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Creamy Stuffed Banana Peppers with Italian Sausage and Rice

creamy stuffed banana peppers - featured image
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A quick and easy recipe featuring banana peppers stuffed with a creamy mixture of Italian sausage, rice, cream cheese, and Parmesan, baked to perfection for a comforting and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 large fresh banana peppers
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, cooked
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Rinse 1 cup of long-grain white rice under cold water until clear. Cook according to package instructions, about 15 minutes. Fluff and set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Wash banana peppers, slice off the tops, and carefully remove seeds and membranes. Set aside.
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  6. Transfer sausage mixture to a mixing bowl. Add cooked rice, softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Stir until creamy and well combined.
  7. Stuff each banana pepper with the sausage and rice mixture using a spoon or small ice cream scoop. Pack slightly but do not overfill.
  8. Arrange stuffed peppers upright in a baking dish. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  9. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes to brown the tops and set the filling.
  10. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the peppers before serving. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Notes

Use softened cream cheese to avoid lumps in the filling. If peppers brown too quickly, cover with foil again. Fully cook rice and dry peppers well to prevent soggy filling. Let peppers rest after baking to firm up the filling. Variations include swapping sausage for mushrooms for vegetarian option or using cauliflower rice for low-carb.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffed banana peppers, Italian sausage, creamy stuffed peppers, easy dinner, comfort food, baked stuffed peppers, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/creamy-stuffed-banana-peppers-with-italian-sausage-and-rice-recipe-easy-and-delicious/