Quick and easy, hearty and filling, this simple skillet casserole is a family favorite. Perfect for busy weeknights.
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🗝️ Key takeaways
- Complete meal made in just one pan means super easy clean-up.
- Since it takes just 30 minutes it's one of my favorite weeknight meals.
- (techniques they'll learn or some other informative fact from the post)
Stuffed pepper skillet casserole has all the classic flavors of the old-fashioned dish transformed into a super quick weeknight meal.
It has all the ingredients for stuffed bell peppers but without the time-consuming prep!
This "unstuffed" pepper casserole is one of the easiest casserole recipes you'll ever make. It cooks right on the stove so you don't even have to fuss with the oven!
It's inexpensive, too. When all the kids were young it was our big family favorite!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- I used orange, yellow, and red bell peppers, but you can add green bell peppers if you'd like. Green peppers aren't as sweet, but still tasty.
- Beef is good but this easy recipe is just as delicious when made with ground turkey, Italian sausage, pork, or ground chicken.
- Feel free to use homemade stewed tomatoes instead of Rotel.
- If you already have mild cheddar cheese slices in the fridge, they'll work just fine in place of the provolone.
- Make a dairy-free stuffed pepper skillet casserole by leaving off the cheese altogether, or using a favorite dairy-free alternative.
- Adding spinach is my favorite, easy way to sneak more veggies into a meal (and use up wilting greens.) It shrinks down so no one will notice it!
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Brown the ground beef, diced onion, and seasoned salt.
- Add the bell peppers, tomatoes, tomato sauce, V-8, and uncooked rice.
- Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally until the rice is cooked.
- Top with the provolone. Remove from heat and let the cheese melt.
🥫 How to store leftovers
This easy stuffed pepper casserole recipe is a great make-ahead meal. Here's how to store leftovers and food-prepped portions.
Let the casserole cool to room temperature, then spoon it into an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. Split it into smaller containers/bags to make individual-sized meals.
Refrigerate for up to four days. Reheat big portions in the skillet over medium heat, or simply pop it in the microwave.
Freeze the cheesy stuffed pepper casserole for up to three months. It's best to let the leftovers thaw in the fridge (generally overnight is enough time) before reheating.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Brown rice and white rice have different cooking times and soak up different amounts of liquid. For the best results, be sure to use uncooked, instant white rice (Minute rice) only.
- When shopping, pick large bell peppers that are shiny and firm. Avoid any with wrinkled skin—they're old and won't have as much flavor.
- If you don't have a large skillet, a Dutch oven will work for stuffed pepper casserole, too. Just be sure to use one that has a matching (or at least a well-fitting) lid.
- Use a plastic or wooden spoon when browning ground meat and serving the meal. Metal damages cast iron and non-stick cookware.
- Don't drain grease down your sink—it can cause clogs, and nobody has time for a clogged kitchen sink!
- Pop the skillet under the broiler for a few minutes if you want the cheese to get bubbly and a little golden. Totally optional, but delicious!
- You can compost the pepper core to use in your garden or to fertilize potted plants.
👩🍳 FAQs
We prefer the great flavors of V8—tomatoey with a bit of natural, veggie tang. Plus, it's the perfect texture so you don't have to open up a whole can of tomato paste just to use a tablespoon or so. That said, beef broth or vegetable broth and a bit of tomato paste will work fine.
Nope! Unlike regular stuffed peppers, this delicious meal cooks completely on the stove in less than a half hour.
🍽️ Serve with...
This is such an easy dish!
I like to serve stuffed pepper casserole with soft, fluffy 30-minute dinner rolls, southern green beans, and for dessert?
This rich, chocolatey hot chocolate cobbler! It's cooked in the microwave so it only takes about 10 minutes to make!
It's the ideal ending to a hearty, flavorful meal.
📚 Related recipes
- Made on the stove or in a slow cooker, Stuffed Pepper Soup has the hearty, old-fashioned flavors you love in a creative, fun dish.
- Classic with a modern twist, this Chicken Pot Pie is an easy casserole dish-turned-skillet recipe. Just like Mom used to make, but way easier.
- Creamy Chicken Piccata Casserole
- Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake
- Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
- Mexican Ground Beef Casserole
📞 The last word
Y'all, I grew up eating stuffed peppers and I love them but dang! I don't have time to play anymore. I want to get the food together fast!
This casserole has all the flavor but very little of the work! You'll love it!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Stuffed Pepper Skillet Casserole
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
- Iron Skillet with cover
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, more to taste
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 3 bell peppers, seeded and diced
- 10 ounces Rotel tomatoes
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 ½ cups V-8 tomato-vegetable juice
- 1 ½ cups white instant rice, uncooked (Minute rice)
- 8 ounces Provolone cheese, slices are easiest
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Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef with onion and seasoned salt.
- Drain any excess grease.
- Add in Rotel tomatoes, tomato sauce, V-8, bell peppers, and rice.
- Cover and simmer until rice is cooked, about 20 minutes or so, stirring occasionally and adding more V-8 if necessary.
- Top with cheese, cover, and remove from heat.
- Let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Serve.
Notes
- Conventional rice and brown rice won't work in this quick, easy recipe. Always use instant rice (like Minute Rice brand or similar).
- When shopping, pick large bell peppers that are shiny and firm. Avoid any with wrinkled skin—they're old and won't have as much flavor.
- If you don't have a large skillet, a Dutch oven will work for stuffed pepper casserole, too. Just be sure to use one that has a matching (or at least a well-fitting) lid.
- Use a plastic or wooden spoon when browning ground meat and serving the meal. Metal damages cast iron and non-stick cookware.
- Don't drain grease down your sink—it can cause clogs, and nobody has time for a clogged kitchen sink!
- Pop the skillet under the broiler for a few minutes if you want the cheese to get bubbly and a little golden. Totally optional, but delicious!
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published June 18, 2023. Last updated September 9, 2023, for editorial corrections.
Margaret
I’m anxious to try this.,,I. Have the recipe for bell pepper soup & it is very good!
Marye
Let me know what you think!