Sausage Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients

• 4 bell peppers
• 1 lb Italian sausage
• ½ cup onion
• 2 clove garlic
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 14½ oz canned diced tomatoes
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley (optional)

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Halve the bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes. Place cut-side up in a baking dish.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat.
3. Add diced onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
4. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in cooked rice, diced tomatoes (undrained), half of the tomato sauce, half of the mozzarella cheese, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
5. Spoon the sausage mixture evenly into the bell pepper halves. Pour the remaining tomato sauce over and around the stuffed peppers in the baking dish.
6. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese (and Parmesan, if using) over the peppers, and bake uncovered for another 15-20 minutes, or until peppers are tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, and serve hot.