Oven-Baked BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Stuffed Peppers
Serves: 4 (2 pepper halves per person)
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
For the Peppers:
- 4 large bell peppers (any color), halved lengthwise, seeds and membranes removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for brushing peppers)
- Salt and pepper (to lightly season pepper halves)
For the Filling:
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
- ½ cup (75g) yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup (120ml) BBQ sauce, plus extra for drizzling (divided)
- 1 cup (113g) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- Optional garnish: Fresh parsley or chopped green onions
Instructions
- Prep the Peppers:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place pepper halves in a baking dish, cut-side up. Brush insides with olive oil and lightly season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Cook the Bacon:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crispy (5-7 minutes). Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 1 tbsp bacon fat in the skillet.
- Sauté Aromatics:
- Add diced onion to the skillet with bacon fat. Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Brown the Beef:
- Add ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart with a spatula and cook until no pink remains (5-6 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
- Mix the Filling:
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in ½ cup BBQ sauce, ½ cup shredded cheddar, and ¾ of the cooked bacon. Mix until combined.
- Stuff the Peppers:
- Divide the beef mixture evenly among the pepper halves (about ⅓ cup per half). Press gently to pack.
- Top each pepper with remaining cheese and bacon.
- Bake:
- Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake uncovered for 5-10 minutes until peppers are tender and cheese is bubbly.
- Serve:
- Drizzle with extra BBQ sauce and garnish with parsley or green onions.
Tips:
- For crisp-tender peppers, bake uncovered the entire time (25-30 minutes).
- Substitute ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter option.
- Pair with coleslaw or a side of potato salad!
Enjoy your low-carb twist on a cheeseburger classic! 🍔🌶️