Description
This Easy Stuffed Pepper Pasta Bake is a delightful blend of flavors, featuring juicy ground beef, vibrant bell peppers, and gooey cheese. Perfect for a quick meal or a comforting dinner, it’s made with simple, wholesome ingredients that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz uncooked rotini pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper roughly chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper roughly chopped
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup monterey jack cheese shredded
- optional: fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell peppers, cover, and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent.
- Stir in the tomato paste and minced garlic. Cover and cook for 1–2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart as it cooks. Cover and cook for 7–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease.
- Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and stir well.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes; stir and let simmer for 3–5 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle evenly with shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute to lightly brown the top, keeping a close eye on it.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired, then serve.
Notes
For added flavor, consider using ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
Feel free to mix different cheeses on top, like cheddar or mozzarella, for variety.
This dish can be made ahead of time and baked later for convenient meal planning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg