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Stuffed Pepper Casserole: Easy One-Pot Comfort Food Recipe

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

A hearty one-pot dinner combining ground beef, bell peppers, tomatoes, rice, Italian seasoning, and melted cheese. It has all the flavor of classic stuffed peppers in an easy skillet recipe.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound Lean ground beef
  • 1 medium Yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 3 bell peppers Bell peppers, diced
  • 1 14 to 15-ounce can Diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 8-ounce can Tomato sauce
  • 2 cups Beef broth
  • 1 cup Uncooked long-grain white rice
Seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Topping
  • 1 cup Shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion, then cook while breaking the beef into small pieces until the meat is browned and the onion begins to soften. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly. The garlic should become fragrant without browning.
  3. Stir in the diced bell peppers, undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, uncooked rice, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well so the rice is distributed through the liquid.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet and simmer for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
  5. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the casserole stand covered for 5 minutes. This resting time allows the rice to absorb remaining sauce and helps the texture set.
  6. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar or mozzarella evenly over the casserole. Cover for another 1 to 2 minutes, or place the skillet briefly under the broiler, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Notes

Keep the skillet covered during the rice-cooking time so steam does not escape and leave the rice undercooked. Ground turkey or Italian sausage can replace the beef. Brown rice requires additional liquid and a substantially longer cooking time, so use long-grain white rice for this quick version.