Pepper Stuffed Burgers

These Pepper Stuffed Burgers use red sweet peppers and lean ground beef. They are tasty as part of a summer picnic.

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Ingredients for Pepper Stuffed Burgers

4 miniature sweet peppers (about 1/2 ounce each)

1 ounce Monterey Jack Cheese with jalapeno peppers cut into 4 small cubes

1 pound lean ground beef

1/2 teaspoon mesquite seasoning

4 whole grain or multigrain ciabatta rolls or whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted

1. Cut the tops off the sweet peppers. Remove ribs and seeds. Grill peppers on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals 5 to 7 minutes or until pepper skins are lightly blistered, turning occasionally. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place peppers on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.) Remove peppers from the grill; cool slightly. Stuff peppers with the cheese cubes.

2. In a medium bowl, combine ground beef and mesquite seasoning. Divide mixture into four portions. Shape each portion of beef mixture around one of the stuffed peppers to enclose the pepper. Flatten slightly to form 3/4-inch thick patties.

3. Grill patties on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals 14 to 18 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into side of each patty registers 160, (insert the thermometer into the meat to the side of the pepper). (For a gas grill, place patties on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.)

4. Place patties and, if desired, lettuce and red onion slices in split rolls.

Nutrition per serving

381 calories

15 grams fat

6 grams saturated fat

81 mg cholesterol

533 mg sodium

30 grams carbohydrates

2 grams fiber

29 grams protein