Description
A comforting, cheesy weeknight dinner that combines ground beef, bell peppers, and rice in a creamy sauce. This casserole version is easier than stuffing individual peppers and delivers rich flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) lean ground beef
- 3 large bell peppers (mixed colors), diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream
- 2 cups (200g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 can (15 oz/425g) tomato sauce
- 1 cup (200g) uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) low-sodium beef broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut tops off bell peppers, remove seeds/membranes, and dice the flesh into small pieces.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until no pink remains (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat.
- Add butter to the skillet. Once melted, sauté diced onion and peppers for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in softened cream cheese, sour cream, 1 cup of shredded cheddar, tomato sauce, uncooked rice, beef broth, and all seasonings. Mix until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until rice is tender and cheese is bubbly/golden.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Ensure cream cheese is fully softened before mixing to avoid lumps. If using brown rice, increase liquid and cooking time. For a spicy kick, add jalapeños or red pepper flakes. The dish can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: stuffed pepper casserole, creamy beef casserole, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food, ground beef recipes, cheesy rice casserole