Rice and Beef Stuffed Tomatoes

A savory filling of ground beef and rice is stuffed into tomatoes and baked to make a tasty main dish in less than an hour.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 249 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• ground black pepper to taste
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 7 tomatoes
• 1 pinch garlic salt, or to taste
• 1 cup instant rice
• 1 clove garlic, diced
• 1 (6 fluid ounce) can tomato juice

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Bake in the preheated oven until tomatoes are tender and filling is hot, about 20 minutes.

Step 3

Cut tops off of tomatoes; set aside tops. Scoop out pulp into a bowl and place hollowed tomatoes into the prepared baking dish.

Step 4

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in instant rice. Cover and let stand until water is absorbed, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. Mix cooked rice, onion, garlic, garlic salt, and black pepper into ground beef; stir in tomato sauce and reserved tomato pulp. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until thickened, 10 minutes.

Step 6

Fill each hollowed tomato with ground beef mixture. Cover each filled tomato with a tomato top. Pour tomato juice over filled tomatoes for extra juiciness.