Stuffed Pepper Casserole is a colourful, flavorful, and easy-to-make pasta bake, full of floor beef, bell peppers, and wealthy tomato sauce, all topped with gooey melted Monterey Jack cheese. It’s good for fall and winter weeknights once you crave a comforting meal.
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I used to make my favourite Turkey Stuffed Peppers despite the fact that my boys weren’t the largest followers, however then I had this concept: what if I simply threw every part right into a baking dish with some pasta? Seems, it’s good.
This stuffed pepper casserole has grow to be my secret weapon once I need consolation meals with out the fuss. I simply chop every part up, toss it with pasta, and bake it underneath a blanket of melted cheese….and it turns right into a hearty, tacky dish that the entire household asks for repeatedly, good for lunch or dinner.
Why I really like this recipe
- A lot simpler than conventional stuffed peppers – No tedious stuffing or worrying about peppers falling aside
- Full of colourful greens – The bell peppers add sweetness and diet
- Household-friendly and crowd-pleasing – Even choosy eaters return for seconds
- Nice for meal prep – Leftovers style even higher the subsequent day
- Price range-friendly components – Makes use of easy pantry staples and inexpensive floor beef
Components
- Pasta: Rotini pasta – a hearty base that holds all of the flavors collectively.
- Greens: Yellow onion, inexperienced bell pepper, orange bell pepper, garlic – including freshness, shade, and fragrant depth to the dish.
- Floor beef: Use lean floor beef to cut back the necessity to drain extra grease. You possibly can substitute floor turkey or floor hen for those who like.
- Sauce: Tomato paste, fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained tomato sauce – for a well-rounded, flavorful sauce.
- Spices: Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper – bringing balanced taste and depth.
- Cheese: Shredded Monterey Jack cheese – melts fantastically for a creamy, tacky topping.
Step-by-step
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and evenly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Set it apart.
- In a big pot, carry salted water to a boil. Cook dinner the pasta in response to the bundle instructions till al dente. Drain and put aside.
- Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the onion and bell peppers, cowl, and prepare dinner for five–7 minutes, stirring sometimes, till they soften and grow to be translucent.
- Combine within the tomato paste and minced garlic. Cowl and prepare dinner for 1–2 minutes till aromatic.
- Add the bottom beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cowl and prepare dinner for 7–10 minutes, stirring sometimes, till totally browned. Drain any extra grease.
- Season the combination with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, stirring nicely to mix.
- Pour within the tomato sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes, stir to mix, and canopy. Let simmer for 3–5 minutes.
- Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce till the pasta is evenly coated.
- Switch every part to the ready casserole dish and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly excessive.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, till the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Optionally available: Broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute till the cheese turns evenly golden, retaining an in depth eye to forestall burning.
- Take away from the oven and permit to chill barely. Garnish with parsley if desired, then serve.
Suggestions for greatest outcomes
- Don’t overcook the pasta, prepare dinner it simply till al dente, since it’ll proceed cooking within the oven.
- Cowl the skillet whereas cooking greens, this helps them soften quicker and develop higher taste.
- Watch carefully throughout broiling as cheese can go from golden to burnt in seconds.
- For additional cheesiness, combine additional cheese into the pasta earlier than baking.
Variations
Select totally different bell peppers to alter up the colour and taste, like crimson, yellow, inexperienced, or orange; all work. You too can lighten this casserole recipe by utilizing floor turkey or hen as an alternative of beef. And for cheese selection, strive cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack cheese.
If you’re into vegetarian, swap the meat for black beans or lentils and add extra greens like zucchini or mushrooms. Or attempt to add somewhat kick with crimson pepper flakes or jalapeños, or stir in cooked rice for a heartier dish.
Serving suggestion
Wealthy and hearty, this casserole might be served by itself or with garlic bread or dinner rolls for absorbing any additional sauce.
Storage
Leftover stuffed pepper casserole retains nicely within the fridge for as much as 3 days in an hermetic container. Single servings might be reheated within the microwave shortly, or the entire casserole might be reheated coated in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes.
To freeze, cool the casserole fully, wrap tightly with aluminum foil, and retailer for as much as three months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and add somewhat extra cheese earlier than reheating if desired.
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Description
Stuffed Pepper Casserole is a colourful, flavorful, and easy-to-make pasta bake, full of floor beef, bell peppers, and wealthy tomato sauce, all topped with gooey melted Monterey Jack cheese. It’s good for fall and winter weeknights once you crave a comforting meal.
- 12–ounces raw rotini pasta
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 inexperienced bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 pound floor beef
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- Optionally available: contemporary parsley, for garnish
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and evenly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Set it apart.
- In a big pot, carry salted water to a boil. Cook dinner the pasta in response to the bundle instructions till al dente. Drain and put aside.
- Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the onion and bell peppers, cowl, and prepare dinner for five–7 minutes, stirring sometimes, till they soften and grow to be translucent.
- Combine within the tomato paste and minced garlic. Cowl and prepare dinner for 1–2 minutes till aromatic.
- Add the bottom beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cowl and prepare dinner for 7–10 minutes, stirring sometimes, till totally browned. Drain any extra grease, leaving somewhat for taste.
- Season the combination with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, stirring nicely to mix.
- Pour within the tomato sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes, stir to mix, and canopy. Let simmer for 3–5 minutes.
- Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce till the pasta is evenly coated.
- Switch every part to the ready casserole dish and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly excessive.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, till the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Optionally available: Broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute till the cheese turns evenly golden, retaining an in depth eye to forestall burning.
- Take away from the oven and permit to chill barely. Garnish with parsley if desired, then serve.
Diet
- Serving Measurement:
- Energy: 464
- Sugar: 5.9 g
- Sodium: 484.1 mg
- Fats: 14.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 50.9 g
- Fiber: 4.5 g
- Protein: 30.7 g
- Ldl cholesterol: 64.8 mg
