Cheesy Ground Beef, Peppers & Tomato Bake

Servings: 4 generous portions
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30–35 minutes
Total: about 50 minutes
Oven: 400°F / 200°C

This recipe recreates the dish in your photo: seasoned ground beef and colorful bell peppers in a rich tomato base, covered with melted, browned cheese.

Ingredients

Beef & vegetable filling

1 lb (450 g) ground beef, preferably 80–90% lean
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, sliced or chopped
1 red bell pepper, sliced or chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced or chopped
1½ cups diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
½ cup beef broth
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp chili flakes, optional
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, optional
1 tsp sugar, optional, if the tomatoes are acidic

Cheese topping

1½ cups shredded mozzarella
½ cup shredded cheddar
¼ cup grated Parmesan
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
½ tsp Italian seasoning

Step-by-step

1. Prepare the vegetables

Dice the onion and garlic. Cut the green, red, and yellow peppers into bite-size pieces.

For the appearance in the photo, leave some of the pepper pieces fairly large rather than chopping everything finely.

2. Brown the beef

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the olive oil, then the ground beef.

Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until nicely browned.

If there is a large amount of excess grease, carefully drain some of it.

3. Add onion and garlic

Add the diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds.

Don’t let the garlic burn.

4. Cook the peppers

Add the green, red, and yellow peppers.

Cook for approximately 4–5 minutes.

You want them softened but still slightly firm because they’ll continue cooking in the oven.

5. Build the tomato sauce

Add:

Diced tomatoes
Tomato paste
Beef broth
Italian seasoning
Smoked paprika
Paprika
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Salt
Black pepper
Chili flakes
Worcestershire sauce, if using

Stir everything together.

Simmer uncovered for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture becomes thick and saucy.

Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.

If the tomatoes taste particularly sharp, add 1 tsp sugar.

6. Transfer to baking dishes

Divide the mixture between 4 small oven-safe baking dishes or use one medium-large casserole dish.

Don’t fill disposable aluminum trays completely to the rim; leave a little space.

7. Add the cheese

Combine the mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning.

Spread the cheese generously over the beef mixture.

For the photo-style presentation, make the cheese layer fairly thick.

8. Bake

Place the dishes on a sturdy baking sheet.

Bake uncovered at:

400°F / 200°C for 12–15 minutes

The cheese should be completely melted and bubbling.

9. Brown the cheese

Switch the oven to broil/grill.

Broil for approximately 1–3 minutes, watching constantly.

You want golden-brown spots and bubbling cheese like the dish in the photo.

Don’t walk away during broiling—the cheese can burn very quickly.

10. Finish and serve

Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Serve hot.

Optional finishing touches

For an even more restaurant-style result, add one or two of these after baking:

Fresh chopped parsley
Fresh basil
A pinch of red pepper flakes
Drizzle of olive oil
A little freshly grated Parmesan
Sliced green onion

What to serve with it

This is excellent with:

White rice
Garlic rice
Mashed potatoes
Pasta
Crusty bread
Roasted potatoes
Green salad
Steamed broccoli
Green beans

Complete nut & allergen information

Nuts: No tree nuts in the recipe.
Peanuts: No peanuts.
Almonds/cashews/walnuts: None.
Sesame: None in the recipe.
Dairy: Yes — mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan.
Egg: None.
Soy: Usually none in the basic ingredients, but check the Worcestershire sauce and packaged cheese labels.
Gluten/wheat: The basic recipe contains no wheat, but Worcestershire sauce, broth, tomato products, seasonings, and processed cheese can vary by brand. Use certified gluten-free products if necessary.

Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.