Description
A hearty and flavorful stuffed pepper casserole combining seasoned ground beef, diced bell peppers, cooked brown rice, and melted cheddar cheese, baked to bubbly perfection and garnished with fresh parsley. This comforting one-dish meal brings all the classic stuffed pepper flavors in an easy-to-make casserole.
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 thyme, dried
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, 1 can
- 1 cup beef broth
- 3-4 tablespoons red pepper paste or harissa
Assembly
- 1 ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 3 small bell peppers, seeded and diced
- Parsley, freshly chopped, optional
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until it begins to brown.
- Season Meat: Add kosher salt, minced garlic, ground black pepper, smoked paprika, and dried thyme to the beef. Continue cooking until the beef is well browned and aromatic.
- Add Liquids and Simmer: Stir in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, and red pepper paste. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 8 minutes until the liquid has reduced by half. Remove from heat.
- Assemble Casserole: In a baking dish, spread half of the meat mixture. Layer with half of the cooked brown rice, diced bell peppers, diced yellow onion, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the layers once more.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes until bubbly and the top is golden and slightly browned.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- Ensure the brown rice is fully cooked before assembling the casserole to avoid any undercooked grains.
- You can use either freshly grated cheddar or pre-shredded cheese depending on convenience; sharp cheddar works especially well for flavor.
- Feel free to use any color of bell peppers—green, red, yellow, or orange—all will work great in this recipe.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper paste or harissa based on your preferred spice level.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
