Orzo-Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Orzo-Stuffed Peppers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Read reviews (16)

Rate recipe

Packed with orzo, Italian sausage and summer flavors, these stuffed peppers make a fun, fast-fixing meal. Get colorful with green, orange, red or yellow peppers. Use more or less pepper flakes to adjust the level of heat to your liking! —Kelly Evans, Kalamazoo, Michigan

This recipe is:

Contest Winning

[X]

Rate Orzo-Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Click on stars to rate

Would you make this recipe again?

Write a review

[X]

Orzo-Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 15 min.

Yield: 4 Servings

30 15 45

Ingredients

4 large green peppers
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 pound bulk Johnsonville® Ground Sausage
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 cups marinara or spaghetti sauce
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried basil
2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds. In a large Dutch oven, cook peppers in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water; set aside.
Cook orzo according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the sausage, onion \over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
Drain. Drain orzo; stir into meat mixture. Add the marinara sauce, tomato, basil, rosemary and pepper flakes. Spoon into peppers.
Place in a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Serve immediately or before baking, cover and freeze casserole for up to 3 months.
To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake according to directions. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 stuffed pepper equals 523 calories, 18 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 51 mg cholesterol, 836 mg sodium, 65 g carbohydrate, 7 g fiber, 25 g protein.

Originally published as Orzo-Stuffed Peppers in Simple & Delicious May/June 2009, p37

Shred and Freeze Cheese

It’s usually cheaper to buy cheese in blocks than in shredded form. So I purchase large quantities of cheddar, Monterey Jack and mozzarella, then shred them myself in my food processor. I store the shredded cheese in the freezer in heavy-duty resealable plastic bags, so I have it at my fingertips whenever it’s needed. —Evelyn O., Parma, Ohio