Easy Cheeseburger Stuffed Bell Peppers (The Best Bunless Burger Dinner)
Remember when burger night meant frozen fries, a bottle of ketchup on the table, and someone inevitably asking, “Can I have extra cheese?” 🍔
Well… we grew up, but our love for cheeseburgers never did.
These Easy Cheeseburger Stuffed Peppers have everything you love about a classic cheeseburger—juicy seasoned ground beef, melty cheddar cheese, ketchup, mustard, and all your favorite burger toppings—but tucked inside colorful bell peppers instead of a bun. It’s comfort food with just enough vegetables to make you feel like you’ve got your life together.
Top them with crispy bacon, pickles, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, or even an extra drizzle of burger sauce. Everyone can build their own, which means fewer complaints from picky eaters—a parenting win if we’ve ever seen one.
- Serves: 8
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3 bell peppers
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ cup of shredded cheddar or Colby cheese
- 1 tsp of olive oil
Meat Sauce:
- 2 Tbsp of ketchup
- 1 Tbsp of Dijon mustard or regular
- 1 Tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
Topping Ingrdients:
- 2 Tbsp of mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp of ketchup
- 2 Tbsp of Dijon mustard or regular
- ½ tsp of garlic powder or garlic & herb seasoning blend; DASH
- ½ tsp of chili powder or paprika
Optional Toppings:
Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🍔 All the flavors of a classic cheeseburger—no bun required.
- 🫑 An easy weeknight dinner that’s ready in under an hour.
- 🧀 Loaded with melty cheddar cheese and homemade burger sauce.
- 🥓 Easy to customize with your favorite cheeseburger toppings.
- 🍽️ Great for meal prep and leftovers.
- 👨👩👧 Family-friendly and picky-eater approved.
Step-by-Step Directions:
Step 1: Warm the oven to 375°F. Get the peppers ready by slicing the tops off the bell peppers and scooping out the seeds. Place them on their sides in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 2: In a small bowl, mix ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce for the stuffed meat sauce. Next, in another bowl, make the topping sauce by adding the mayo, ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, and chili powder; refrigerate this bowl for later use.
Topping Sauce
Meat sauce
Step 3: Add a teaspoon of olive oil to a skillet and cook the ground beef over medium heat. Add the ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire meat sauce to the skillet when the meat has cooked thoroughly. Stir well and remove from the stovetop. Fold in ½ of your shredded cheddar cheese.
Step 4: Begin to stuff the peppers. Spoon the beef filling into each bell pepper, packing it in well! Add a ½ cup of water to the pan to allow steam to help the peppers cook. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30-35 minutes or until peppers are tender.
Step 5: Once the peppers have finished cooking, add the topping sauce you left in the refrigerator, garnish with the remaining cheese, and add fun toppings like pickles, diced tomatoes, or crunchy lettuce. Serve hot!
Simply Made Tips
- 🥫 Want to cut back on sugar? Swap in your favorite sugar-free ketchup—it still delivers that classic cheeseburger flavor.
- 🍚 Need to stretch the meal? Stir in cooked rice, quinoa, or millet with the beef mixture for an even heartier dinner.
- 🧀 Love extra cheese? Sprinkle a little more on top during the last few minutes of baking for that perfectly melty finish.
Before You Go…
If easy weeknight dinners are your thing, don’t miss these reader favorites:
🍗 Chicken and Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner – An easy one-pan meal loaded with chicken, sausage, and veggies.
🌮 One Pan Taco Chicken Casserole – A cheesy, family-friendly dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
They pair perfectly with the same “easy dinner, minimal cleanup” philosophy as these Cheeseburger Stuffed Peppers!
Easy Cheeseburger Stuffed Bell Peppers (The Best Bunless Burger Dinner)
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3 bell peppers
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp dijon mustard (or regular)
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½-¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese (more, if desired)
- 1 tsp olive oil
Topping Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
- 2 Tbsp mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder (or garlic & herb seasoning blend; DASH)
- ½ tsp chili powder (or paprika)
Optional Toppings
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomatoes
- crumbled bacon
- chopped pickles.
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F. Prepare the peppers by slicing the tops off the bell peppers and scoop out the seeds. Place them upright in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce for the stuffed meat sauce. Next, in another bowl, make the topping sauce by adding the mayo, ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, and chili powder; refrigerate this bowl for later use.
- Add a teaspoon of olive oil to a skillet and cook the ground beef over medium heat. Add the ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire meat sauce to the skillet when the meat has cooked thoroughly. Stir well and remove from the stovetop. Fold in ½ of your shredded cheddar cheese.
- Begin to stuff the peppers. Spoon the beef filling into each bell pepper, packing it in well! Add a ¼ cup of water to the pan to allow steam to help the peppers cook. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30-35 minutes or until peppers are tender.
- Once the peppers have finished cooking, add the topping sauce you left in the refrigerator, garnish with the remaining cheese, and add fun toppings like pickles, diced tomatoes, or crunchy lettuce. Serve hot!
Nutrition
Disclaimer: All nutrition values are per serving and approximate. They will vary depending on products and quantities used.
