Description

This Easy Stuffed Pepper Pasta Bake brings together delicious flavors with rotini and ground beef, topped with melted cheese. Ideal for a quick dinner or comforting meal, this dish is both simple to prepare and wonderfully satisfying.

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

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
Boil salted water in a large pot, add pasta and cook until al dente, then drain and set aside.
In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell peppers, cover, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened.
Stir in tomato paste and minced garlic, cover and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add ground beef to the skillet, cooking while breaking it apart until fully browned, about 7-10 minutes. Drain excess grease.
Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning; mix well.
Incorporate tomato sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes, simmer for 3-5 minutes.
Fold cooked pasta into the skillet, tossing to combine everything evenly.
Transfer mixture to the prepared casserole dish, topping with shredded cheese.
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbling.
Optional: Broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute to brown the top, watching closely to prevent burning.
Let cool for a few minutes, garnish with parsley if desired, and serve.

Notes

Feel free to substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
For added flavor, consider mixing in your favorite vegetables like zucchini or spinach.
This dish can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before baking.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 480
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 900mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 49g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 24g
Cholesterol: 70mg