Lasagna Stuffed Bell Peppers
This recipe transforms bell peppers into a delightful, low-carb lasagna alternative. It involves cooking ramen noodles, preparing a savory filling with cottage cheese, Parmesan, cooked Italian sausage, and spaghetti sauce, then stuffing it into halved bell peppers. Topped with mozzarella, these flavorful peppers are baked until tender and bubbly, offering a hearty and comforting meal.
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot For cooking ramen noodles and browning sausage
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Chef's knife
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish
Ingredients
Main
- 1 3 ounce package ramen noodles (seasoning packet saved for another use)
- 4 large red bell peppers
- 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/4 lb bulk Italian sausage cooked and crumbled
- 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, add ramen noodles (discarding seasoning packet), and cook until al dente, about 2-3 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- In a skillet, cook and crumble the bulk Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Carefully halve the bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ramen noodles, cottage cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, and 1 cup of spaghetti sauce. Mix thoroughly.
- Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Stuff each bell pepper half generously with the prepared lasagna filling, mounding it slightly.
- Arrange the stuffed bell peppers in the baking dish.
- Top each stuffed pepper with an even layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
For best results, par-cook the bell peppers slightly before stuffing to ensure they soften evenly during baking; a quick steam or blanch works well. When cooking the Italian sausage, drain excess fat to prevent a greasy filling. The ramen noodles primarily add texture, so ensure they are cooked al dente and well-drained. Enhance the filling's depth with fresh herbs like basil or oregano, and consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick. To achieve a golden, bubbly top, sprinkle a little extra mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the stuffed peppers a few minutes before they finish baking. Using a high-quality spaghetti sauce will significantly impact the overall flavor.