1. Introduction
Stuffed Pepper Pasta takes all the rich, savory flavors of traditional stuffed peppers—savory ground beef, tender rice, diced bell peppers, and melted cheese—and transforms them into an easy, comforting pasta bake. By incorporating pasta shells along with rice, this dish captures every drop of flavorful tomato sauce and gooey melted cheese. It is an ideal family-style casserole for weeknight dinners, meal prepping, or potlucks.
2. Ingredients
To recreate the exact texture and rich finish featured in the dish, you will need:
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Beef & Rice: 1 lb lean ground beef (or ground turkey) and 1 cup cooked long-grain white or brown rice
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Pasta: 8 oz medium pasta shells (conchiglie work best to hold the meat and rice mixture)
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Vegetables: 2 large bell peppers (1 green and 1 red, chopped into bite-sized pieces) and 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
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Tomato Sauce Base: 1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes (with juices) and 1.5 cups marinara sauce or tomato sauce
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The Cheese: 1.5 cups freshly shredded Mozzarella cheese (or a blend of Mozzarella and Monterey Jack)
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Seasonings: 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
