Easy Unstuffed Pepper Casserole

This Unstuffed Pepper Casserole gives you everything you love about classic stuffed peppers without actually stuffing a single pepper. It combines seasoned ground beef, colorful bell peppers, tender rice, tomatoes, and melted cheese in one warm, comforting casserole.

It is especially useful on busy evenings because the ingredients are mixed together instead of carefully portioned into individual peppers. You still get that familiar combination of beef, tomato, rice, and sweet bell pepper, but the preparation is much easier.

For a halal-friendly Unstuffed Pepper Casserole, use halal-certified ground beef and beef broth, and check that your cheese is made with suitable enzymes.

If easy ground beef dinners are popular at your house, you may also like my Hamburger Corn Casserole.

Why You’ll Love This Unstuffed Pepper Casserole

Traditional stuffed peppers are delicious, but they take a little patience. The peppers need to be prepared, filled individually, arranged carefully, and then baked until everything becomes tender.

This Unstuffed Pepper Casserole skips most of that work.

The peppers are chopped and cooked right with the ground beef and onion. Cooked rice, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings are stirred into the same skillet before everything goes into the casserole dish.

A layer of cheese melts over the top and turns the mixture into a cozy stuffed pepper casserole that is easy to scoop and serve.

It is also a great way to use leftover rice. That makes this easy Unstuffed Pepper Casserole even faster when part of the meal is already waiting in the refrigerator.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For about 6 to 8 servings, you’ll need:

• 1½ pounds halal-certified lean ground beef
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups cooked long-grain white rice
• 1 can diced tomatoes, about 14.5 ounces, drained
• 1 can tomato sauce, about 15 ounces
• ½ cup low-sodium halal-certified beef broth
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups shredded cheddar or mozzarella-cheddar blend, divided
• Chopped fresh parsley for serving, optional

Using both red and green peppers gives the Unstuffed Pepper Casserole the classic stuffed-pepper look and a nice balance of sweetness and fresh pepper flavor.

How to Make Unstuffed Pepper Casserole

1. Prepare the Oven

Preheat your oven to 375°F.

Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside.

Using a wide baking dish helps the Unstuffed Pepper Casserole heat evenly and gives the cheese plenty of surface area to melt and lightly brown.

2. Brown the Ground Beef

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the ground beef and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles as it browns.

If your beef is very lean, add a small amount of olive oil. If it releases a lot of fat, drain the excess before continuing.

Ground beef should reach a safe internal temperature of 160°F, according to USDA guidance. Ask USDA

3. Cook the Peppers and Onion

Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper to the browned beef.

Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The vegetables should begin to soften but do not need to become completely tender yet. They will continue cooking in the oven.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

This step gives the ground beef pepper casserole much more flavor than simply mixing raw vegetables into the baking dish.

4. Build the Tomato and Rice Filling

Reduce the heat to medium.

Add the drained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

Stir until everything is evenly combined.

Add the cooked rice and about 1 cup of shredded cheese.

Fold the mixture together gently until the rice is coated with the tomato sauce and the cheese begins to melt.

At this point, the Unstuffed Pepper Casserole should look moist but not soupy.

5. Assemble the Casserole

Transfer the beef-and-rice mixture to the prepared baking dish.

Spread it evenly from corner to corner.

Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the top.

This layer of melted cheese helps turn a simple rice and ground beef casserole into the kind of dinner that feels especially comforting.

If you like cheesy ground beef dinners, my Big Mac Casserole gives you a completely different flavor profile using the same family-friendly protein.

6. Bake

Bake the Unstuffed Pepper Casserole uncovered for about 20 to 25 minutes.

The filling should be hot and bubbling around the edges, and the cheese should be completely melted.

For a little extra color, you can broil the casserole for 1 to 2 minutes at the end. Watch it closely because cheese can brown very quickly under the broiler.

Let the casserole rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

That short resting time helps the rice absorb any remaining sauce and makes the casserole easier to scoop.

Tips for the Best Unstuffed Pepper Casserole

Use cooked rice rather than uncooked rice for this recipe.

Cooked rice gives you much better control over the texture of the Unstuffed Pepper Casserole because you do not have to guess how much liquid the rice will absorb while baking.

Drain the diced tomatoes as well. Too much tomato liquid can make the casserole watery.

Do not overcook the bell peppers in the skillet. They should still have a little structure when the casserole goes into the oven so they do not disappear into the filling.

Finally, season the beef mixture before adding it to the baking dish. Rice tends to soften seasoning, so taste the filling and adjust the salt and pepper if necessary.

What Kind of Rice Works Best?

Long-grain white rice is my first choice for Unstuffed Pepper Casserole.

