Description
Mexican-inspired stuffed pepper spaghetti bake combines hearty pasta with bold southwestern flavors. Cheesy, spicy layers deliver a complete meal that satisfies hunger with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (453.6 g) lean ground beef
- 1 pound (453.6 g) spaghetti or angel hair pasta
- 1 ½ cups medium cheddar cheese, grated or sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp dried parsley or 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ tsp kosher sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 2 cups cream of tomato soup or your favorite pasta sauce
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C), establishing an optimal environment for the spaghetti casserole.
- Culinary Foundation: In an oven-safe skillet, sauté onions, bell peppers, and garlic in olive oil until they develop a golden, aromatic profile. Introduce ground beef, meticulously breaking it into uniform crumbles and cooking until achieving a rich, caramelized brown without any pink undertones.
- Flavor Infusion: Integrate Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper into the meat mixture. Incorporate tomato paste and marinara sauce, creating a robust and complex flavor base. Simultaneously, cook spaghetti to perfect tenderness, then drain and set aside.
- Casserole Assembly: Combine the cooked spaghetti with the seasoned meat mixture, ensuring each pasta strand is thoroughly coated. Distribute a portion of cheddar cheese throughout the dish, then top with the remaining cheese to create a luxurious, molten golden crust.
- Baking and Finishing: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and bubble. Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest briefly, permitting the flavors to meld. Optionally, garnish with fresh parsley for a vibrant final touch.
Notes
- Cheese Melting Tip: Let cheese rest for a few minutes after baking to achieve a perfect golden, bubbly crust that enhances overall texture and flavor.
- Meat Browning Technique: Ensure ground beef is thoroughly cooked with no pink spots to guarantee food safety and develop rich, caramelized flavor profiles.
- Pasta Coating Strategy: Mix spaghetti completely with meat sauce to ensure every strand absorbs maximum flavor and maintains ideal moisture throughout the casserole.
- Seasoning Balance: Adjust salt and pepper to taste, remembering that Italian seasoning and marinara sauce already contribute significant flavor complexity to the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg