Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Want a no-fuss dinner? This stuffed pepper casserole is one of my go-to dinner ideas all year round. Seasoned ground beef and sausage, diced tomatoes, peppers, onions, tender rice, and of course cheese. All of this is baked into one casserole. Get all the flavors of stuffed peppers but in a casserole form.

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Casseroles don’t have to be boring or lack flavor. This recipe right here is bursting with flavor. Kids and adults devour this stuffed pepper casserole that is made with two types of meat. It elevates the flavor tremendously.

Now if you are a lover of casserole recipes, don’t worry I got you covered. Here are a few more of my favorite casserole ideas: Philly cheesesteak casserole, tater tot casserole, or an easy slow cooker John Wayne casserole. All are great dinner ideas for a family.

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What is Stuffed Pepper Casserole?

A stuffed pepper casserole is essentially an unstuffed pepper casserole. All the flavors and ingredients in a stuffed pepper recipe but instead of stuffing inside a bell pepper you mix it up in a casserole dish! A cheesy and savory dinner that truly is a breeze to make.

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Reasons You Will Love This Unstuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe

Here are a few reasons why me and my family love this pepper casserole. I hope if you try it you and your family find similar benefits.

• The two types of meat really help to create a lot of dimension in flavor to the pepper casserole. I love that the sausage adds a lot but still compliments the ground beef.
• Very easy prep, so that you have a dinner that cooks quickly and with no fuss of hard steps to achieve the end results.
• A great way to get kids excited to eat some of their veggies. The spices, rice, and cheese help to add more flavor and hide the veggies.
• A great source of protein and carbs all in one simple dinner. I love serving this up on chilly winter days when you want to stick to your bones dinner.
• This recipe is super versatile. Pair it with some fresh dinner rolls, or a crisp green salad, or eat it as a meal in one.

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Ingredients You Will Need

Meat – Mild sausage and ground beef are both used to create more flavor for this casserole. You will cook and drain off any grease from the cooked meat.

Pepper and Onions – Bell pepper that is finely diced and a small onion will be used to really bring the stuffed pepper flavor to this casserole.

Garlic and Spices – Garlic cloves that are minced, salt, pepper, and oregano are used to help season the mixture more.

Tomatoes – I used canned diced tomatoes as well as a little tomato sauce for a nice rich tomato flavor.

Broth – The beef broth is used to help add richness to the mixture so that the rice soaks in a savory broth.

Soy Sauce – A splash of soy sauce really transforms the flavor of the dish.

Rice – Uncooked white rice is what I recommend. Now you could use brown rice but then you have to adjust the cooking time and liquid ratio.

Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese is what I used for the topping of the casserole. If you are a cheese lover you will love this option.

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Variations To Recipe

Here is a list of a few ways to change up the flavor of this casserole recipe. Now feel free to pick and choose or make exactly as I have shared in the recipe card.

• Use just ground beef or just sausage instead of the two meats.
• Swap the beef with a ground turkey or even ground chicken.
• Dice up some mushrooms and mix in for an added stretch of servings and flavor.
• Add in other veggies like diced-up zucchini or even yellow squash for added flavor.
• You can use more than one color of bell peppers for added color and flavor to the casserole.
• Any type of shredded cheese works for this recipe. Mozzarella, Colby jack, or even pepper jack cheese.
• If you are not a fan of cheese leave it out.
• Add in 4 ounces of softened cream cheese at the very end and mix until it is fully melted and incorporated with the mixture.
• Use a can of Rotel tomatoes in replace of a can of diced tomatoes. It will add more flavor to the pepper casserole.

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Helpful Tips for Success

Drain off Grease

Once you cook your ground meat thats you need to make sure to drain off the grease or will will affect the overall casserole.

Prep Produce

Make sure to remove the seeds from the bell pepper. As well as skin from the onion and garlic. Mince finely for garlic and finely chop the peppers and onions. You want small pieces so the ingredients flavor the dish evenly.

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Rice

Now if you want you can use brown rice or another type of rice but you might need to add more broth into the mixture as it cooks down and extend the cooking time. White long-grain rice is one of the faster-cooking rice.

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Simmer

Make sure to allow this mixture to simmer and ensure the rice has fully cooked before you move on. Once the rice has soaked up the liquid mostly and is tender, the casserole is ready.

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Seasonings

Feel free to adjust the seasonings if you see fit to create a different layer of flavor for your pepper casserole.

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Melted Cheese

If you place a lid on the pan once you sprinkle the cheese on top, it will help the cheese melt more evenly. Or you can just let it cook for a few minutes longer to help warm the cheese up.

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Storing

Any of the rice and pepper casserole you do not eat is stored in a sealed container in the fridge. The casserole mixture will last 3-4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or warm it up on the stovetop. If you heat on the stove you might add a splash of liquid. Whether it be milk or water it will be needed if it is too thick.

Another option is freezing the stuffed pepper casserole. Place in a proper freezer container and freeze for 2-3 months. Then thaw in the fridge until thawed or reheat straight from frozen. The rice will be a bit softer but overall you will get the same flavor.

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FAQs

Can I use different colored bell peppers for unstuffed pepper casserole?

Any color of bell pepper will work for this recipe. You will find that the red, yellow, and orange peppers are sweeter. Where a green bell pepper offers a bit more of a savory flavor.

Do I need to pre-cook the rice for unstuffed pepper casserole?

This stovetop recipe will cook the rice directly in the skillet with the other ingredients. There is no need to precook the rice. If you used precooked rice it would then make it extra soft.

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Can I make unstuffed pepper casserole ahead of time?

Feel free to make this unstuffed pepper casserole up to a day in advance. Just store it in the fridge and then reheat it in the oven or on the stovetop when you are ready to serve it up.

Can I customize the casserole with additional ingredients?

Yes, mix in corn, black beans, other diced veggies, etc. Feel free to pick and choose ingredients to add to help elevate the flavor even more of this rice casserole.

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More Dinner Ideas

• Chicken Marsala
• Taco Pasta
• Beef Birria