Stuffed Pepper Casserole features Italian sausage, peppers, salsa, rice and more cooked to perfection beneath a layer of gooey mozzarella cheese. It’s a supremely satisfying dinner that’s easy to make all in one pan!
Be sure to check out more of my favorite stuffed pepper recipes like Stuffed Pepper Soup, Turkey Stuffed Peppers and Grilled Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers.
Table of Contents
- Why we love this Stuffed Pepper Casserole:
- Reader Rating
- Stuffed Pepper Casserole Ingredients Needed:
- How to make Stuffed Pepper Casserole
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to store Stuffed Pepper Casserole
- Can I freeze Stuffed Pepper Casserole?
- Serving suggestions:
- More Casserole Recipes You’ll Love!
- Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe
One those nights that you need a one pan dinner to feed your family, this easy Stuffed Pepper Casserole is the recipe to turn to!
This easy casserole recipe is a tried and true favorite in my kitchen. It’s highly requested by all – even the pickiest of eaters who usually turn their nose when they see veggies.
It’s filling, cheesy, flavorful and SO easy to make. There’s a whole lot to love about this quick one pan dinner recipe!
Why we love this Stuffed Pepper Casserole:
- One Pan – It’s easy to make and even easier to clean up! (See more of our favorite one pan meals here)
- Family Friendly – Even if you have picky eaters at the table, they’ll love this cheesy casserole recipe. They might not even notice all the bell peppers and protein they’re eating.
- Versatile – There are plenty of ways to change up this casserole to best fit your personal preferences. Scroll down to see some of my suggested variations to try!
Reader Rating
“My husband and I LOVE this recipe. We’ve made it several times and still keep coming back for more. It’s excellent comfort food!” — Bailey
Stuffed Pepper Casserole Ingredients Needed:
- Italian Sausage – Can be swapped with ground turkey, chicken or beef. Have some of this Crockpot Shredded Chicken to use up? It works perfectly in here!
- Rice – You can use long grain brown rice instead of long grain white, you will increase the cook time to 30-45 minutes. This will depend on the kind of long grain rice you use — use the package directions as a guide.
- Bell Peppers – You can use any color of bell peppers you like best. Red and green are my favorites to use in this casserole recipe.
- Mozzarella – The way that this melts on top of the casserole is absolute perfection. Feel free to mix up the cheese depending on your tastes and what you have.
- Onion – A white or yellow onion both work well.
- Salsa – In a pinch, tomato sauce will also get the job done, but you may want to add extra seasoning.
- Garlic – You can always add a little more if you’re a big garlic fan!
- Seasonings – I use a simple but bold blend of oregano, cumin, salt and pepper.
How to make Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Take a quick look at just how easy this stuffed pepper casserole recipe is! For more info about ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of this page where you’ll find the recipe card.
- Cook the sausage. Then, mix in the peppers and onions. Cook until just softened.
- Mix in the garlic and seasonings.
- Pour broth into the pan.
- Mix in the salsa and rice.
- Stir everything together. Bring to a simmer, cover, lower the heat and let it cook for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
- Sprinkle with cheese, cover, and let the cheese melt.
Variations and Substitutions
- Add extra veggies: Try mushrooms, finely chopped spinach, onions, or shredded carrots or zucchini! This recipe is a great one for tossing in those last few veggies that need to go before your grocery restock.
- Spice it up: I rely on Italian sausage and prepared salsa to give this recipe a ton of flavor without needing any extra seasoning. You can always go ahead and add in extra herbs and spices if you prefer, or make it spicy with a pinch of cayenne or some crushed red peppers.
How to store Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Simply let the casserole cool slightly before covering tightly and refrigerating for up to 3 days. To reheat, add a splash of broth or water, cover and pop it in a 250-300°F oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
Can I freeze Stuffed Pepper Casserole?
Absolutely! To freeze, you can cook this casserole completely and let cool slightly before wrapping with plastic wrap and then foil (or a lid, but plastic wrap is always a good idea!). Freeze up to 3 months.
To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, cover and reheat in a 250-300°F oven for 20 minutes or until heated through.
Serving suggestions:
This one pan recipe is a full meal all by itself! If you did want to pair it with anything, I recommend a veggie side dish like Air Fryer Broccoli or Cheesy Baked Asparagus or some of this Garlic Bread!
More Casserole Recipes You’ll Love!
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 375 grams ground Italian sausage casings removed, one small package
- 2 cups chopped bell peppers any color
- ½ medium onion (finely diced)
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa or tomato sauce
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup long grain white rice rinsed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumble and cook Italian sausage until beginning to brown. Add peppers and onion and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, salt, oregano, pepper and cumin and cook 1 minute.
- Add broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in the salsa.
- Rinse rice well under cold water and add to the skillet.
- Stir well and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat slightly, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until rice is cooked through. (*BAKE: You can also cover tightly and bake at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes until cooked through).
- Sprinkle with cheese, cover and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Chris says
Wow! This was incredible I used Italian ground turkey sausage and maybe a teaspoon or 2 of red pepper flakes. This has to be my new favorite and subbing in the turkey sausage makes it pretty low on calories per serving.
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Chris!
Pam says
Could Italian chicken sausage be subbed for lower calories?
Ashley Fehr says
Absolutely!
Dominique says
is this a revised recipe? i’ve had this saved to pinterest foreverrrrr but i swear it called for ground beef and tomato paste rather than sausage and tomato sauce
Ashley Fehr says
It is not, no.
Kelly S says
Has anyone made this using instant rice and could offer tips?
Zoie Phillips says
Could you use instant rice?
Ashley Fehr says
I haven’t tested this recipe with instant rice unfortunately
Stephanie says
Can you use quinoa in place of rice?
Ashley Fehr says
I haven’t tried so I can’t say for sure.
A Lemon says
Why does the list of ingredients NOT include broth and how much of it For stuffed pepper casserole???
Ashley Fehr says
I’m not sure what more you are asking for, when all of the ingredient measurements are listed in the recipe card.
Rileigh says
Can this recipe be frozen?
Ashley Fehr says
I think that would work just fine although I haven’t tried it. The textures will be softer after freezing.
Melissa says
This recipe is a family favorite and like someone else said, this is way more than 5 stars. We use ground beef and it’s amazing!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so happy to hear that!
Kylie says
I can’t give this recipe enough stars! Love!
J says
Love this recipe! Tried once as is and once with premade rice plus a handful of spinach and mushrooms. – Perfect as is and as amended. Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing! I’m glad you liked it!
Lauren says
This is easily a weeknight staple in our household. Such an easy meal to throw together after work.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing Lauren!
Chelsea says
What do you suggest for the tomato sauce ?
Ashley Fehr says
Just your favorite marinara 🙂
Kari Erpelding-Froelich says
Would you be able to use cauliflower rice instead?
Ashley Fehr says
I haven’t tried so I can’t say for sure.
Karynna Lee says
This recipe is on repeat in my home! Not only is it full of flavor (especially when you opt for salsa over tomato sauce), but it’s quick and simple. The only thing I do different is use Mexican cheese over mozzarella.
My picky toddler loves it which is a major win for us!
The Recipe Rebel says
Love to hear that, thank you Karynna!
Seymana Cruz says
How much is a serving size?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi! It’s 1/6 of the recipe. I did not measure it out in cups.