Bell peppers loaded with marinara, melted mozzarella, and zesty pepperoni for a low-carb twist on pizza flavors.
# Components:
→ Peppers
01 - 4 large bell peppers, any color, halved and seeded
→ Filling
02 - 1 cup sugar-free marinara sauce
03 - 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
04 - 0.5 cup mini pepperoni slices
05 - 0.5 cup cooked Italian sausage, crumbled
06 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
09 - 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
# Directions:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F.
02 - Drizzle the bell pepper halves with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Arrange them cut-side up in a baking dish.
03 - In a bowl, combine the marinara sauce, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella, cooked Italian sausage, half the pepperoni, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Mix well.
04 - Spoon the filling evenly into the pepper halves.
05 - Top each stuffed pepper with the remaining mozzarella, remaining pepperoni, and Parmesan cheese.
06 - Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
07 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden and the peppers are tender.
08 - Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.