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.
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!
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
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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.
cook the sausage and veggiesadd garlic and seasonings Pour broth into the pan.
Mix in the salsa and rice.
add brothmix in the rice and salsaStir 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.
add cheeselet the cheese meltVariations 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!
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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.
*I’ve updated this recipe to include a few more ingredients for more flavor. You can always make it the original way if you prefer! Simply omit the onion, garlic, oregano and cumin.
Serving: 265grams | Calories: 426cal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 1086mg | Potassium: 524mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1863IU | Vitamin C: 69mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 2mg
Keywords stuffed pepper casserole
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