Description
Spicy and comforting, stuffed pepper casserole brings hearty Mexican-inspired flavors to your dinner table. Layers of ground beef, rice, peppers, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 bell peppers
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups cooked rice
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Extras:
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Dice the bell peppers into bite-sized chunks, ensuring uniform pieces for even cooking and distribution.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbly texture until no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the beef and return to the skillet, mixing in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and all seasonings to create a robust, flavorful meat mixture.
- Incorporate the cooked rice into the seasoned beef, stirring thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Layer half of the bell pepper chunks across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a colorful base.
- Spread the beef and rice mixture uniformly over the pepper layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously across the top, creating a melty, golden blanket.
- Distribute remaining bell pepper chunks over the cheese layer for additional texture and color.
- Dust the surface with breadcrumbs, providing a crispy, golden-brown topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until cheese is completely melted and edges are bubbling.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to settle.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving for a bright, fresh finish.
- Optional: Dollop sour cream on individual servings for extra creaminess.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, healthier alternative that keeps the dish protein-packed and diet-friendly.
- Consider using brown rice or quinoa instead of white rice to boost nutritional value and add a nutty, wholesome texture to the casserole.
- Enhance vegetable content by mixing in additional chopped vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or mushrooms to increase fiber and create more complex flavor profiles.
- For a gluten-free version, replace breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour to maintain the crispy topping while accommodating dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg