🛒 What You’ll Need: Pantry Staples, Maximum Joy

Grab these cozy ingredients—you probably already have most:

1½ lbs (680g) lean ground beef (or sub with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles)

2 bell peppers, sliced (mix colors: red, green, yellow!)

½ yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp seasoned salt (Lawry’s or Morton’s works perfectly)

4 slices Provolone cheese (or use shredded for easier melt)

4 large eggs, room temperature

¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half)

1 tsp hot sauce (like Frank’s or Tabasco)

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (for umami depth)

Optional upgrades:

Add mushrooms for extra savoriness

Swap Provolone for Cheez Whiz or American —for true Philly authenticity!

Top with sliced black olives or jalapeños

That’s it.

No bread.

No mayonnaise.

Just real food, baked into brilliance.

💡 Pro tip: For richer flavor, sauté veggies in a little butter!

🔥 How to Make It: Step-by-Step, Bite-by-Bite

Let’s cook this like we’re making edible confetti—one golden forkful at a time.

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish (or similar).

Step 2: Cook the Beef & Veggies

In a large skillet:

Brown ground beef over medium heat until no pink remains.

Drain excess fat.

Add bell peppers, onion, and garlic; cook 5–7 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized.

Stir in seasoned salt.

Remove from heat.

👉 This builds deep, savory flavor fast.

Step 3: Make the Custard Base

In a bowl:

Whisk eggs, heavy cream, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.

Pour over the beef and veggie mixture; stir to combine.

Step 4: Layer & Cheese

Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish.

Smooth the top.

Lay 4 slices of Provolone evenly over the surface—or sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Bake 30–35 minutes, until:

Center is set (a knife comes out clean)

Top is golden brown

Edges are bubbly

👉 For extra browning: Broil 1–2 minutes at the end (watch closely!).

Step 6: Cool & Serve

Let rest 5–10 minutes before slicing (helps hold shape).

Cut into squares.

Serve warm—with:

A dollop of mayo or horseradish sauce

Pickle spears 🥒

Or all by itself—it’s that good

Bonus: Leftovers reheat beautifully in the oven or air fryer (never microwave!).

💡 Pro Tips for Next-Level Success

Tip

Why It Works

✅ Don’t skip resting

Prevents a runny center when cutting

✅ Use full-fat cream & cheese

Richer texture, better browning

✅ Make ahead: Assemble unbaked; refrigerate overnight

Saves time the next day

✅ Freeze it: Cool completely, wrap tightly, freeze

Thaw and reheat for instant comfort

✅ Gluten-free? Naturally GF—no changes needed!

🍽️ When to Serve These Golden Gems

🍲 Weeknight dinners with busy families

🏕️ Camping trips (with oven-safe pan!)

🎉 Potlucks and game days

🫶 To someone who says, “I don’t eat casseroles” —watch them ask for seconds

Because once they taste that beef-pepper, cheesy-melt magic?

They’ll be converted.

❤️ Final Thought: Great Food Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

You don’t need 17 ingredients or a culinary degree to make something magical.

Sometimes, all it takes is:

A pound of beef

A few bell peppers

And the courage to say: “Today, I’m feeding my people.”

And when your partner says, “Did you get this from a restaurant?”

Or your kid hugs you after the first bite…

You’ll know:

You didn’t just make dinner.

You made love.

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