Italian Stuffed Peppers

Italian Stuffed Peppers, made with RAGÚ® Homestyle Sauce, are a simple homestyle meal! As the pasta boils, prep the bell peppers and cook hot Italian sausages in a pan with a little bell pepper and fresh zucchini. When the pasta is ready, toss in RAGÚ® Homestyle Thick and Hearty Traditional Sauce, then layer it, the sausage and veggies into the bell peppers, top with mozzarella, and bake until golden brown. An easy, delicious weeknight dinner.

Ten years ago, I spent my summer in Italy.

I took art classes in Cortona, a small town that is well known for its role in in Under the Tuscan Sun.

So if you’ve read the book or seen the movie? You know my town.

I left the States with two suitcases, a ton of film, photo paper and a sense of adventure, even though I had no idea what to expect.

Upon landing in Rome, I used my shaky Italian to purchase a simple tomato and mozzarella sandwich, then I unexpectedly ran into some classmates while waiting for our connecting flight to Naples.

That was the beginning of an incredible summer.

When I think about Cortona, I think about sweeping views of the valley. I think about my time spent making portraits for my advanced photo project. I think about our weekend trips, visiting small and large towns and experiencing culture, the Italian way of life and entirely too many art museums to name. I think about the friends I made. And I think about the food I ate.

We were fed family-style meals in the basement of Ristorante Tonino every weeknight. We were never told what was on the menu… and it was the most wonderful and decadent food I’ve ever eaten. I’m not one who likes to learn what she’s eating as she eats it, but this added to the charm of living in Italy.

Every evening, we gathered with bread and Italian-made wine, then our meal started with a pasta course before the entree was brought out from the kitchen. And a lot of the time, that entree was pork.

I brought home a newfound love for Italian cuisine, as well as a love for fresh ingredients and making dishes from the heart. Simply put, homestyle.

My definition has changed over the years. Once upon a time, I happily spent hours in the kitchen making our meals.

Now, my cooking time is relegated to naps or our daughter’s mealtime, when she is safely seated in her high chair since she can’t cook with me yet. Though I sincerely look forward to the day when she and I can do this because I know it’s going to be incredible.

But for the time being, this quick cooking? It’s fine. More than fine. Because you can still make a delicious homestyle meal quickly that doesn’t lack in taste or the love put into it.

These Italian Stuffed Peppers are the epitome of homestyle. Their flavors remind me of Cortona, though we never ate pasta stuffed into peppers. They’re a quick, tasty meal that bursting with fresh flavors.

And the RAGÚ® Homestyle Thick and Hearty Traditional Sauce makes this possible.

RAGÚ® Homestyle Sauce, seasoned with a special blend of basil, fennel, oregano and black pepper, simmers for hours so we don’t have to slave over a hot stovetop. The Homestyle Thick and Hearty Traditional Sauce is thick and luxurious, and it coats the pasta in these stuffed peppers beautifully. And one of the best things about this sauce? There are no artificial flavors, colors or high fructose corn syrup to be found.

Basically, the RAGÚ® Homestyle Thick and Hearty Traditional Sauce is doing the heavy lifting. We’re just cooking up a few additional ingredients to throw into our peppers to make this meal in a flash. We’re talkin’ less than 50 minutes, folks. And most of it is hands-off time. Win!

As the pasta boils, we’ll cook the sausage, zucchini and the tops of the bell peppers together.

When the pasta is perfectly al dente, all we have to do is toss it in the RAGÚ® Homestyle Thick and Hearty Traditional Sauce, then divide the pasta and sausage mixture between the the bell peppers, top with mozzarella, and bake.

Voila! That’s it!

Here’s how you can make this dish at home:

Have you ever been to Italy?

What is your definition of homestyle?

Which RAGÚ® Homestyle Sauce would your family adore?

Learn more about RAGÚ®‘s rich heritage and find featured recipes on their website.