Festive Christmas Casserole

**Recipe Title: ** Festive Christmas Casserole

**Description: ** This Christmas casserole is a perfect dish to serve a crowd during the holiday season. Packed with hearty ingredients and festive flavors, it's sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

**Servings: ** 7-8 people

**Prep Time: ** 30 minutes

**Cook Time: ** 1 hour

**Ingredients: **

- 1 lb ground beef

- 1 onion, diced

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 1 red bell pepper, diced

- 1 green bell pepper, diced

- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes

- 1 can (14 oz) tomato sauce

- 2 cups cooked rice

- 1 cup frozen peas

- 1 cup frozen corn

- 1 tsp dried oregano

- 1 tsp dried basil

- Salt and pepper to taste

- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

- Fresh parsley, for garnish

**Instructions: **

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.

3. Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the ground beef. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion is translucent.

4. Stir in the diced red and green bell peppers and cook for another 5 minutes until the peppers are softened.

5. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cooked rice, frozen peas, frozen corn, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.

6. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish and spread it out evenly.

7. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.

8. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

9. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

10. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

**Special Tips and Variations: **

- You can customize this casserole by adding other vegetables like carrots or green beans.

- For a spicier version, you can add a dash of hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes.

- This casserole can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking. Just increase the baking time slightly if baking from cold.