Description
A delicious and hearty stuffed pepper casserole that combines ground meat, pasta, and cheese, all baked in bell peppers for a flavorful one-pan meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 medium bell peppers (any color), halved and seeds removed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or turkey with the diced onion and minced garlic until the meat is fully cooked. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, uncooked macaroni, water, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender.
- While the pasta mixture is simmering, prepare the bell peppers by placing them cut-side up in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Spoon the pasta mixture evenly into each halved bell pepper.
- Sprinkle half of the Parmesan cheese over the filled peppers before covering with foil. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle the mozzarella and the remaining parmesan cheese on top of the stuffed peppers, and return to the oven. Bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, substitute the ground meat with a mix of black beans and chopped mushrooms.
- Add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the meat mixture for a spicy kick.
- To make ahead: Assemble the dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Parmesan cheese is optional but adds a rich, nutty flavor—feel free to adjust the amount to suit your taste.
- To freeze: Cool completely, then wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg