It's been a busy day, and dinner is on your mind; stuffed bell peppers sound good, but you want something easy, not to mention delicious and nutritious. This Simple Bell Pepper Casserole fits the bill perfectly!
Start cooking rice and set aside when it is ready.
Pre-heat the oven to 375-degrees F. Prepare a 13 x 9 inch baking dish by spraying it with non-stick spray.
Shred cheese if needed.
Dice the onion and cut the peppers into 1 inch pieces.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil if you are using ground turkey. You can use ground beef instead but remember you will probably need to drain off any excess grease after the meat has cooked.
Add the meat and using a wooden spoon, start to cook and crumble the ground turkey or beef.
When the meat has started to turn brown, go ahead and add the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and Italian Seasoning. (drain the beef before adding the spices)
Add the onions and peppers and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. The onion and peppers will begin to soften.
Next, add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and about ½ can of water. Bring this mixture to a boil and continue to cook for a few minutes.
Mix the cooked rice into the sauce and mix well. Carefully pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top the casserole with the shredded cheese.
Bake the Simple Bell Pepper Casserole for about 20 minutes. The cheese will melt and the casserole will be bubbling.
Let the bell pepper casserole cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?Yes! I have done this. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator to warm slightly, then bake in the oven until the cheese melts and the casserole starts to bubble.
What if my ground meat is frozen?This is something my grandmother taught me. Place the frozen meat in the skillet or pot over medium-low to medium heat. Cover with a lid. Crumble the meat as it starts to thaw. Once the meat has thawed, you can turn up the heat a bit if needed and continue with the recipe as written.