Ingredients
Meat
- 2 lbs ground beef (85% lean or leaner)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Vegetables
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
Dairy
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 8 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Cook the beef: Preheat an oven-safe skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking apart any large chunks as it cooks. Season the beef with salt and pepper for flavor.
- Sauté the vegetables: Add the diced onion and both green and red bell peppers to the skillet with the beef. Sauté the mixture until the vegetables soften and become fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
- Mix in cream cheese: Stir in the cream cheese thoroughly until it melts into the meat and vegetable mixture, creating a creamy texture. Once combined, remove the skillet from the stovetop.
- Add provolone cheese: Cover the entire top of the meat and vegetable mixture evenly with the slices of provolone cheese.
- Bake the casserole: Place the oven-safe skillet in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C). Bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the pepperoni top is golden and the cheese has fully melted.
- Serve: Remove from oven carefully and serve the casserole hot. Enjoy immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring the mixture to a baking dish.
- You can substitute cream cheese with a lighter option like Neufchâtel for fewer calories.
- For added authenticity, thinly sliced steak could be used instead of ground beef, but it will increase cook time.
- Add sliced mushrooms or hot peppers if you prefer more vegetable variety or spice.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated but are best consumed within 2 days for optimal freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Carb
