Cheesy Ground Beef & Pepper Bake

Servings: 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30–35 minutes
Total time: 45–50 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine style: American/Mediterranean-inspired
Best served: Hot, straight from the oven

Ingredients
For the beef and vegetables
500 g (1.1 lb) ground beef

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt, or to taste

½ tsp black pepper

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp dried oregano

½ tsp dried basil

½ tsp chili flakes, optional

½ tsp cumin

100 ml (about ⅓ cup) water or beef stock

For the cheese topping
200 g (7 oz) shredded mozzarella

50 g (1.8 oz) cheddar or Monterey Jack

2 tbsp grated Parmesan, optional

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Optional
½ green chili or jalapeño

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

A pinch of red pepper flakes

Fresh coriander/cilantro for garnish

Full Step-by-Step Recipe
1. Prepare the vegetables
Wash and dry the peppers and tomatoes.

Cut:

Onion → small dice

Bell peppers → bite-sized pieces

Tomatoes → medium chunks

Keep the vegetables relatively chunky so they remain visible in the finished bake like the dish in the photo.

2. Brown the beef
Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the ground beef.

Cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until browned.

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

3. Add onion and garlic
Add the chopped onion.

Cook for about 3 minutes.

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

Don’t let the garlic burn.

4. Add the peppers
Add the red, green and yellow peppers.

Cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

You want the peppers slightly softened but not completely mushy.

5. Season
Add:

Salt

Black pepper

Paprika

Smoked paprika

Oregano

Basil

Cumin

Chili flakes

Mix thoroughly.

6. Add tomatoes and tomato paste
Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste.

Pour in approximately 100 ml water or beef stock.

Stir everything together.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 7–10 minutes.

The mixture should become thick and saucy rather than watery.

7. Taste and adjust
Taste the beef mixture.

Adjust:

Salt for more savory flavor

Chili for heat

Paprika for smokiness

Tomato paste for deeper tomato flavor

Turn off the heat.

8. Assemble
Preheat your oven to:

200°C / 400°F

Divide the beef and vegetable mixture between 4 oven-safe baking dishes.

Alternatively, put everything into one large casserole dish.

Spread the mixture evenly.

Cover generously with:

Mozzarella

Cheddar/Monterey Jack

Parmesan, if using

The cheese should form a fairly thick layer, just like in the photograph.

9. Bake
Place the dishes in the preheated oven.

Bake for approximately:

15–20 minutes at 200°C / 400°F

until the cheese has completely melted.

For the browned appearance shown in your photo, switch to broil/grill for 1–3 minutes at the end.

Watch it closely because cheese can burn very quickly.

10. Garnish
Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with:

Fresh parsley

Fresh coriander/cilantro

A little black pepper

Serve hot.

What to Serve With It
This bake works well with:

Garlic bread

Crusty bread

Rice

Baked potatoes

Mashed potatoes

Green salad

Coleslaw

Roasted vegetables

Tortilla chips

Warm pita

For a low-carb meal, serve it with a green salad or steamed vegetables.

Approximate Nutrition
Nutrition varies depending on the fat percentage of the beef and the exact amount/type of cheese.

Approximate per serving, assuming 4 servings:

Nutrient Approx. amount
Calories 600–650 kcal
Protein 43–47 g
Total fat 39–43 g
Saturated fat 16–19 g
Carbohydrates 15–20 g
Fiber 3–4 g
Sugars 7–9 g
Sodium 900–1,200 mg
Calcium 300–400 mg
Iron 4–5 mg

To reduce calories
Use:

5–10% lean ground beef

Reduced-fat mozzarella

Less cheese overall

1 tbsp rather than 2 tbsp oil

To increase protein
Use lean beef and add:

Extra ground beef

Chicken

Turkey

Beans

To reduce carbohydrates
Skip bread/rice/potatoes and serve with salad or vegetables.

Spice Level
Mild:
Omit chili flakes and jalapeño.

Medium:
Use ½ tsp chili flakes.

Hot:
Add 1 chopped jalapeño + ½–1 tsp chili flakes.

Very hot:
Add fresh red chili or a small amount of your preferred hot pepper.

Meat Substitutions
You can replace the beef with:

Ground chicken
Use 500 g ground chicken. Because it is leaner, add a little extra olive oil.

Ground turkey
Use 500 g ground turkey and season generously.

Lamb
Ground lamb gives the dish a richer flavor. Cumin and oregano work particularly well with it.

Vegetarian
Replace the beef with:

400 g cooked kidney beans

400 g cooked black beans

250 g mushrooms

1 cup corn

Best Cheese Combination
For the appearance in your photograph, I’d use:

150 g mozzarella + 50 g cheddar + 20–30 g Parmesan

Mozzarella gives you the long melted cheese stretch, cheddar gives stronger flavor, and Parmesan helps with browning.

Recipe Q&A
Can I make this without an oven?
Yes. Prepare the beef mixture in a skillet, sprinkle cheese over the top, cover with a lid and cook over low heat for 5–8 minutes, until the cheese melts.

Can I prepare it ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare the beef and vegetable mixture, place it in the baking dish, cool it, cover and refrigerate. Add the cheese shortly before baking.

How long does it last in the refrigerator?
Store covered in the refrigerator for approximately 3–4 days.

Can I freeze it?
Yes. Cool completely, portion into freezer-safe containers and freeze. For best quality, use within about 2–3 months.

Can I use pre-shredded cheese?
Yes, although freshly shredded mozzarella generally melts more smoothly.

Why is my casserole watery?
Tomatoes and peppers release water during cooking. Simmer the beef mixture uncovered until it becomes fairly thick before adding the cheese.

Why isn’t my cheese browning?
Move the dish closer to the top heating element and use the oven’s broiler/grill for 1–3 minutes. Watch continuously.

Can I use canned tomatoes?
Yes. Use about 400 g canned diced tomatoes, but drain some of the liquid if they are very watery.

Can I add potatoes?
Yes. Use about 300–400 g small diced potatoes. Parboil them first or cook them until nearly tender before assembling.

Can I make it keto/low-carb?
Yes. The basic beef, peppers, tomatoes and cheese version is relatively low in carbohydrates. Avoid serving it with rice, potatoes or bread and check the carbohydrate content of your tomato products.

Is this gluten-free?
The basic recipe can be gluten-free, but check the labels on your stock, tomato paste, seasonings and shredded cheese to ensure they are certified gluten-free if that is important for you.

Can I make individual portions like the photo?
Yes. Divide the mixture between 4 small oven-safe foil or ceramic dishes, add cheese to each, and bake until bubbling and browned.

What makes the top look like the photograph?
Use a generous layer of mozzarella, don’t cover the dish while baking, and finish under the broiler/grill for a few minutes. Fresh parsley added after baking gives the green flecks visible in the photo.

My recommended version for the closest result
For the closest-looking result to your photo, use 500 g ground beef + red, green and yellow peppers + tomatoes + tomato paste + oregano/paprika/garlic + about 250 g mixed cheese, divide into individual round baking dishes, and finish under the grill until the cheese develops those golden-brown spots.

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.