Name: Long Hots or Bell Pepper Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 6 bell peppers or long hots seeded and sliced (or mixed some of each); 2 cups of Italian-flavored breadcrumbs; 6 cloves of minced fresh garlic; 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese; 1 or 2 tablespoons each of fresh basil and flat-leaf parsley; extra virgin olive oil

This is a sliced pepper and breadcrumb baked casserole that was made often in our American Italian home back in the 1960s.

Our vintage recipe was one of Grandma's favorites she would make usually it with homegrown peppers from Dad's garden and would turn them into a delightful tasty meal.

These hot or sweet peppers were sliced and layered with garlic, cheese, and breadcrumbs and the smell of them baking was just mouth-watering.

After the peppers were cooked we piled them high into a loaf of hard-crusted Italian bread and enjoyed them just as they are, however, they sure made a great topping for meats, in a salad, or even in an omelet.

Mom and Grandma made breakfast many times made peppers and egg in a potato frittata using leftovers.

Italian peppers layered with breadcrumbs and baked in a casserole

Additions to Pepper Casserole or Serving Ideas

mushrooms
onions sliced
Utica Greens addition with escarole or another green you prefer
egg omelets
diced pepperoni, bacon, ham, or another cooked meat
shredded mozzarella cheese on top melted or any kind you prefer
side dish with any meal
additional topping for sausage pizza
hard crusted Italian bread in sandwiches
add to a hoagie, submarines, stuffed in a pita bread sandwich
an addition in stuffed pizza dough called stromboli
top pasta with peppers
on bruschetta
steak, meatballs, or Italian sandwich topping

Cooking Methods

Roasted on the Stovetop with Gas Stoves: Grandma would place a whole pepper onto a metal stick put the gas stove burner on high and roast it by turning it often until it was charred. Then peel them when cooled.
Air Fried: preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees. Add the peppers to a heat-proof dish butter flavored oil sprayed dish (or use butter), spray peppers with cooking spray also, vinegar or wine, the seasoning you're going to use, garlic or granulated garlic powder then air fry for 5 minutes stirring once in between times add additional time if needed
Grilled: Rub each pepper with olive oil. Oil spray the grates also. Preheat the grill to 400 degrees on high heat. Then place the peppers directly on the grill. Allow for the peppers to char for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until the inside seems soft.

Tips for Baking Sliced Peppers in a Casserole:

wash peppers and remove seeds. Dry them off with paper towels or a clean tea towel.
fats to use: olive oil, butter, bacon fat, or if on a plant-based diet use your favorite like avocado oil(you can even mix and match fats together)
use fresh spices and herbs: fresh garlic, salt, and pepper are all I use, but you can do any combination of flavors you want IE thyme, sage, oregano, green onions, chives, shallots, or onions,
Pecorino Romano cheese is the best to use in this recipe for flavor and usually doesn't need more salt
choose any kind of sweet or hot peppers you like
use as a topping, side dish, or in recipes like omelets, meats, and sandwiches
perfect plain, in sandwiches, for toppings on pizza, side dishes, or added to scrambled eggs

Additional Recipes We Love:

Pin for later

Peppers in a Casserole are a Delicious Italian Dish

If you were looking for an easy side dish, appetizer, or sandwich this pepper casserole recipe will be a great addition to your collection.

These are perfect for lunch, dinner, or just an appetizer on bruschetta seriously delicious no matter what you end up doing with them.

Just remember hot, sweet, and any style you like can be used in our basic recipe.

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peppers recipes, bell peppers recipe, long hot peppers recipe

Italian

Yield: 12

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Long Hots or Bell Pepper Casserole

Sweet or hot peppers layered with breadcrumbs, and grated cheese and baked into a casserole for a delicious Italian sandwich or topping.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 40 MinTotal time: 55 Min

Ingredients

6 bell peppers or long hots seeded and sliced (or mixed some of each)
2 cups of Italian-flavored breadcrumbs
6 cloves of minced fresh garlic
1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
1 or 2 tablespoons each of fresh basil and flat-leaf parsley
extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 430 degrees. Grease a large casserole dish around 13 x 9 size.
Add the cleaned sliced peppers to an olive oil-sprayed casserole dish (13 x 9).
Add a layer of peppers casserole dish and drizzle with olive oil, minced garlic, then some salt and pepper to taste.
Bake for around 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and dump them in a bowl.
Reuse the same baking pan.
Layer the peppers:
Add some peppers to the bottom of the baking dish in this order: breadcrumbs, cheese, and fresh herbs, and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper to taste.
Repeat until all the peppers are layered and the ingredients are finished.
Drizzle with more EVOO.
Bake at 400 degrees until the desired crispness of peppers and toasted breadcrumbs, I like mine soft so around 30 minutes.
Serve in hard-crusted Italian bread sandwiches, in or on top of omelets, or as a side dish with meats.

Notes

Additions to Pepper Casserole or Serving Ideas

mushrooms
onions sliced
boiled escarole or another green you prefer
egg omelets
diced pepperoni, bacon, ham, or another cooked meat
shredded mozzarella cheese on top melted or any kind you prefer
side dish with any meal
on top of pizza
hard crusted Italian bread in sandwiches
add to a hoagie, submarines, stuffed in a pita bread sandwich
an addition in stromboli
top pasta with peppers
on bruschetta
eggplant, steak, meatballs, or Italian sandwich topping

Cooking Methods

Roasted on the Stovetop with Gas Stoves: Grandma would place a whole pepper onto a metal stick put the gas stove burner on high and roast it by turning it often until it was charred. Then peel them when cooled.
Air Fried: preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees. Add the peppers to a heat-proof dish butter flavored oil sprayed dish (or use butter), spray peppers with cooking spray also, vinegar or wine, the seasoning you're going to use, garlic or granulated garlic powder then air fry for 5 minutes stirring once in between times add additional time if needed
Grilled: Rub each pepper with olive oil. Oil spray the grates also. Preheat the grill to 400 degrees on high heat. Then place the peppers directly on the grill. Allow for the peppers to char for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until the inside seems soft.

Tips for Baking Sliced Peppers in a Casserole:

wash peppers and remove seeds. Dry them off with paper towels or a clean tea towel.
fats to use: olive oil, butter, bacon fat, or if on a plant-based diet use your favorite like avocado oil(you can even mix and match fats together)
use fresh spices and herbs: fresh garlic, salt, and pepper are all I use, but you can do any combination of flavors you want IE thyme, sage, oregano, green onions, chives, shallots, or onions,
Pecorino Romano cheese is the best to use in this recipe for flavor and usually doesn't need more salt
choose any kind of sweet or hot peppers you like
use as a topping, side dish, or in recipes like omelets, meats, and sandwiches
perfect plain, in sandwiches, for toppings on pizza, side dishes, or added to scrambled eggs

Nutrition Facts

Calories

120.73

Fat (grams)

3.58 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

1.18 g

Carbs (grams)

17.94 g

Fiber (grams)

2.26 g

Net carbs

15.68 g

Sugar (grams)

3.7 g

Protein (grams)

4.84 g

Sodium (milligrams)

319.85 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

4.53 mg

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