Name: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 3 large bell peppers (diced (any color)); 1 yellow onion (diced); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 2½ cups beef broth; 1 15-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained; 1 cup uncooked long grain rice (rinsed); 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

This easyStuffed Bell Pepper Casserolecombines all the delicious flavors of traditional stuffed peppers in one convenient dish. It’s a hearty, cheesy casserole with all the classic flavors of stuffed peppers—without the fuss! Easy to prep, family-friendly, and packed with savory goodness.

A serving of cheesy baked stuffed bell pepper casserole with ground meat and vegetables is plated in a white bowl; the casserole dish and another serving are in the background.

🫑 Unlike traditional stuffed peppers that require individual assembly, this one pot casserole lets youdump everything together and bake. No fussy stuffing or complicated prep work required – just mix, top with cheese, and let the oven do the work!

My 2 Best Tips For Making Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole

Cooking Rice:Always rinse your long grain rice before using to remove excess starch; I actually rinse all rice. This prevents the casserole from becoming gummy and ensures each grain cooks up fluffy and separate. If you want to use brown rice, plan on adding a bit more liquid and cooking it longer (see notes in the recipe card!)

Don’t Skip Browning:Taking time to properly brown the ground beef and soften the vegetables builds crucial flavor foundations. Cook until the beef loses its pink color and the bell peppers start to become tender before adding seasonings.

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This dish was really easy and all of my kids liked it! I think chopping the peppers and onions fairly small and very uniformly helped them to not notice them as much.

This casserole reheats beautifully and tastes even better the next day. Make it ahead for busy weeknights, or double the recipe to have delicious leftovers throughout the week.

Whether you prefer red bell peppers, yellow bell pepper, or green bell peppers, this recipe works with any combination.

You can easily swap ground beef for turkey, add extra vegetables, or adjust the spice level to suit your family’s tastes.

How To Make Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe

A cutting board with sliced red and green bell peppers and red onion sits next to a vegetable chopper. Nearby are bowls of ground beef, shredded cheese, rice, spices, and a can of diced tomatoes.

Step 1:Cut up veggies, preheat the oven to 375°F, and grease a casserole dish with oil or cooking spray.

A cast iron skillet on a stovetop contains ground beef, diced red onions, green bell peppers, and chopped orange bell peppers, ready to be cooked. White hexagonal tiles are visible in the background.

Step 2:Cook the ground beef, bell peppers, and onion until the beef is browned and the vegetables begin to soften, about 7–9 minutes. Add the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Stir and cook for 1 more minute.

A blue and white speckled baking dish filled with shredded cheese-topped casserole is partially covered with aluminum foil on a light-colored surface.

Step 3:Stir in the beef broth, fire-roasted tomatoes with juices, and rinsed rice. Mix well to combine. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish and sprinkle the cheese over the top.

A baked casserole topped with melted cheese sits in a blue and white speckled dish on a wooden cutting board, with a blue cloth partially tucked underneath.

Step 4:Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this stuffed bell pepper casserole in a slow cooker?

While this recipe is designed for the oven, you can adapt it for a slow cooker. Brown the meat and vegetables first, then transfer everything to your slow cooker with slightly less broth (about 2 cups instead of 2½). Cook on low for 4-5 hours until the rice is tender, then add cheese in the last 15 minutes.

What’s the difference between this and traditional stuffed peppers?

This unstuffed pepper casserole contains all the same delicious flavors as a traditional stuffed pepper recipe but in an easier, family-friendly format. Instead of hollowing out whole peppers and stuffing them individually, everything is diced and baked together in one dish.

Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?

Yes, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking method. Brown rice takes longer to cook, so either pre-cook it partially before adding to the casserole, or increase the liquid to 3 cups and extend the baking time by 20-30 minutes, checking periodically.