Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers {Gluten Free} {Low Carb}

I was stumped on what to name this rich concoction. It is not simply a stuffed bell pepper. It has spice. It has kick. It has the inside of a taco as its stuffing. And, as it turns out, they were more open-faced than "stuffed" per se.  You'll catch my drift as we go along. 

Simply put: these are easy, delicious, and you can actually switch up the spices and toppings to create any style meal. 

Taco Stuffed Bell Pepper

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 chopped onion 

3 cloves chopped garlic

1 pound ground beef, turkey, or chicken

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon paprika

3 bell peppers (remove stem, membrane and seeds and cut in half)

7 sliced white mushrooms

1 quartered and sliced zucchini

(add any other vegetables that you may have on hand that will fit the style of stuffed pepper you're making)

1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, jack or pepper jack work great)

avocado

salsa

sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Saute olive oil, garlic, and onions on low to medium heat for a few minutes (until someone in the house says it smells soooo good in the kitchen!). Add meat and spices and cook until meat is almost thoroughly cooked. Add vegetables (except bells!) and cook until slightly soft but not soggy.

Place bell pepper halves on their backs on a baking sheet. Scoop meat mixture with a slotted spoon into heaping mounds into bells. Place in preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and add generous amounts of shredded cheese to the top and cook for 3-5 more minutes (until cheese is melted).

Remove from oven and place on serving dish.  Add additional cold toppings (avo, salsa, sour cream to preference).  

I added a green salad to the side with a little balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.  After we cut into the bells and the ingredients co-mingled it was divine.

Note: I sliced the bells in half for easier filling AND more square-inchage for shredded cheese!

Variations:  

Add rice and/or black beans for a heartier meal.

Change up the seasonings and veggies for a different flare.