It stays fluffy and mixes easily with the ground beef and vegetables without making the casserole heavy.

Jasmine rice can also work if that is what you already have.

Brown rice is another option, although it gives the stuffed pepper casserole a slightly chewier texture and nuttier flavor.

Leftover rice is perfect for this recipe. In fact, using cold cooked rice can make preparation even easier because the grains are already firm and separate.

Easy Variations

One of the advantages of Unstuffed Pepper Casserole is how easy it is to customize.

For a leaner option, replace the beef with halal-certified ground turkey. Keep in mind that turkey contains less fat, so a little olive oil can help prevent the filling from becoming dry.

For extra vegetables, add diced zucchini, mushrooms, or corn.

You can also change the peppers. Yellow and orange bell peppers are sweeter than green peppers and work beautifully in an unstuffed peppers casserole.

For extra heat, stir in crushed red pepper flakes or finely diced jalapeño.

If your family loves cheese, add a little extra cheddar between the casserole filling and the final topping.

Just keep the basic beef, pepper, tomato, and rice combination intact. That is what gives Unstuffed Pepper Casserole its recognizable stuffed-pepper flavor.

What to Serve With Unstuffed Pepper Casserole

This casserole already contains meat, rice, and vegetables, so it works perfectly well as a complete dinner.

A simple green salad is an easy way to add something cool and fresh alongside the warm Unstuffed Pepper Casserole.

Steamed broccoli, roasted green beans, or asparagus are also good choices.

Warm dinner rolls can be useful for soaking up any tomato sauce left on the plate, especially if your family enjoys hearty comfort-food dinners.

I would keep the side dishes simple because this bell pepper casserole is filling on its own.

Can You Make It Ahead?

Yes. Unstuffed Pepper Casserole is a good make-ahead dinner.

Cook the beef, peppers, tomato mixture, and rice as directed. Transfer everything to the casserole dish and allow it to cool.

Cover and refrigerate it without the final layer of cheese.

When you are ready to bake, add the cheese and place the casserole in the oven.

Because the filling will be cold, you may need to add about 10 minutes to the baking time.

This makes easy Unstuffed Pepper Casserole a practical option for meal prep or busy evenings when you know dinner time will be rushed.

For another comforting ground beef meal that stores well, try my Hamburger Noodle Casserole.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Let the Unstuffed Pepper Casserole cool before transferring leftovers to airtight containers.

Refrigerate portions and reheat them in the microwave or oven until hot throughout.

If the rice seems slightly dry after refrigeration, add a spoonful of tomato sauce or a small splash of broth before reheating.

This casserole also freezes well.

Divide cooled Unstuffed Pepper Casserole into freezer-safe containers and freeze individual servings for easy future meals.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for the best texture.

Unstuffed Pepper Casserole FAQ

Do I Need to Cook the Rice First?

Yes, for this version of Unstuffed Pepper Casserole, use fully cooked rice.

This keeps the baking time short and avoids problems with undercooked rice or excess liquid.

Can I Use Ground Turkey Instead of Beef?

Yes.

Halal-certified ground turkey can replace the beef in Unstuffed Pepper Casserole. Add a little olive oil if necessary because turkey is usually leaner.

Can I Make Unstuffed Pepper Casserole Without Cheese?

Absolutely.

The cheese adds richness, but the beef, tomatoes, peppers, and rice provide plenty of flavor on their own.

Simply leave the cheese out or use a dairy-free alternative that suits your needs.

Why Is My Casserole Watery?

The diced tomatoes may not have been drained well enough, or the vegetables may have released extra moisture.

Cook the beef-and-pepper mixture until excess liquid evaporates before assembling your Unstuffed Pepper Casserole.

Can I Use Different Bell Peppers?

Yes.

Red, green, yellow, and orange peppers all work. Using two different colors makes the Unstuffed Pepper Casserole especially attractive when served.

Can I Freeze Unstuffed Pepper Casserole?

Yes.

Cool the casserole completely, wrap it well or divide it into airtight freezer containers, and freeze.

For the best results, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

All the Flavor Without Stuffing the Peppers

This Unstuffed Pepper Casserole takes the familiar flavors of traditional stuffed peppers and turns them into a much easier family dinner.

You still get seasoned beef, tender bell peppers, tomato, rice, and plenty of melted cheese, but there is no need to hollow out peppers or fill them one by one.

Everything goes into one baking dish and comes out hot, cheesy, and ready to scoop.

For busy weeknights, meal prep, or simply a cozy ground beef dinner, this Unstuffed Pepper Casserole is an easy recipe worth keeping in your regular rotation.

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