Unstuffed Peppers One Pot Meal

A close-up of a spoonful of cooked rice mixed with ground meat, tomatoes, and diced bell peppers being lifted from a pan. The background shows a white container on a wooden table.

This Unstuffed Peppers One Pot Meal is everything you love about classic stuffed peppers — savory Italian sausage, tender peppers and onions, fluffy rice, and rich tomato flavor — without any of the work. No stuffing, no baking, no mess. Just one pot and a cozy, satisfying dinner the whole family will love.

If you’ve been cooking from my site for a while, you already know I have a soft spot for one-pot meals. From my One Pot Beef Stroganoff, to my One Pot Creamy Pink Pasta, to my One Pot Chicken and Rice, these are the recipes I reach for again and again when I want something comforting, flavorful, and easy — with minimal cleanup.

I originally shared this recipe years ago, but after remaking it recently with a few simple tweaks, I knew it deserved a refresh. I adjusted the ingredients, scaled back the liquid, simplified the method, and the result is even better than the original. This updated version is cozy, hearty, and completely foolproof — perfect for busy weeknights.

A rectangular block of raw ground meat is cooking in a frying pan with a small amount of oil on a stovetop.

Fire Roasted Dice Tomato!

A large skillet on a stovetop contains cooked rice mixed with ground meat, diced green peppers, tomatoes, and seasonings, creating a colorful and hearty dish. Steam rises from the pan as it cooks.

A large pan filled with cooked ground beef, rice, diced tomatoes, onions, and green herbs, all mixed together and sprinkled with fresh chopped parsley. The dish appears savory and well-seasoned.

A large skillet filled with cooked rice mixed with diced tomatoes, onions, and green herbs, sitting on a woven mat atop a wooden counter.

A woman holding a ladle in front of a pan of food.

A woman in a maroon off-shoulder top and jeans stands in a modern white kitchen, smiling and holding a spoon over a pan of rice and vegetables on the counter in front of her.

More Recipes Like This!

Grandma’s Stuffed Peppers

Cheesy Stuffed Pepper Soup 🫑

FAQ Questions

Can I use mild sausage instead of hot?

Yes! Mild Italian sausage works perfectly. You can always add crushed red pepper flakes if you want extra heat.

Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?

This recipe is best with long-grain white rice. Brown rice requires more liquid and a longer cooking time, so adjustments would be needed.

Unstuffed Peppers One Pot Meal

Melissa Jo

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings people

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound bulk Italian sausage hot or mild
1 bell pepper diced
1 small onion diced
6 cloves garlic chopped
Crushed red pepper flakes to taste
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1¼ cups chicken stock
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

Optional

Sun-dried tomatoes optional, but great for extra depth of flavor

For Finishing

2 –3 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano
Fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

Brown the sausage

Heat a large pot or deep skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and bulk Italian sausage. Break it up with a wooden spoon and cook until mostly cooked through.

Sauté the peppers and onions

Push the sausage to one side of the pan. Add the diced bell pepper and onion to the empty side. Season with crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Let them sauté on their own for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

Combine and build flavor

Mix the peppers and onions into the sausage. Continue cooking until the sausage is fully cooked and the vegetables start to develop some color.

Add the garlic

Make a small well in the center of the pan. Add the chopped garlic and sauté just until fragrant. Stir everything together.

Add tomatoes and stock

Pour in the entire can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes — juices and all. Add the chicken stock, swirling it in the empty tomato can to get every bit of flavor.

Add the rice

Bring everything to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the uncooked white rice just to combine.

Cover and cook

Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and cook undisturbed for 25–27 minutes.

Finish with cheese and herbs

Remove the lid and allow some steam to escape. Keep the heat on very low. Sprinkle the Pecorino Romano and fresh parsley over the top without stirring. Cover again and let it sit for 5 minutes.