Description
This Stuffed Pepper Pasta Bake combines vibrant peppers, rich tomato sauce, and gooey cheese, making it a flavorful, easy choice for family dinners or gatherings. Perfect for those seeking comfort food that’s homemade and satisfying!
Ingredients
- Rotini Pasta (12 oz)
- Olive Oil (2 tbsp)
- Yellow Onion (1 small, diced)
- Green Bell Pepper (1, roughly chopped)
- Orange Bell Pepper (1, roughly chopped)
- Ground Beef (1 lb)
- Tomato Paste (1 tbsp)
- Garlic (1 clove, minced)
- Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes (1 can, 14.5 oz, undrained)
- Tomato Sauce (½ cup)
- Italian Seasoning (1 tsp)
- Salt (½ tsp)
- Black Pepper (¼ tsp)
- Monterey Jack Cheese (1 cup, shredded)
- Fresh Parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Cook rotini in boiling salted water until al dente, about 7-9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté onion and bell peppers in olive oil for 5–7 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Stir in tomato paste and garlic, cooking for 1-2 minutes until aromatic.
- Add ground beef, breaking it up and cooking until no longer pink, about 7–10 minutes, draining excess grease if needed.
- Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, stirring to combine.
- Pour in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, simmer for 3–5 minutes.
- Add pasta to the skillet, tossing everything together until well-coated.
- Transfer mixture to the casserole dish and top with shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until cheese is bubbling, adding a quick broil for a minute if desired.
- Cool slightly and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
Feel free to use different pasta shapes like penne or fusilli per your preference.
Options for protein substitutions include ground turkey or lentils for a lighter dish.
To add more veggies, consider adding chopped mushrooms or zucchini to the mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/6 of the casserole)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg