Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole is made with ground beef, bell peppers, rice, and cheese, seasoned with Italian or Cajun spices. It serves 6 and takes about 45 minutes to prepare and bake, offering a comforting and flavorful meal.

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🧡 Why You’ll Love This Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe:

  • Flavorful Fusion: Combining the classic tastes of stuffed peppers into a casserole, this dish offers a delicious blend of savory beef, sweet bell peppers, and hearty rice, all unified under a melty cheese topping.
  • Effortless Preparation: Simplifying the traditional process of making stuffed peppers, this casserole form eliminates the need for stuffing individual peppers, making preparation and cleanup significantly easier.
  • Family Friendly: Its familiar ingredients and flavors are appealing to both adults and children, making it a hit for family dinners.
  • Ideal for Leftovers: Not only does this casserole taste great the day it’s made, but it also reheats well, ensuring delicious leftovers.
  • Nutritious: With lean protein, grains, and vegetables, it’s a balanced meal in one dish. Plus, it’s easy to incorporate additional vegetables for an extra nutrition boost.
  • Perfect for Entertaining: Its easy preparation and ability to serve a crowd make it ideal for gatherings, potlucks, or family dinners.
  • Satisfying: The combination of protein, carbs, and cheese ensures a satisfying meal that fills you up and keeps you fueled.
  • Budget-Friendly: Made with simple and accessible ingredients, this recipe is kind to your wallet without compromising on taste or quality.
  • Time-Saving: By using the oven for the bulk of the cooking, your hands are free to prepare a side dish, clean up, or simply relax.

❓ What Is Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe?

Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole is a hearty dish combining ground beef, bell peppers, onions, garlic, spices, rice, and cheese, all baked together. It simplifies traditional stuffed peppers into a flavorful, easy-to-make casserole that serves six.

Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole

🥩 Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef lean
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper diced
  • 3 small cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or cajun seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup long grain white rice
  • 1 ½ cups beef broth
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheese cheddar, mozzarella, or both
  • parsley for garnish

🍲 How To Make Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s ready for baking the casserole.
  2. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook until it’s browned and no longer pink. As you cook, break the beef into smaller pieces with a spatula.
  3. To the skillet with the beef, add the diced yellow onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are slightly soft.
  4. Sprinkle the Italian or Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and ground black pepper over the beef and vegetable mixture. Stir well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
  5. Pour the canned diced tomatoes (with their juice), uncooked long grain white rice, and beef broth into the skillet. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
  6. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is almost cooked through.
  7. After the rice mixture has cooked, carefully transfer it to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread the mixture evenly across the dish.
  8. Sprinkle the shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix of both) evenly over the top of the rice mixture.
  9. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  10. Once the casserole is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

💭 Recipe Tips

  • Rice Cooking Tips: Adding uncooked rice directly to the skillet allows it to absorb the flavors of the beef, vegetables, and broth as it cooks. Ensure the rice is almost fully cooked before transferring the mixture to the oven to prevent it from being too hard.
  • Simmering: When simmering the mixture on the stove, make sure to cover the skillet. This helps to trap in steam and moisture, which is necessary for the rice to cook properly.
  • Cheese Selection: The choice between cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix of both depends on your preference for flavor and texture. Cheddar offers a sharper taste, while mozzarella gives a gooey melt.
  • Baking Dish Preparation: Greasing the baking dish prevents sticking and makes serving easier. You can use butter or a cooking spray.
  • Oven Monitoring: Oven temperatures can vary, so start checking your casserole a few minutes before the suggested baking time ends to prevent overcooking or burning the cheese.
  • Resting Before Serving: Allowing the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking will enable it to set, making it easier to cut and serve neat portions.
  • Garnishing: Fresh parsley not only adds color but a burst of freshness that contrasts the rich flavors of the casserole. Alternatively, green onions or chives can also be used for garnishing.
Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole

🥗 What To Serve With Stuffed Pepper Casserole?

Serve Stuffed Pepper Casserole with sides like garlic bread, a crisp green salad, steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, or sautéed spinach for a lighter touch, consider cucumber salad or coleslaw cornbread also pairs well for a hearty, satisfying meal.

🎚 How To Store Leftovers Stuffed Pepper Casserole?

  • Refrigerator: Cool Leftovers Stuffed Pepper Casserole to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • Freezer: Wrap Leftovers Stuffed Pepper Casserole tightly in foil or plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating

🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Stuffed Pepper Casserole?

  • In The Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) place Leftovers Stuffed Pepper Casserole in an oven-safe dish cover it with foil to prevent drying out and heat for 20-25 minutes or until thoroughly warmed through.
  • In The Microwave: Transfer Leftovers Stuffed Pepper Casserole to a microwave-safe dish cover it with a microwave-safe lid or damp paper towel to retain moisture and heat on high for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even warming.

FAQ’S

How can I ensure the rice cooks evenly in Stuffed Pepper Casserole?

Make sure the rice is spread out evenly before baking and that there is enough liquid in Stuffed Pepper Casserole. Stirring the mixture before adding the cheese topping can help distribute heat and moisture evenly.

Can I top Stuffed Pepper Casserole with breadcrumbs for a crunchy top?

Yes, mixing breadcrumbs with a little melted butter and sprinkling over the top before baking adds a delightful crunch. Add the breadcrumb topping during the last 10 minutes of baking to prevent burning.

How can I make Stuffed Pepper Casserole spicier?

Increase the heat by adding more Cajun seasoning, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or diced jalapeños to the beef and vegetable mixture before baking.

Is it possible to make Stuffed Pepper Casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the casserole, cover it, and refrigerate up to a day ahead. When ready, bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time since it will be starting from a colder temperature.

How do I know when Stuffed Pepper Casserole is done?

Stuffed Pepper Casserole is done when the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the rice is tender. If you’re unsure, check that the internal temperature in the center of the casserole has reached 165°F (74°C) with a food thermometer.

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Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole Nutrition Facts

  • Calories: 486 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 16g
  • Protein: 28g
  • Fat: 34g
  • Saturated Fat: 13g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Monounsaturated Fat: 15g
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Cholesterol: 103mg
  • Sodium: 799mg
  • Potassium: 494mg
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Vitamin A: 1156 IU
  • Vitamin C: 44mg
  • Calcium: 203mg
  • Iron: 3mg

Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 20 minutesCook time: 25 minutesRest time: 5 minutesTotal time: 50 minutesServings:6 servingsCalories:486 kcal Best Season:Suitable throughout the year

Description

Pioneer Woman Stuffed Pepper Casserole is made with ground beef, bell peppers, rice, and cheese, seasoned with Italian or Cajun spices. It serves 6 and takes about 45 minutes to prepare and bake, offering a comforting and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s ready for baking the casserole.
  2. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook until it’s browned and no longer pink. As you cook, break the beef into smaller pieces with a spatula.
  3. To the skillet with the beef, add the diced yellow onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are slightly soft.
  4. Sprinkle the Italian or Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and ground black pepper over the beef and vegetable mixture. Stir well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
  5. Pour the canned diced tomatoes (with their juice), uncooked long grain white rice, and beef broth into the skillet. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
  6. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is almost cooked through.
  7. After the rice mixture has cooked, carefully transfer it to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread the mixture evenly across the dish.
  8. Sprinkle the shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix of both) evenly over the top of the rice mixture.
  9. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  10. Once the casserole is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

  • Rice Cooking Tips: Adding uncooked rice directly to the skillet allows it to absorb the flavors of the beef, vegetables, and broth as it cooks. Ensure the rice is almost fully cooked before transferring the mixture to the oven to prevent it from being too hard.
  • Simmering: When simmering the mixture on the stove, make sure to cover the skillet. This helps to trap in steam and moisture, which is necessary for the rice to cook properly.
  • Cheese Selection: The choice between cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix of both depends on your preference for flavor and texture. Cheddar offers a sharper taste, while mozzarella gives a gooey melt.
  • Baking Dish Preparation: Greasing the baking dish prevents sticking and makes serving easier. You can use butter or a cooking spray.
  • Oven Monitoring: Oven temperatures can vary, so start checking your casserole a few minutes before the suggested baking time ends to prevent overcooking or burning the cheese.
  • Resting Before Serving: Allowing the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking will enable it to set, making it easier to cut and serve neat portions.
  • Garnishing: Fresh parsley not only adds color but a burst of freshness that contrasts the rich flavors of the casserole. Alternatively, green onions or chives can also be used for garnishing.

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