Description
Warm Tuscan Beef Casserole brings comfort straight from Italian kitchens to your dinner table. Hearty beef, rich herbs, and tender vegetables meld together in a rustic dish that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 large onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 medium carrots
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
Other Ingredients:
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 14.5 ounces can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil into a large skillet, heating over medium temperature until shimmering. Sauté 1 finely chopped onion until translucent, stirring frequently for 3-4 minutes.
- Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 diced carrots, and both bell peppers to the skillet. Cook your vegetables until tender and fragrant, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Move your vegetables to one side of the skillet and add 1.5 pounds ground beef. Break the meat into small crumbles, cooking for 5-7 minutes until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Pour 2 cups tomato sauce, 1 drained can of diced tomatoes, and 1 cup beef broth into the skillet. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper across your mixture.
- Allow your sauce to simmer for 10 minutes, letting the flavors meld together and slightly reduce.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Transfer the beef mixture into a casserole dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
- Scatter 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Parmesan cheese across the top. Optionally, sprinkle ½ cup breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
- Bake your casserole for 25-30 minutes until the cheese turns golden and starts bubbling around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let your dish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.
Notes
- Use a heavy-bottomed skillet to ensure even cooking and prevent burning the vegetables.
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and keep the casserole from becoming greasy.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack for added flavor complexity.
- Let the casserole rest after baking so the cheese sets and the dish becomes easier to serve and cut cleanly.
- Prep Time: 8-11 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-54 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 295 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg