Unleash Flavor with This Irresistible Keto Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe!

This keto stuffed pepper casserole recipe offers a delicious and convenient way to enjoy the flavors of classic stuffed peppers without the added carbs. It combines the comforting elements of traditional comfort food in an easy-to-make baking dish, perfect for feeding the entire family with enough for leftovers.

Why Choose a Casserole?

Casseroles are great time-savers. This unstuffed pepper casserole is no exception. All the ingredients are easy to find and packed with essential vitamins and protein, making it a nourishing and satisfying meal.

Ingredients and Preparation

Key Ingredients

Meat: Ground pork and ground beef are used in this recipe. You can substitute with ground turkey or chicken.
Vegetables: Green bell peppers, onions, and plenty of fresh garlic create an aromatic base. You can use bell peppers in a variety of colors. All those bell peppers are actually the same plant, just at different stages of ripeness.
Tomatoes: Canned tomatoes save time, but fresh tomatoes can also be used.
Cauliflower Rice: Use fresh or frozen cauliflower rice as a low-carb alternative to traditional rice. For the best taste, make your own cauliflower rice. If using frozen, ensure as much water as possible is removed.
Cheese: Fresh mozzarella cheese is recommended.
Spices: Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and paprika enhance the Italian flavors. Red pepper flakes can be added for extra heat. Use fresh herbs for even more flavor.
Oil: Olive oil or avocado oil is needed for sautéing.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat oven to 350°F.
Sauté Aromatics and Brown Meat: Heat olive oil in a pot or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, beef, peppers, onion, garlic, and seasonings. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is browned (about 5 minutes). To save yourself prep time, pre-brown the meat with the peppers, garlic, and onion. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Combine Ingredients: Remove from heat and stir in the riced cauliflower and drained tomatoes.
Assemble Casserole: Spread the mixture evenly into a 9x13-inch casserole pan.
Add Cheese: Top with sliced mozzarella.
Bake: Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is beginning to brown.
Broil (Optional): For a golden cheese color, place the casserole under the broiler for a minute or two.

Serving Suggestions

This casserole is a main course that will feed a large family. Serve it with a low-carb side dish.

Side Dish Ideas

Salad: Spinach strawberry salad with vinaigrette is a perfect chopped salad.
Vegetables: Southern green beans topped with bacon. Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green beans, spinach, or even a cooked cabbage dish would pair nicely with this dish.
Bread: Keto fathead garlic bread complements the Italian sauce. Keto biscuits, cornbread, or English muffins are also great options.

Nutritional Benefits

Bell Peppers: Red peppers have the best nutritional value, with more beta-carotene and vitamin C than green peppers. Green peppers provide nearly 200% of the suggested daily intake of Vitamin C.
Cauliflower Rice: Riced cauliflower has only 25 calories in 100g, compared to 130 calories in 100g of white rice.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Making Ahead

Yes! Cook the casserole as directed in the recipe, but don’t top it with the mozzarella cheese. Let the casserole cool before wrapping it tightly, first in plastic wrap and then foil.

Storage

Leftover stuffed pepper casserole can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. Divide the leftover casserole into meal-sized portions and place them into airtight freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Thawing

There are several ways to thaw your frozen stuffed pepper casserole.

Overnight: Place the frozen casserole in your refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight. This is the preferred method.
In the Oven: Cook the casserole from frozen, but add extra cooking time (approximately 30-45 minutes or more).
In the Microwave: Use your microwave for a “quick thaw.” Unwrap the frozen casserole, cover it with microwave-safe plastic wrap, and poke a few holes in the plastic. Use your microwave’s defrost setting to thaw the casserole. Halfway through, test the casserole by sticking a knife into the middle.

Variations

Keto Stuffed Pepper Skillet

For a quicker option, try a Keto Stuffed Pepper Skillet. This one-pan meal uses ground beef, cauliflower rice, sweet peppers, and cheese, and is ready in 30 minutes.

Meat: Ground beef is used for this recipe, but you can also use ground chicken or turkey.
Onion: Use a 1/4 cup of chopped onion to add flavor without raising the carb count too much.
Tomatoes: Go easy on the diced tomatoes and tomato paste.

Skillet Instructions

Brown the Meat: Heat oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook, breaking up any clumps with the back of a wooden spoon, until the beef is nicely browned.
Add Vegetables: Stir in the cauliflower rice, chopped peppers, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and water until well combined. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
Add Cheese: Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the skillet and cover with a lid. Cook 3 to 4 minutes more, until the cheese is melted.

Additional Tips

Vegetable Prep: Prep your veggies and other ingredients while the ground beef is cooking.
Tomato Paste: Whisk tomato paste with broth and tamari until completely dissolved before adding to the other ingredients.
Cheese: Mozzarella or any good melting cheese can be used.
Bell Pepper Ripeness and Taste: Green bell peppers, being the least ripe, are less sweet than the others and have a slightly bitter taste. Some people prefer the bitter flavor and it works better in some recipes, like recipes for stuffed bell peppers. The red bell peppers are the sweetest of the four.
Cooking Time: This is an easy casserole to make and comes together quickly with 25 minutes of prep time.

Other Keto Casserole Recipes

Chicken Vegetable Casserole: Low in carbs and packed with heart-healthy vegetables.
Low Carb Eggplant Lasagna Casserole: Tastes just like lasagna, but it's naturally gluten-free.
Paleo Buffalo Chicken Casserole with Ranch Sauce: Popular for game-day dinners.
Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole: Has all the classic cheeseburger toppings and flavors but in a low-carb casserole.
Low-Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole: Super cheesy and only has 2g net carbs per serving.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

tags: #keto #stuffed #pepper #casserole #recipe