What Makes This Recipe So Good
All the goodness of cheesy stuffed peppers baked right into an “unstuffed” pepper casserole! With tangy Italian sausage, melty mozzarella, and crisp peppers and onions, this flavorful entrée will make your whole family happy. Seriously! Even my kids love it. This is a great option for meal prepping! It refrigerates well and reheats nicely in the microwave, so it’s perfect for packing into a work lunch. Just refrigerate it in an airtight container up to 5 days. It’s nice and filling, too, so it won’t have you heading for the vending machine an hour later. What to serve with this casserole? Anything, really! A small side salad, garlic bread, cauliflower rice, or a little pasta (or palmini noodles if you’re keto). For a veggie-heavy meal, try Italian green beans, sauteed spinach, or the best air fryer broccoli.
Key Ingredients
Italian Sausage – For this recipe you’ll want to use Italian link sausage or rope sausage, rather than ground Italian sausage. Ground would work, absolutely, but I really like the larger pieces here. You can use mild or hot Italian sausage, too, whatever you prefer!Mozzarella – As usual, I recommend shredding your own mozzarella. Prepackaged shredded cheese contain fillers and starches that act as anti-clumping agents. They also add unnecessary carbs to the cheese and they keep it from melting as well. For the best results, go with fresh!
Chef’s Tips
The baking dish you use makes a difference here! You want a shallow, 9×13 baking dish rather than a smaller, deeper casserole dish. That way everything cooks evenly and thoroughly! If the layers are too thick, you’ll end up with some peppers and onions that are more crunchy than tender, and the sausage might not cook completely. The sausage shouldn’t be fully cooked in the skillet! You just want to brown it so it gets that delicious crispness. If it’s fully cooked before you mix it into the casserole, you run the risk of it overcooking in the oven. The covered + uncovered baking combo is important, so don’t skip the foil. Covering the dish helps insulate it, so all of the layers get good and hot. Uncovering the dish lets the cheese on top get nice and melty, and crisps the sausage and peppers a little more.
More Delicious Casseroles You’ll Love
Reuben Casserole (Low Carb, Keto Option) Creamy Veg-All Casserole Best Ever Tuna Noodle Casserole (Just Like Mom Made!) Cheesy Spinach Casserole Keto Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole Mexican Chicken Casserole Garlic Bread Casserole Chicken Fajita Casserole Chicken Pot Pie Casserole Poppy Seed Chicken Sweet Potato Casserole
