Description
This Easy Stuffed Pepper Pasta Bake combines tender rotini pasta, savory ground beef, and colorful bell peppers baked with melted cheese, creating a comforting meal that’s simple to prepare and perfect for family dinners.
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. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to the 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 they’re softened and translucent.
- Stir in the tomato paste and minced garlic. Cover and cook for 1–2 minutes, just until everything smells fragrant.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart as it cooks. Cover and cook for 7–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat is fully cooked. Drain any excess grease, leaving a little behind for flavor.
- Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and stir well.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes, stir again, and let the mixture simmer for 3–5 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to your prepared casserole dish and sprinkle the top evenly with shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute to lightly brown the top — keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Garnish with parsley if you like, then serve.
Notes
Feel free to substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef for a lighter option.
You can add other vegetables such as zucchini or mushrooms to the mixture for added nutrition.
For a bit of spice, consider adding crushed red pepper flakes to the meat mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 80mg