If you love the ground beef, rice and cheese mixture that goes along with traditional stuffed peppers but don't love the extra work, you're going to love this Un Stuffed Pepper Casserole!
While I am calling it a casserole, and we all know casseroles are baked in the oven, this is only finished in the oven. Most of the cooking is on the stovetop.
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This easy casserole is clearly comfort food. Comfort food is great in winter but don't snooze on the fact that bell peppers are everywhere in the summer.
I always grow bell peppers in my garden so I primarily make this easy dinner when my peppers are ripe in the summer.
Why casserole over traditional stuffed peppers
For starters, when making traditional stuffed peppers, there's the hassle of parboiling peppers before stuffing them. No thank you.
This casserole is basically made in one pot. The only instance you'd need two pots is if you have to cook the rice.
I actually really like the microwavable rice from Trader Joe's. You could try something like that. This is also a good way to use up leftover rice.
Stuffed peppers typically take about an hour of bake time. This version is much quicker!
Are Stuffed Peppers Healthy
They can be.
Whether it be traditional style or this casserole, a simple swap of lean ground turkey over ground beef can really change the nutritional value of the recipe.
While we're on the topic of healthier, check out my healthier stuffed pepper soup!
Or, if you don't care about keeping it lean, check out my Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup!
What to serve with this casserole
I'd say this is a full meal in itself but if you want to serve something on the side:
- garden salad
- caesar salad
- sauteed green veggies
Whenever I make a stove to oven recipe, I use an oven-safe skillet.
If you don't have access to an oven-safe skillet just transfer the mixture to a baking dish before topping with breadcrumbs and cheese and bake as directed.
Printable Recipe Card
Un Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 Cup prepared rice
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
- 2 large bell peppers chopped
- 1 small sweet onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dry italian seasoning
- 2 ¼ Cup marinara sauce
- 1 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ Cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Place ground beef in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until browned (drain excess grease if needed, however, if lean beef is used, this step can be avoided). Add onion, peppers and garlic to ground beef and cook until onion is just beginning to soften.
- Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.
- Stir in rice, marinara and half the cheese. Remove from heat. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top of mixture.
- In a small bowl, toss breadcrumbs with olive oil and then sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top.
- Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. If desired, place under broiler for 2-3 minutes more for a crispier finish.
Notes
Nutrition
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Patty Haxton Anderson says
I certainly want to try this! I get the not wanting the oven on for an hour or more because some large peppers require it, so this is clever. And I love my Calphalon skillets!
Debra C. says
I love stuffed peppers but what I hate is heating up the house and since it's going to be 95 today, no thank you! Love that I can make your meal with all the same yumminess - so smart!
Linda Shapiro says
Love unstuffed peppers and yours look so easy to make and yummy! A real family-pleasing dish for sure!
Joanne/WineLady Cooks says
This is a great way to enjoy all the goodness of stuffed peppers without the whole peppers. Love how easy the recipe is which is one of my favorite things! My family would love this.
Healing Tomato says
Oh my gosh!! If you are inundated with bell peppers, send me some! This looks so delicious. It is nice to have some scrumptious comfort food for Sunday brunch.
Angela says
Love this!! My peppers did not do great this year while last year I had them growing out my ears lol. This sounds like a must try!!
The Food Hunter says
what a delicious and fun idea!
Nancy Fox says
This skillet dish looks fantastic, Christine!