Description
This Stuffed Pepper Casserole is a hearty and flavorful baked dish featuring lean ground beef, diced bell peppers, savory seasonings, and cooked brown rice layered with melted cheddar cheese. It combines the comforting flavors of stuffed peppers into an easy-to-make casserole perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef, lean
- 1 yellow onion, small; diced
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, 1 can
- 1 cup beef broth
- 3-4 tablespoons red pepper paste or harissa
Other Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 3 small bell peppers, seeded and diced
- Parsley, freshly chopped; optional
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef while stirring with a wooden spoon until it begins to brown.
- Season the Meat: Add kosher salt, minced garlic, ground black pepper, smoked paprika, and dried thyme to the beef. Continue cooking until the meat is fully browned and aromatic.
- Add Liquids and Simmer: Stir in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, and red pepper paste or harissa. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the liquid reduces by half, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the Casserole: Transfer half of the meat mixture into a baking dish. Layer with half of the cooked brown rice, diced bell peppers, diced onion, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, until the mixture is bubbly and the cheese on top starts to brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm and enjoy your flavorful stuffed pepper casserole.
Notes
- Ensure the brown rice is fully cooked before adding it to the casserole to avoid any undercooked texture.
- You can use either pre-shredded cheese or grate your own cheddar for best melting consistency.
- Bell peppers of any color—green, red, yellow, or orange—work well in this recipe.
- Adjust red pepper paste amount according to your preferred spice level.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
