Let’s get CHEESY with these tasty Cheeseburger Stuffed Peppers – a perfect make-ahead dish for a backyard barbecue or weeknight dinner! I’ve even included a veggie burger version too!
Let’s ditch the bun and put a fun cheeseburger twist on stuffed peppers, shall we?
These cheeseburger stuffed peppers are easy to make and oh so tasty! They’re also gloriously make-ahead so feel free to get your meal prep on for an easy peasy weeknight dinner.
Since we have an equal mix of T-Rex chefs and Brontosaurus chefs around here, I’m including both burger and veggie burger stuffed peppers so that everyone can enjoy these cheesy peppers!
I’ve been happily scarfing Cabot cheddar and pepper jack cheeses since college (a long long time, don’t do the math, haha!) and I’m so over-the-moon excited to be partnering with them today for this recipe!
Cabot cheeses are simply my favorite. They’re crazy flavorful, amazing quality, and naturally lactose-free to boot!
I’m fairly sure 90% of the recipes on this blog have Cabot as an ingredient and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Happy Anniversary, Cabot!
The farm families behind the Cabot co-op are celebrating their 100th year as a co-operative centered around the support and sustainability of farms across New England and New York. Cheers!
Let’s get cheesy!
This Cabot cheddar cheese sauce is legendary I tell ya, LEGENDARY!
Cheeseburger Stuffed Peppers
These crazy colorful burger-inspired peppers are a fun and flavorful dish for backyard barbecues and gatherings galore.
Snag your favorite toppings and get ready to pimp those peppers!
Cheeseburger Stuffed Peppers
Let's get CHEESY with these tasty Cheeseburger Stuffed Peppers – a perfect make-ahead dish for a backyard barbecue or weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- 3 bell peppers (any color)
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1.5 cups cooked rice
- 5-6 TBSP tomato paste
- 3 TBSP ketchup
- 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
- 1 TBSP yellow mustard
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper (each) or season to taste
- 1/2-1 cup Cabot Sharp Cheddar Cheese (grated)
CABOT CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE
- 1 TBSP unsalted butter
- 1 TBSP all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup milk (I usually use 2%)
- 1 oz cream cheese (cut into 6 pieces)
- 4-5 oz Cabot Medium Cheddar Cheese (grated)
- 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
- 1/8 tsp salt or to taste
Instructions
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Slice each bell pepper in half. Hollow out each pepper, removing stem, seeds, and membrane. Halved peppers will yield 6 portions. If simply slicing the top off the peppers and stuffing them is preferred, the yield will be 3 larger portions.
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If you don't have leftover rice handy (we meal prep ours for the week!), cook rice via your favorie method.
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Measure out filling ingredients and pre-heat oven to 350°F.
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In a large pan or skillet, brown ground beef and onion until cooked through. Stir in rice, tomato paste, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix in cheese. (or save cheese for topping peppers if skipping the cheese sauce)
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Place peppers in a lipped baking dish or casserole pan. Pour a cup of water around the peppers (to steam the and soften the peppers while baking) and bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes or until desired tenderness is reached.
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While the peppers bake, make the cheese sauce!
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Freshly grate your cheddar (pre-shredded cheese won't work here) and measure out all ingredients. This cheese sauce comes together fast!
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Warm your milk in the microwave for 30-40 seconds and set aside. Heat a small sauce pot and add your butter. Once melted, add flour and whisk into butter vigorously until they become bubbly and foamy. Continue to cook and whisk constantly for about a minute to cook off the flour taste.
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Add warm milk and whisk vigorously into flour mixture. Allow milk to come to a simmer, whisking occasionally as it thickens. Once it has thickened, turn off burner and remove pot from heat. Add cream cheese and whisk until melted. Next slowly add grated cheddar in 3 batches, stirring it in until the cheese is fully melted. I like to keep the pot off the heat here so the cheese doesn't overhead and turn gritty. If you work quickly the milk should be hot enough to melt the cheese. If needed, put back on the still-warm burner to help gently melt the cheese. Season with cayenne pepper and salt and set aside.
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Once the peppers are ready, pour cheese sauce over the peppers (add a little, or a lot!) and top with all your favorite burger toppings. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tasty Topping Options + Ideas
- shredded lettuce
- tomato
- onion
- pickles
- ketchup +/or mustard
- chipotle honey mustard sauce
- toasted sesame seeds (for a fun faux-bun look)
- and so much more!
Nutrition Facts below are estimated before toppings using an online recipe nutrition calculator and will vary based on swaps and toppings added. Adjust as needed and enjoy!
If you get a chance to try these cheeseburger stuffed peppers, let me know! Leave some love in the comment form below or tag your photos with @peasandcrayons on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creation. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Veggie Burger Stuffed Peppers
For a very veggie version of these burger stuffed peppers, you can use crumbled veggie burgers as the filling (with or without rice – up to you!)
I like using 2-3 of my Triple Bean Veggie Burgers (pan fried and crumbled) along with an additional cup of black beans.
You can also try them with any of the veggie burger recipes from my blog!
Combined cooked + crumbled veggie burgers with black beans and set aside. Prep peppers via recipe card above and bake via above instructions after stuffing with veggie burger + bean filling. Top cooked peppers with cheese and all your favorite burger toppings!
This post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery Co-operative as part of a tasty recipe partnership. Stay tuned for more delicious recipes!
Katie
These were SOOOO good thank you for the great recipe! 🙂
Stacy
Have you tried freezing these?
Jenn
Hey Stacy! Not yet since this is one of my newer obsessions but oh man – I bet they would freeze just like regular stuffed peppers would. The cheese sauce and grated cheddar I would add fresh but then the rest? Should totally be a rockin’ freezer meal! With casserole dishes I usually freeze in a pyrex oven-safe container and then cover it with a layer of plastic wrap or parchment followed by a later of foil. Then defrost in the fridge 24 hours before you’re ready to bake and, if needed, adjust the bake time as needed so the peppers are tender and the filling is piping hot. xoxo
Allyson Zea
What a great idea for a lower carb meal! I can’t wait to try it!
Catalina
My favorite summer dish! I would eat some right now!
Shannon Graham
Holy goodness, these look so good! Definitely adding this to my dinner list this week.
Taylor
LOVE this idea! I make stuffed peppers all the time but have never thought about making cheeseburger stuffed peppers! Delicious!
Jenn
Girl you’ve got to try them, stat!
Demeter
This is such a great twist on the classic flavor. Perfect for summer!
Jenn
Thanks Demeter!
Noelle
Stuffed Peppers are such a fun way to get your veggies in! Love the cheeseburger flavors of this one, thanks for the idea!
Jenn
You’re super welcome Noelle! xoxo
Ansh
What a GORGEOUS looking dish! Perfect for the weather we have been having here in Colorado.
Jenn
Thank you Ansh!
Karly
These look so delicious! My family will love it!
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