Ultimate Stuffed Bell Peppers with Shrimp & Crab

 

📝 Ingredients

• 5 large bell peppers (halved and cleaned)
• 700 g (1.5 lbs) ground beef
• 1 hot sausage patty (or any spicy sausage)
• 450 g (1 lb) shrimp, peeled, deveined & roughly chopped 🍤
• 200 g crab meat
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ½ onion, finely chopped
• ½ bell pepper or 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 170 g (1½ sticks) butter
• 1 to 1½ cups breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (Slap Ya Mama or similar)
• Optional: diced ham or smoked sausage (for extra depth)
• Salt & black pepper to taste

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👨‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Peppers

• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)
• Cut peppers in half, remove seeds, and lightly rinse
• Arrange in a baking dish and set aside

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2️⃣ Build the Flavor Base

• In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat
• Add onion, celery (or bell pepper), and garlic
• Cook until soft and fragrant (about 3–4 minutes)

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3️⃣ Cook the Filling

• Add ground beef and sausage → cook until browned
• Stir in shrimp, crab meat, and optional extras
• Season with Cajun spice, salt, and pepper
• Cook for 3–5 minutes until seafood is just done

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4️⃣ Create the Texture

• Gradually add breadcrumbs
• Pour in chicken broth little by little
• Mix until you get a rich, moist, slightly thick (like creamy stuffing) texture

👉 Pro tip: Don’t make it too dry — it should stay juicy after baking

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5️⃣ Stuff & Assemble

• Fill each pepper generously
• Lightly press the filling
• Optional: sprinkle extra breadcrumbs or a bit of butter on top

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6️⃣ Bake to Perfection

• Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes
• Remove foil, lower heat to 150°C (300°F)
• Bake another 15 minutes for a golden finish

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🍽️ Serve & Enjoy

Serve hot with:

• Garlic bread 🥖
• Simple salad 🥗
• Or just enjoy them as a full meal 😋