Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe

Fully prepared stuffed pepper casserole sits in the enameled yellow pot from which it was cooked. A wooden serving spoon and purple dishcloth sit to the side.

4.29 — Votes 7 votes

Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe

This stuffed pepper casserole marries all of the classic flavors of stuffed bell peppers - seasoned ground beef, soft bell peppers, and rice, all topped with bubbly, gooey cheese - made super easy, without any of the fuss of actually stuffing a darn thing.

Prep Time10

Cook Time55

Total Time1 5

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: Servings

Author: Melissa Guevara

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
½ yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1, 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
6 ounces tomato paste
2 cups beef stock
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup rice
2 cups shredded cheese

Instructions

Heat a large pot with a lid over medium heat with olive oil.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot and saute for 3-5 minutes, until fragrant and softened.
Add the ground beef, crumble while cooking, and cook for about 15 minutes or until most of the grease has evaporated and cooked out. If you are in a rush, you can drain the grease after 5-6 minutes of cooking.
Add the bell peppers and stir to combine.
Add the remaining ingredients (with an exception of the cheese), and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
Turn off the heat. Remove the lid and stir. Sprinkle with cheese, then replace the lid for 3-5 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Recipe Variations & Modifications

Use any ground protein - swap the ground beef for any ground protein you prefer. Ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork - all would work great here!
Use onion powder + garlic powder - if you don't have fresh onion and/or garlic on hand, use onion/garlic powder. You'll need a 1/2 tablespoon of onion powder and a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Recipe Tips

Broil the cheese - after adding the shredded cheese to the stuffed pepper casserole, transfer the pot (as long as it's oven safe) to the oven to broil for 3-5 minutes. This will make for the yummiest bubbly cheese topping!
Cook in the oven instead of the stovetop - if you want, you can absolutely cook this meal in the oven instead of simmering on the stovetop. It'll take the same amount of time, but if you prefer oven cooking to stovetop cooking, it's a great option! After adding the Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock Worcestershire sauce, and rice, give everything a good stir and transfer it to a 350°F oven for 30 minutes.

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