add other vegetables to the rice filling.
● Any extra rice filling can be served as a side dish or stuffed into other vegetables, like
zucchini, tomatoes, or mushrooms.