Description

This Vegetarian Pizza Casserole with White Beans and Rice checks off so many boxes! It’s meat-free, protein packed, full of flavor, easy to make and perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner. The veggies can be easily customized based on what you family likes, and you can choose between white or brown rice. Serve with a side salad and enjoy.

Ingredients

Scale

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small zucchini, diced (1–2 cups)
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1/2 small red onion, diced
1 cup diced mushrooms, I used white button
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 (15 oz) cans white beans, I used great northern beans
2 cups cooked rice, white or brown
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil, diced bell peppers, onion, zucchini and mushrooms. Season with a pinch of salt and cook veggies until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add in the minced garlic, dried oregano and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix together and cook for another 2-3 minutes. I like to turn up the heat a little bit so that my vegetables get nicely browned.
Next, add in the white beans, rice and marinara sauce. Mix together until completely combined and turn the heat off. Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese and the fresh herbs. You can also add extra salt at this time, if needed.
Transfer the entire mixture to an oven safe baking dish.* Evenly top the casserole with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese and cover tightly with foil. Bake the pizza casserole for 20 minutes with the foil on, remove foil and bake for another 7-10 minutes, until cheese is completely melted. You can broil the top for a minute or two, if needed.
Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley, parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, if desired, and enjoy.

Notes

*If you have an oven safe frying pan, you don’t need to transfer the mixture to a different dish. You can just sprinkle the cheese right on and stick it in the oven.

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Category: Dinner, Vegetarian
Method: Stovetop, Oven
Cuisine: American