If you’re anything like I am then you long for dishes with maximum flavor achieved through minimal cooking. Are you with me? I sense those heads nodding! Well, you’re going to love what I’m about to share! Ragú Homestyle Sauces have become my chosen go-to-sauces during these dog days of summer, and the Thick & Hearty Traditional is the sauce that pulls everything together in my Homemade Stuffed Bell Peppers with Mini Meatballs and Fontina Cheese.
Guys…I had a craving. With all the gorgeous produce lining the aisles at our local markets and fresher than fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs busting at the seams of my weekly CSA delivery box, I was inspired to make something that was both colorful and comforting.
And what’s more comforting than dishes we enjoyed as children? Some of my favorites were Mom’s meatballs, her Spanish rice, and any pasta dish she threw together. Of course, 99% of the time, Mom’s sauce was made from scratch. Sunday sauce that perfumed the house and I’d venture to guess the entire neighborhood. I can say that with confidence because we lived on a pretty small street. It was the kind of neighborhood where people enjoyed the company of their neighbors often…on more than just the occasion of the annual block party. Folks hung and chatted on their stoops or near their mailboxes, they went for walks together and shared confidences. It was a small tight-knit community.
Life was slower. Meals were slower. So we came to know what slow-cooked food tastes like. Of course, being Italian-American and growing up with a mama who came from Italy (my Mema), my mom was very particular about her sauce. But there was one jarred sauce she would allow – it was mostly when we ate ravioli and mostly when we were in a hurry – perhaps on nights when we were cheering or performing in a choral concert where a certain someone’s shoe fell off on stage, but we’ll save that story for another day.
I bet you know where this is headed. Mom’s jarred sauce of choice? Ragú circa 1970’s. And because we had it so seldom, it was always a treat.
RAGÚ, for obvious reasons, holds ‘treat status’ in my mind and on my tastebuds.
So imagine my surprise when I discovered that they came out with a new line where every sauce is carefully prepared to have a thick and hearty texture! Made with farm grown ingredients like vine-ripened tomatoes, onions and fragrant herbs with no artificial flavors, colors or high fructose corn syrup – my tastebuds were ready!
The thing I love about stuffed peppers is that you can jazz up the rice stuffing to reflect any flavor combination you’re in the mood for. And as you can see, I was in the mood for meatballs! And using fontina vs. mozzarella (though you could easily substitute), the fontina provides cheesy flavor that’s a bit more intense and creates a bold melty flavor that complements the brightness of the sauce.
The beautiful thing about this, is it hugs, wraps, clings…you get the picture…whatever morsel its supporting. Whether it be pasta, rice, meatballs or cheese – it gets right in there and makes its pleasing tomato-y flavor known.
This is an ideal dish if you’re looking for flavors and textures that lean toward the chillier season that’s just around the corner (I promise I whispered that) but there are so many things you can do with these sauces! And for further recipe ideas, you’re just a click away!
Buon Appetito!
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Homemade Stuffed Bell Peppers with Mini Meatballs and Fontina Cheese
- Category: Dinner
Ingredients
- Meatball Mix
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup grated Romano cheese, plus 3 more Tbsp.
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup fine Italian bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- Peppers
- 2 cups cooked long grain rice
- 1 1/2 cups Ragú
- 1 cup shredded fontina cheese
- 6 bell peppers
Instructions
- For the meatballs, preheat oven to 400 F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients.
- Shape the mixture into small rounds, small enough to make approximately 40 meatballs.
- Place them on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and set aside.
- Turn oven down to 350 F.
- In the meantime, prepare rice according to box directions.
- When rice is ready, combine with meatballs, Ragú, 1/2 cup fontina cheese and 3 Tbsp. grated Romano cheese. Stir and set aside.
- Cut off the tops of the peppers and with a spoon, remove the ribs and seeds, then rinse.
- Place peppers in a 3 quart baking dish.
- Fill peppers with rice mixture.
- Sprinkle the tops with remaining fontina and bake for 20 – 30 minutes.
- Once peppers are tender, turn broiler to high and cook for a minute or so until cheese is browned and bubbly.
- Serve hot with a sprinkle of chopped parsley, a dollop of Ragú Homestyle Sauce and grated Romano.
CIAO!
Today’s post is in partnership with Ragú.
Annie, I simply love the combo of ragu, rice, meat and cheese you have here -simple and delicious!
Sometimes simple is best!! Thanks, Shashi!! 🙂
Anyone who makes meatballs is a friend of mine! lol! I swear I could eat meatballs every day and it’s nice to see Ragu is jumping on the natural sauce bandwagon. Homemade is best but sometimes I don’t want to take the time to cook my own sauce and grabbing a jar is so much easier. Great recipe girl and pinning for later 🙂
You an me both! I could eat meatballs every day….I knew I liked you!! 😉 Thanks so much, my friend! Enjoy the recipe! 🙂
I love hearing about your Italian background because I’ve always secretly wished I had an Italian grandmother to teach me how to cook. These peppers look so beautiful, and the title alone had me salivating!
Thank you, Kari! I’m very lucky to have had (and still have) wonderful culinary influences in my life! 🙂
oh my god, I am in love! these peppers look so delicious Annie, I love fontina cheese! YUM!
Thanks, Manali! It’s a yummy one, for sure!!
These look so beautiful! Also, fontina cheese is my jam – SO good! Nothing better than an easy meal that everyone loves. My whole family is over-the-moon for stuffed peppers and this sounds like such a wonderful version.
I am right with you on fontina! I love it!! Thank you so much for your kind words, my friend! Love that you have one more stuffed pepper recipe to add to your repertoire! 🙂
My dad is half Italian and we used to eat a lot of Italian food growing up. I love seeing every dish you create Annie, it totally reminds me of home! These stuffed peppers look and sound absolutely delicious!
