Description
Hearty Stuffed Pepper Casserole brings classic Mexican-inspired flavors to your dinner table with minimal preparation. Cheesy layers of ground beef, rice, and bell peppers create a comforting meal you can enjoy with minimal fuss.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 bell peppers, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups cooked rice (240 g)
- 1 (14.5 oz / 411 g) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz / 226 g) can tomato sauce
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded cheese
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- In a large skillet, thoroughly cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until it browns and crumbles completely.
- Add chopped bell peppers, diced onions, and minced garlic to the meat, sautéing until vegetables become tender and fragrant.
- Incorporate cooked rice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and selected seasonings into the skillet, mixing ingredients uniformly.
- Transfer the robust mixture into a prepared casserole dish, ensuring even distribution.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheese across the entire surface of the casserole.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt, bubble, and turn a golden brown color.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help set the ingredients and enhance flavor melding.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version of the dish.
- Add extra vegetables like zucchini or spinach to boost nutritional value and create more depth of flavor.
- For a low-carb alternative, replace rice with cauliflower rice or quinoa to reduce overall carbohydrate content.
- Try different cheese blends like pepper jack or Mexican mix to create unique flavor profiles and keep the dish exciting.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg