Italian Stuffed Mini Peppers with Sausage and Cheese

Serves: 6

Ingredients

 
• 1 lb spicy sausage
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 2 tbsp garlic, minced
• 2 cups shredded Italian cheese
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups pasta sauce of your choice
• 1 lb mini sweet peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
• fresh basil, for garnishing

Directions

 
1. Cut the stem ends off each mini pepper. Remove the seeds and membranes, keeping the peppers whole. Set aside.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned, about 6–7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon.
3. Add the onions and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Remove from the heat and add the Italian cheese and half of the Parmesan, stirring until well combined.
5. Spoon the sausage-cheese mixture into each prepared pepper.
6. Pour the pasta sauce evenly into the bottom of a large cast iron skillet. Nestle the stuffed peppers upright in the sauce so they fit snugly.
7. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese evenly over the tops of the peppers.
8. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, until the peppers are tender and the sauce is bubbling.
9. Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil. Serve hot, spooning sauce over each pepper.