Description
This Stuffed Pepper Casserole is a comforting, easy dinner recipe packed with tender bell peppers, hearty ground beef, fluffy rice, and melty cheese. Perfect for a quick dinner idea, it brings the flavors of classic stuffed peppers into a simple baked dish. Whether you’re looking for a freezer-friendly meal, a healthy-ish weeknight dish, or just cozy food ideas, this one-pan recipe checks all the boxes.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 bell peppers, diced (use red and green for color)
2 cups cooked rice
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef broth
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook until beef is browned and onions are soft.
3. Add bell peppers to the skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes until slightly softened.
4. Stir in tomato sauce, broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Mix in the cooked rice and stir until evenly combined.
6. Transfer mixture to a greased baking dish and top with shredded cheese.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.
8. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Use cooked rice to ensure even baking and avoid mushiness.
Don’t overcook the bell peppers in the skillet—they’ll finish softening in the oven.
Try swapping beef for ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: easy dinner, stuffed pepper casserole, quick weeknight meals, cheesy rice casserole, freezer meals