Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Stuffed Pepper Casserole is the perfect choice when you’re craving the savory flavors of stuffed peppers, but don’t have the time to get fancy. Made in just one large skillet, packed with ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and cheese, and ready in under an hour, unstuffed peppers will be a new family favorite.

We are big fans of stuffed peppers in my house. I have Mexican Stuffed Peppers, Italian Stuffed Peppers, and Stuffed Poblano Peppers on a regular rotation here, and when it’s really cold and gloomy outside, I love making a big pot of Stuffed Pepper Soup.

And while I love the flavors of roasted bell peppers stuffed with meat, cheese, and rice, the method for making them can be a bit finicky and time-consuming.

That’s where this easy recipe for Stuffed Pepper Casserole comes in! Instead of stuffing meat and rice filling into the peppers, we’ll just chop the peppers up and mix them in with the filling. It’s all baked together and topped with plenty of cheese to make a delicious and satisfying meal.

Looking for more 1-pan meals like this unstuffed pepper casserole? Try my Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta the next time you’re looking for a quick and flavorful meal.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. A One Pan Meal– Choose a large oven-safe skillet, and you can make this entire stuffed pepper casserole from start to finish in the same pan. Dishes will be a breeze tonight!
2. Easy Deconstructed Recipe – This dish tastes just like stuffed peppers, without the hassle of actually stuffing peppers
3. Versatile Recipe – Season the mixture with Italian seasoning for a classic version of unstuffed peppers, or switch things up and use Cajun seasoning instead.
4. Naturally Gluten Free – I love it when that happens! No substitutions are needed to make stuffed peppers with rice casserole gluten-free. You can also very easily make it dairy free by using your favorite vegan cheese substitute.

Ingredients In Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Everything that you’d mix into a traditional stuffed peppers recipe is included in this delicious casserole:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Meat: Lean ground beef is my go-to when making stuffed pepper casserole, but you can also use ground turkey here.
• Veggies: You will of course need bell peppers! I like to use one red and one green. It adds some color variation and the flavors are slightly different. You’ll also need an onion, and three cloves of garlic.
• Seasoning: You have options when it comes to seasoning your casserole. Italian seasoning is the classic option, but cajun seasoning or taco seasoning are delicious too. I used cajun seasoning when I took the photos here, and the result had a lovely bit of spice to it!
• Canned Tomatoes and Beef Broth: These ingredients do double-duty here by creating the liquid needed to cook the rice, and adding tons of savory flavor.
• Rice: This recipe will work with any type of long-grain white rice. You don’t need to cook the rice separately, it will cook in the oven! I do recommend that you rinse your rice before cooking it.
• Cheese: Any good casserole will have a nice layer of melty cheese on top, and this one is no exception. I use a mixture of shredded mozzarella and shredded cheddar cheese. You can use one or the other or include any bits of cheese you have to use from your fridge.
• Plus: Salt, Pepper, Olive oil for cooking, and chopped parsley to garnish the final dish.

How To Make Stuffed Pepper Casserole

1. Get Started: Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. In a pan, or in a heat-resistant skillet over medium-high heat and heat olive oil, and add ground beef.
2. Cook the Meat and Veggies: Saute, breaking the meat up with a spatula until it’s no longer pink. Drain away the fat, then add the diced peppers and onions to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the veggies start to soften. (they will cook fully while the casserole bakes)
3. Add Seasonings: Add the garlic, seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to the pan. Cook for 30 seconds, then stir in the diced tomatoes.
4. Add Rice: Stir in the rice and the beef broth. Bring to a boil, then cover with a lid, or foil if your pan doesn’t have a lid.

1. Bake: Place the covered casserole in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked. You can taste the casserole and see if there’s any crunch. If there is, put it back in the oven for a few minutes. You can add a splash of broth or water if you think it’s needed too.
2. Add Cheese: Top the stuffed pepper casserole with shredded cheese, and set the oven to broil.
3. Broil: Place the dish under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Recipe Tips and Variations

• To Add Extra Flavor, use fire-roasted tomatoes or Rotel tomatoes with green chilies instead of plain diced tomatoes.
• You Can Also Add Sausage, or a blend of ground beef and sausage to get even more flavor. Italian sausage is delicious in unstuffed peppers.
• Don’t Forget to Rinse! White rice should be washed before cooking. There’s no need to soak it, just add it to a fine mesh sieve and rinse away any impurities. Rinsing also reduces the amount of starch in the rice, so it will cook up fluffy rather than sticky.
• The Rice May Need Extra Time, so be sure to test it at the end of the 20 minutes. If it’s still a bit crunchy, you can add a splash of water or broth and put it back in the oven for 5 minutes until it’s done.

Storing Tips

To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Stuffed pepper casserole will stay fresh for up to 4 days.

To Reheat: Use the microwave to reheat the casserole quickly, or add servings to a pot and heat over medium-low heat until warmed through.

To Freeze: This casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. Either freeze the whole thing after baking, or freeze individual servings in freezer containers. Let thaw overnight before reheating.

What To Serve With Stuffed Pepper Casserole

This meaty casserole is filling, satisfying, and has all the food groups in it already, so feel free to serve Stuffed Pepper Casserole as the singular main dish for dinner.

To add something extra to the meal, make a tasty and healthy salad, like my Beet Salad with feta and apples, or a classic wedge salad, and serve that as your first course.

Homemade dinner rolls or a batch of easy garlic bread will also be delicious here!

FAQs

You might never stuff an actual pepper again once you realize how delicious and easy this stuffed pepper casserole is! Have fun experimenting with different seasonings, and be sure to Pin the recipe so you can easily find it again.