Easy 30 Minute Stuffed Pepper Skillet Casserole

A 30 minute recipe! This stuffed pepper casserole is made right on top of the stove in a big skillet. That means you get ALL the tangy tomato flavor and beefy goodness without having to preheat the oven. One pot means easy cleanup, too!

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Closeup of ground beef . tomatoes, peppers, and rice casserole in an iron skillet with a wooden spoon.

Quick and easy, hearty and filling, this simple skillet casserole is a family favorite. Perfect for busy weeknights.

Delicious ground beef and rice casserole in an iron skillet

Table of Contents

🗝️ Key takeaways
🧾 Ingredients
📖 Variations
🔪 Instructions
🥫 How to store leftovers
💭 Things to know
👩‍🍳 FAQs
🍽️ Serve with...
📚 Related recipes
📞 The last word
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

🗝️ 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.

Step by step images showing how to make this recipe.

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

Can I substitute the V8 juice with broth?

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.

Do you have to bake stuffed pepper skillet casserole?

Nope! Unlike regular stuffed peppers, this delicious meal cooks completely on the stove in less than a half hour.

A scoop of the casserole in a wooden spoon.

🍽️ 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.

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.