Description
Mexican-inspired stuffed pepper casserole blends hearty ground beef, rice, and bell peppers in a comforting one-dish meal. Melted cheese and zesty seasonings create a delicious dinner you’ll want to savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 3 bell peppers (chopped)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 12 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauce and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces or 425 grams) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 ounces or 227 grams) tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
Seasonings:
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) to prepare for the casserole baking process.
- Heat a large skillet and thoroughly brown the ground beef over medium heat, carefully draining any excess fat to prevent sogginess.
- Incorporate finely chopped onion, minced garlic, and diced bell peppers into the beef, sautéing until the vegetables become soft and fragrant.
- Introduce uncooked rice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth to the skillet, seasoning the mixture generously with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for robust flavor.
- Transfer the entire mixture into a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish, spreading it evenly to ensure consistent cooking.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb the liquid and become perfectly tender.
- Uncover the casserole and generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese across the top, returning it to the oven for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese melts into a golden, bubbly layer.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle and make cutting easier.
Notes
- Prep rice carefully to prevent mushiness by using slightly less liquid than package instructions recommend.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lighter, healthier alternatives that maintain similar flavor profiles.
- Consider using brown rice for added nutritional value and nutty texture, which might require slightly longer cooking time.
- Enhance meal’s versatility by adding extra vegetables like zucchini or spinach for increased nutrients and more complex flavor layers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 367 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg