Renee's Kitchen Quest

Bring on the heat!
Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

5/5 - (1 vote)

Hello, my fellow foodie adventurers!

Today’s quest is a one-pot wonder: Stuffed Pepper Casserole!
Picture this: all the classic stuffed pepper flavors—seasoned ground beef, colorful bell peppers, onion, garlic, and rice—mixed together in a cheesy, melty, spicy casserole. We’ve all seen those gorgeous stuffed peppers online or on TV (pretty, don’t get me wrong), but I wanted a bite of pepper in every spoonful without having to fight for it. This healthy, hearty meal has everything you love about stuffed peppers, deconstructed into an easy, unstuffed version that’s impossible to stop eating. I know I say that a lot… but I love food, and when you can eat healthy and actually crave it? That’s a huge bonus! 

 

Ingredients You’ll Need (The Quest Inventory)

    • 1 lb lean ground beef
    • ½ yellow onion, diced
    • 3 tsp minced garlic
    • 1 red bell pepper, diced
    • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
    • 1 orange bell pepper, diced
    • 2 tbsp minced jalapeño
    • ¼ tsp jalapeño salt (or regular salt + extra jalapeño)
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp black pepper
    • 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes with juices
    • 2 beef bouillon cubes
    • 2 cups water
    • 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
    • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
    • 1 cup uncooked brown rice
    • 1½ cups reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded

 

How to Forge the Feast (The Quest Steps)

    • 1. Dice the onion, bell peppers, and jalapeño.
    • 2. Heat a large pot (or deep skillet) over medium heat—no oil needed if using lean beef.
    • 3. Add onion, bell peppers, jalapeño, and garlic—sauté 5 minutes until softened.
    • 4. Add ground beef, breaking it up as it browns, about 5–7 minutes.
    • 5. Season with salt, jalapeño salt, and black pepper—cook another 5–7 minutes until beef is fully browned.
    • 6. Stir in diced tomatoes (with juices), beef bouillon cubes, water, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil.
    • 7. Add uncooked brown rice, stir well, return to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
    • 8. Cover and simmer 25–30 minutes until rice is tender (stir occasionally and add a splash of water if needed).
    • 9. Remove from heat, sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the top, cover 2–3 minutes until melted.
    • 10. Serve hot and enjoy every cheesy, pepper-packed bite!

 

Tips Tricks & Tasty Variations

This casserole is proof you can have all the stuffed pepper goodness without the hassle—and still go back for seconds (or thirds).
here are some tricks and variations you may want to try out.

 

Cooking Tips:

  • Brown rice takes longer—white rice works too (reduce simmer to 15–20 min).
  • Make it ahead: prepare through step 7, refrigerate, then reheat and add cheese before serving.
  • Extra saucy: add ½ cup more water or broth if you like it looser.

 

Variations:

  • Turkey twist: swap beef for ground turkey or chicken.
  • Veggie boost: toss in zucchini or mushrooms with the peppers.
  • Spicy upgrade: double the jalapeño or add red pepper flakes.
  • Cheesy deluxe: mix in mozzarella or top with pepper jack.

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Renee
Seasoned ground beef, colorful bell peppers, onion, garlic, and rice—mixed together in a cheesy, melty, spicy casserole.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1/2 yellow onion
  • 3 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 yellow bell pepper
  • 1 orange bell pepper
  • 2 tbsp minced jalapeno
  • 1/4 tsp jalapeno salt
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 14 oz diced tomatoes (with juices)
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes
  • 2 cups water
  • 8 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
  • 1 1/2 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese (shredded)

Instructions
 

  • Diced the bell peppers, onion, and jalapeno.
  • Heat a large pot over medium heat.
  • Add the onions, bell peppers, jalapeno, and garlic. Saute for 5 minutes.
  • Add the ground beef and cook for about 5-7 minutes, breaking into small pieces as the beef browns.
  • Add salt, jalapeno salt, and pepper and cook for about 5-7 more minutes.
  • Reduce heat to medium and add the tomatoes with juice, broth tomato sauce, soy sauce, and italian seasoning.
  • Bring mixture to boil.
  • Add the uncooked rice, return to boil, and reduce heat to low.
  • Cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
  • Serve and enjoy.
Keyword Healthy