Stuffed Pepper Casserole
This post may contain affiliate links, read our disclosure policy.
Stuffed pepper casserole made with spiced ground beef, peppers, onion, rice, and smothered in melty cheese is a win every time!
This stuffed pepper casserole recipe is so easy to make and packed with all the delicious flavors of traditional stuffed peppers but with none of the work. Serve it with a cucumber tomato salad and lime bars for dessert!
Save this recipe!
Save this recipe! Enter your email below and we’ll shoot it straight to ya!
I consent to receive email from this site 💌
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Why you’ll love this unstuffed pepper casserole recipe!
📌 All the delicious flavors of classic stuffed peppers with none of the work.
📌 Easy to make ahead or double the recipe for meal prep.
📌 A great way to use of leftovers or veggies that are on their way out.
Stuffed Pepper Casserole Ingredients
- Ground meat – Pictured is ground beef but you could also use ground sausage, ground chicken, or ground turkey.
- Peppers – Sweet bell peppers of any color, chopped.
- Onion – Sweet onion, white or yellow, diced.
- Garlic – Minced garlic. Fresh will give you the best flavor, but you can substitute for jarred, paste, or powdered as well. Check the package label for swapping ratios. Do not swap for garlic salt.
- Seasonings – Dried Italian seasoning blend, salt, ground black pepper, worcestershire sauce.
- Tomatoes – Canned diced tomatoes, and canned tomato paste.
- Broth – Beef broth (chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth can be substituted in a pinch).
- Rice – Instant/quick cooking rice.
- Cheese – Shredded mozzarella cheese. Provolone is also a good substitute.
How do you make a stuffed pepper casserole? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, brown the ground beef and drain off excess liquid. Add the bell peppers, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook just until the onion is translucent. Remove from heat.
⭐ Then, stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Stir in the rice.
⭐ Next, transfer the beef and rice mixture into a casserole dish and cover tightly with foil; bake.
⭐ Finally, remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top of the casserole. Return to oven and cook an additional few minutes until the cheese has melted.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
Can you make stuffed green pepper casserole recipe ahead of time?
Yes, this can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator for 1 – 2 days before serving or in the freezer for several months.
What vegetables for stuffed pepper casserole recipe?
The recipe as-is calls for peppers, tomatoes, and onion, but adding extra vegetables to your casserole is a great way to bulk up your dish and make it healthier.
Try adding mushrooms, zucchini, olives, and even chopped spinach!
Do I need to cook the rice ahead of time?
No, the magic of this casserole recipe is that it all cooks together in the oven at the same time!
Make sure you’re covering it tightly in foil before baking so the moisture stays in and cooks makes the rice tender.
Can I use regular rice?
Yes, but if you use regular rice you’ll want to cook it first. To substitute use 4 cups of cooked rice and reduce the beef broth to 1/4 cup. If you are using beef bouillon, do NOT reduce the amount of bouillon, only the amount of water.
Storage and leftovers
How long does a casserole last?
The leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days. Keep in an air tight container for best results.
Can you freeze it?
Yes! Allow the casserole to cool to room temperature then store in a freezer safe, air tight container for up to 3 months.
Can you bake a casserole from frozen?
To bake from frozen, preheat the oven and bake the casserole covered with foil for 60 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking as directed in the original recipe.
Make sure if you are baking from frozen that your dish is freezer to oven safe as not all glass and ceramic dishes are.
Alternatively, thaw in the refrigerator (this will take 2 – 3 days) and bake according to original recipe directions when ready.
Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions
✅ Make it spicy by using spicy Italian sausage, adding red pepper flakes, or diced jalapenos.
✅ Try with other meats like ground Italian sausage, ground chicken, ground pork, ground turkey, or leftover grilled steak, grilled pork chops.
✅ Do a double batch in a disposable casserole pan and gift to a friend or freeze for later.
✅ Make a vegetarian stuffed pepper casserole by swapping the ground beef for vegetarian beef crumbles, or drained and rinsed cannellini beans.
What to enjoy with stuffed bell pepper casserole (serving suggestions)
This is a hearty dish that works well as a full meal on it’s own, but we typically serve it with sa bright green salad like our 7 layer salad, antipasto salad, brussels sprouts salad, or broccoli salad.
For dessert try these copycat crumbl banana pudding cookies, or our homemade lime bars!
More delicious ground beef recipes
- Sheet pan meatloaf
- Beef stroganoff sloppy joes
- Crockpot stuffed shells
- Upside down pizza bake
- See all our recipes made with ground beef!
Casserole recipes to try next
- Chicken cordon bleu casserole
- Mexican cornbread casserole
- Tuna casserole
- Taco casserole recipe
- Crockpot breakfast casserole recipe
- Chicken fajita casserole
- See all our easy dinner casseroles!
Other awesome stuffed pepper recipes
Tools we love
- Glass casserole dish with lid – I love this dish, it can go from freezer to oven!
- Metal spatula – We like a metal spatula for getting lots of cheesy chicken and peppers.
Get our FREE Easy Casseroles Ebook!
Follow us below!Use #mamalovesfood on Instagram!
How to Make Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 sweet bell peppers any color, chopped
- 1 small sweet onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 can diced tomatoes 15 ounces, undrained
- 1 can tomato paste 6 ounces
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups instant rice
- 1 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, then drain excess liquid. Add the bell peppers, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to your skillet. Continue cooking over medium heat, until the onion is translucent. Remove from heat.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Turn off heat and stir in the rice.
- Transfer the beef and rice mixture into a 9x13 inch casserole dish and cover very tightly with foil. Bake at 375°F for 35 to 40 minutes.
- Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top of the casserole. Return to oven and cook an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
Notes
- Make it spicy by using spicy Italian sausage, adding red pepper flakes, or diced jalapenos.
- Try with other meats like ground Italian sausage, ground chicken, ground pork, ground turkey, or leftover grilled steak, grilled pork chops.
- Make a double batch in a disposable casserole pan and gift to a friend or freeze for later.
- Make a vegetarian stuffed pepper casserole by swapping the ground beef for vegetarian beef crumbles, or drained and rinsed cannellini beans.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
Share it with me on Instaram and use the hashtag #mamalovesfood and follow on Pinterest for even more!
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Click the button above to save this recipe!
Get Our Free Easy Casseroles ebook!
Recipes in your inbox
(your email will never be sold!)
Let’s Connect!
Tag #mamalovesfood on Instagram!
My family gobbled up this casserole so fast!
I love this recipe! It was so yummy and much easier than making stuffed peppers with similar yummy results! Thank you so much!
I made this for my family tonight and we all loved it, even my picky kids.