Well, that’s just about the sweetest compliment I could receive! I love that my dishes remind you of home! Thank you, friend!! 🙂
What a beautiful dish, Annie! You had me at meatballs and fontina…And, I am patiently awaiting the story about losing your shoe onstage. 🙂
I know – meatballs and fontina…it has a lovely ring to it, doesn’t it? Ah, yes, the shoe… More to come! 🙂
“dishes with maximum flavor achieved through minimal cooking” <– YES. And then… YES some more. My heading is nodding, my arms are waving, and I'm tempted to type YES again. Wait a minute, I just did it. 😉 "Colorful and comforting" <– That's what I love best about CCB. Plus, the family vibe. 🙂 Every time I visit, I know I'm gonna get a gorgeous visual feast plus a whole lotta heart. Thank you Annie. <3 I'm gonna be daydreaming heartwarming thoughts of block parties, good neighbors and mom's from-scratch sauce. And also, of course, your amazing recipes. 🙂 Happy Monday, my friend. xo
Colorful and comforting – YES! There…I added one more for you! 😉 Why thank you, friend! You know I’m all about minimal cooking. The lovely thing is – we can have fabulous meals without breaking too much of a sweat! So why wouldn’t I take that route?! Cheers, my dear! xo
I love all the colors of the peppers! This looks like total comfort food and I love dishes that you can make ahead of time and then pop into the oven just before dinner!
You are absolutely right! I prepped these peppers and brought them along on vacation and reheated a few days later for a perfect home cooked meal! The family loved it! 🙂
It’s been WAY too long since I’ve made stuffed peppers, so I need to try this! It’s a favorite meal of my husband’s, so I know he would adore this. I love that you used fontina cheese (my fave!) and mini meatballs, Annie! So creative!
Right? It’s one of those recipes you forget about until you remember (haha) and then it’s like – why aren’t I making these more often?! Fontina is the best! Thank you, friend!! 🙂
My mom used to make stuffed peppers once a year when autumn settled in, and we’d eat it outside in the cooling air. That’s one of my happy nostalgia memories, and that’s why I love stuffed peppers! This post just took me right back there!
I love when we can do that for each other…so happy this post reminded you of a happy nostalgic time! 🙂
These are so fun and cute – and I just love the gorgeous colors of the peppers, Ann. Do you think switch out the meatballs for some zucchini would work to make a vegetarian version? And I love fontina cheese, too – I think it’s greatly underused – it’s such a good melting cheese. Hope you had a good weekend, Annie!
Definitely!! That’s the thing I love about stuffed peppers – the sky’s the limit!! And yes – let’s put fontina on the map – it is a wonderful melting and tasting cheese! 🙂
Stuffed peppers were one of the first things I ever tried to make back when I was 14 or so. They were a disaster! Haha. ? I haven’t tried them since, and I’m not sure why. These look so delicious! I’m totally down with all that cheesy goodness!
I love that you made these at 14! I think that’s adorable! I also think it’s time you try again! I promise – these are the simplest!! Thanks, friend!
This reads like a (delicious) movie. I guess the falling shoe will be the denouement! GREG
Thank you, Greg! Ragú took me right back… Shoe story to follow… 🙂
Wow, these are really delicious and beautiful, they remind me of a version my grandma used to make. You’re right, life was slower when we were kids, dinner was actually planned for, not an after thought and a hurried event like I so catch myself in these days. My mom had dinner on the table for all of us around the same time each night and it was always so good and comforting. Ahh the good old days!Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Pinned. Take care.
The good old days… I have to admit, mealtime created some of my very favorite childhood memories… So glad you got to take a walk down memory lane… Thanks, dear!
Whoa, you totally rook me off guard with this post, Annie!! Such a nice surprise to get a bonus summer weekday post from you! Totally made my Friday! I am all for loads of flavor with minimal cooking, especially during summer! Loving these Stuffed Bell Peppers! The Mini Meatballs and Fontina sounds like a fabulous filling! Plus, yes to anything cheesy!! Drooling over here! Cheers to a wonderful weekend, dear friend! Xoxo
I know! It’s good to change it up every once in a while!;) And it was easy to bring this little baby out!! So happy you like it!! Nothing like mini meatballs and fontina! Thank you, lovely! Have a great weekend!! Cheers! xoxo
Wow, these look delicious!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Mmm I haven’t had stuffed peppers in so long, but they look SO good – especially in all the gorgeous colors! 🙂 Love how delicious and easy these are.
So simple and delicious!! And with the help of Ragú – super quick!! Thank you, friend! 🙂
I love the color but what really gets to me is that your peppers still look like they have a crunch. Sometimes peppers are cooked so long that the peppers color is gone. Stuffed peppers are one of my very favorite recipes. I like that you didn’t skimp on the cheese. Have a great weekend.
Oh yes – I definitely bake them until just tender! No mushy peppers for us! And extra cheese all the way! Have a beautiful weekend, Marisa! 🙂
I love stuffed bell peppers! I haven’t made them in such a long time and I’m gonna pretend that you didn’t just say that Fall is just around the corner 😉 (though, it’s my fave)…it’s what comes after it that I’m not fussy about – SNOW!
Meals like this are pure comfort food, in my opinion. So perfect with some vino when you’re having family or friends over. Of course, extra cheese for me please 🙂 Fontina or mozzarella, I’m happy with either 😀 !
Have a lovely weekend! xo
Extra cheese is a must! No wonder we get along so well!! Thanks, my dear! Have a lovely weekend! xo