March 9, 2022

Weeknight (Un)Stuffed Pepper Rice Casserole

Name: Weeknight (Un)Stuffed Pepper Rice Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: 3 Tablespoons olive oil; 1.5 Pounds ground beef; 1 + 2 Teaspoon salt; 1 + 1 Teaspoon black pepper; 2 Large green bell peppers; 5 Cloves garlic; 3 Tablespoons onion; 4½ Cups cooked white rice; ½ Cup Italian bread crumbs; ½ + ½ Cup grated parmesan cheese; 1 Teaspoon dried oregano; 1 Teaspoon dried parsley; 1 Teaspoon garlic powder; ½ Teaspoon crushed red pepper; 18 + 18 Ounces canned meat pasta sauce

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Weeknight (Un)Stuffed Pepper Rice Casserole is a modern twist on a very classic dinner favorite. This recipe delivers the green pepper, ground beef, tomato sauce and rice that you love but in simple and easy-to-make casserole form. You might end up preferring your stuffed peppers deconstructed. This recipe makes stuffed peppers easier to cook and easier to eat.

Unstuffed pepper rice casserole on a white marbled plate onto of a gray marble cutting board and pictured with large bright blue salt and pepper shakers in the background.

Busy nights during the week can get insanely busy and hectic, insanely quickly. This is an excellent dinner option that is as delicious as it is comforting. This is hearty and warm and filling to enjoy on a cold, long day. And it’s easy enough to make for a great weeknight dinner that will feed a large family comfortably.

This is the perfect alternative if you’re craving stuffed peppers but are feeling just a little too lazy for the process. Stuffed peppers have to be hollowed out and boiled and stuffed. And it’s always sort of awkward trying to eat the rice and ground beef filling out of a whole green pepper that’s sitting upright on your plate.

Weeknight (Un)Stuffed Pepper Rice Casserole will keep the bellies happy and full and won’t break the bank. Most of the ingredients for this dinner are things that people keep on hand in their pantry. Ground beef, green bell peppers, white rice and canned meat sauce are inexpensive items that lend incredible flavor to this casserole. The flavor combination of ground beef and green peppers is beyond tasty. If you’re a fan like I am, be sure to try 5-Alarm Chili and New England Style American Chop Suey.

Casseroles really are such a hero when it comes to cooking a large amount of food on a budget. This Unstuffed Pepper Casserole is no exception. You can cut the ingredients list in half if you have a smaller crowd to feed or double it if you need extra to feed your brood.

This is a dinner that works for even the pickiest of eaters. It has an Italian flair which is always very popular and a crowd pleaser. My nephew Logan used to be a very picky eater and he’s always liked this casserole. Dylan is definitely on the picky side himself and he enjoys this recipe as well. It has the toddler stamp of approval so I feel confident that you’ll be able to get your picky eater to partake in and enjoy this casserole.

Substitutions

Ground beef: This is my favorite way to enjoy this recipe. However, ground Italian sausage is a very popular variation for a stuffed or (un)stuffed pepper recipe. Any ground meat would be tasty in this dish. You could try ground hot Italian sausage, ground pork, ground chicken, ground venison, ground lamb, ground turkey or ground veal.

Green bell peppers: Feel free to swap these peppers for any of your favorites. Yellow, orange or red bell peppers would be great. Cubanelle peppers would be a wonderful substitution.
Garlic: I prefer fresh garlic in this recipe. However, a jarred minced garlic also yields a perfect casserole.
White rice: If you’re in a time pinch, microwavable rice might be a good option for you. Wild rice would be a great alternative to white rice as well.

Italian bread crumbs: You can easily swap these out for traditional bread crumbs, if that’s what you have on hand. Or panko crumbs would be phenomenal for this casserole and would add a nice little crunch.
Grated parmesan cheese: This is my preference but I also enjoy using bagged or freshly shredded parmesan cheese. If you are looking for more of a cheesy melt to this recipe, you can top the casserole with your favorite shredded cheeses. Mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, swiss or Colby jack would all be amazing.
Canned meat sauce: My go-to canned sauces that I love are Del Monte or Hunt’s. There are other great choices in cans or jars so go with whatever your tried and true is. I always buy the meat flavor. However, there are tons of variations. Traditional, garlic and herb, four cheese, basil, onion or green pepper and mushroom are just a few of the options out there.

Mexican Variation

If you wanted to mix things up a little with this recipe, you could opt to add a Mexican flare to your dinner. Try the below substitutions and additions for a delicious twist on this classic.

When browning the ground beef, add 1 teaspoon of cumin and 1 teaspoon of chili powder to the skillet. This is in addition to the seasonings that the recipe calls for.

Instead of two large green bell peppers, use two large poblano peppers.
When making the rice and meat mixture with the seasonings, add an additional 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin to the mixing bowl.
I would still add the 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese to the rice and meat mixture in the mixing bowl. However, in place of the grated parmesan over the top of the casserole, I would use 1 cup of shredded cheese over the top. My picks would be taco cheese, Mexican cheese, Colby jack or Monterey jack cheese.

(Optional) If you wanted to, you could use a little less of the canned meat pasta sauce. I would say about 6 ounces less. Replace with 3-4 tablespoons of your favorite salsa.

Reheating Weeknight (Un)Stuffed Pepper Rice Casserole

This is an excellent meal for dinner but it’s even better the next day for lunch. It’s the perfect meal to pack for lunch because it’s very filling and a lot easier to eat than the traditional stuffed pepper. It reheats beautifully in the microwave. It comes out great also if you reheat in the oven. Cover a baking pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for about 15 minutes until heated through and enjoy.

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large pan sprayed skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Fry the ground beef and stir frequently for 10 minutes. In the meantime, dice the green bell peppers and onion into small chunks and chop the garlic fine. Add the chopped green bell peppers, garlic and onion to the frying ground beef. Stir and continue cooking for 10 minutes until the ground beef is cooked through and the green peppers are softened.

Ground beef, green bell peppers, onion and garlic frying together in a skillet and being stirred by a wooden spoon.

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large mixing bowl, add cooked white rice, Italian bread crumbs, ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, dried oregano, dried parsley, garlic powder and crushed red pepper. Pour the ground beef mixture from the skillet into the mixing bowl. Add 18 ounces of canned meat flavored pasta sauce into the bowl. Stir everything until fully combined.

Rice, ground beef, green pepper and pasta sauce being stirred together in a large white mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.

Pan spray a casserole dish. Spread the rice mixture evenly into the dish. Cover the rice with the remaining 18 ounces canned meat flavored pasta sauce. Cover the sauce with ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Unstuffed pepper rice casserole pictured with pasta sauce and grated parmesan cheese over the top prior to baking in the oven. The food is pictured in a 13x9 baking pan.

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Please let me know in the comments below if you’ve tried Weeknight (Un)Stuffed Pepper Rice Casserole. I love seeing your comments and the different variations that people use when making these recipes their own. Thank you very much for finding this recipe and supporting the Spice and Sugar Mama food blog!