Spicy Italian Sausage Stuffed Bell Peppers

I love making stuffed peppers for dinner - although they take a while to bake the prep work is typically really quick and you end up with a delicious meal! While there as so many different ways to stuff them, which I'll get to on here eventually, spicy Italian is one of my favorites! 

These will take about 20 minutes prep work and 40 to bake!

You will need:

• 3-4 bell peppers depending on size. I made 3 and stuffed them really full, but you could easily get 4 peppers worth out of this recipe if you divide it up evenly. Also, you may use any color bell pepper, but I prefer green for stuffing because the walls are thinner. 
• 1 lb. ground spicy Italian sausage. 
• 1 package instant rice - I used Uncle Ben's found at most grocery stores. You can pick, white, brown, whole grain, or whatever you prefer!
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• 1 1/4 cup shredded Italian blend cheese (1 cup for stuffing, 1/4 for sprinkling on top)
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning

Directions:

• ​Preheat oven to 350'. 

• Start by cooking up the sausage in a frying pan. Using your spatula break the sausage up into small chunks as it will cook faster and be better in the stuffing. 
• Once fully cooked leave in the pan to cool a little and set aside. 

• Slice your peppers in half and use a spoon / knife to clean out the insides and remove stem. 

• Cook your rice per the instructions on the package- typically 90 seconds in the microwave. 

• Add your rice, sausage, cream cheese, garlic paste, 1 cup of shredded cheese, and Italian seasoning to a bowl. Mix up until fully combined. 

• Lay your peppers open side up on a baking tray and start stuffing away! 

• Sprinkle a little cheese on top. 
• Pop in the oven & bake 40 minutes.

• Serve and enjoy!