Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers Recipe (2024)

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Sweet bell peppers stuffed with a classic savory ground beef and rice filling all in the slow cooker, makes these Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers a family favorite! EVERYTHING goes in uncooked and comes out one delicious, cozy meal.

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers

Everyone loves an all-in-one meal, right? And that's exactly what these Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers are! With sweet bell peppers, perfectly seasoned ground beef, and warm rice all in one easy recipe, there's no need to deal with side dishes!

Plus, you literally don't have to cook anything to prep. It all goes in the Crockpot uncooked, and comes out a tasty, filling, and easy meal. A busy mom's dream.

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers feature sweet bell peppers stuffed with savory ground beef and warm rice simmered in a tomato base. If you like it cheesy, add cheese in the filling and on top.

What Kind of Rice Should I Use?

White long grain rice is what's called for in these Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers, and it's what I recommend.

Shorter grain rice is too sticky, and brown rice has a longer cook time. Absolutely do not use minute rice, as it will turn to mush being cooked that long in the slow cooker.

Do You Have to Cook the Ground Beef Before Adding It to the Slow Cooker?

Nope. In fact, not cooking it allows the beefy flavor to meld better into the rice.

What to Do With the Pepper Tops

Food waste is a bummer, so don't throw away those tops after you cut them off your peppers! Here are some ways to use them so they won't go to waste!

  • Omelets - Denver omelets are my fave!
  • Quesadillas
  • Green salads
  • Pasta salads
  • Pasta
  • Snacks, dipped into hummus or ranch
  • On top of nachos

What to Serve with Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers came make a pretty good, well-rounded, and filling meal by itself. But if you're looking for some extras on the side, here are some ideas.

  • Toppings such as sour cream, extra cheese, or a sprinkle of fresh parsley or cilantro.
  • Cornbread
  • Vegetables - Some simple steamed vegetables, sauteed zucchini and squash, or a fresh green salad will complement these peppers perfectly.
  • Refried beans
  • Chips and salsa or guacamole

More Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love

  • Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs - cook the Italian meatballs and the spaghetti all in the slow cooker for an easy one-pot dump and go dinner.
  • Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff - this creamy comfort food classic features tender beef and mushrooms in a creamy sauce served with warm noodles.
  • Slow Cooker Meatloaf - our family favorite meatloaf adapted for the slow cooker.
  • Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches - a Chicago classic cooked right in your favorite own slow cooker, with tender, juicy beef topped with cheese and giardiniera.
  • Mississippi Pot Roast - the easiest and the BEST roast you'll ever make.

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers Video

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers Recipe (3)

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers

Sweet bell peppers stuffed with a classic savory ground beef and rice filling all in the slow cooker, makes these Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers a family favorite! EVERYTHING goes in uncooked and comes out one delicious, cozy meal.

4.96 from 21 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Crock Pot, Crockpot, Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours hours

Total Time: 8 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 361kcal

Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 6 large bell peppers
  • 1 pound lean ground beef uncooked
  • ¾ cup long grain white rice uncooked
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 jar pasta sauce (24 ounces)
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (14 ounces) drained
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella divided (optional)

Instructions

  • Cut tops off of bell peppers and remove membranes and seeds. Place peppers standing up into the Crock Pot. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients, including half of the cheese. Mix together with a strong spoon or clean hands.

  • Spoon ground beef mixture into peppers.

  • Cover and cook on Low for 5-7 hours, until ground beef is cooked and rice is tender. About 15-30 minutes before serving, top stuffed pepper with remaining cheese, then continue cooking until cheese is melted.

Notes

  • Cheese: I looove cheese in mine, but it's totally optional. If you need to be dairy free, it won't be missed!
  • Rice: Very old rice that has been sitting in your pantry for who-knows-how-long takes longer to cook. For this particular recipe, you'll want fairly new rice that has been stored well. Brown rice also takes longer to cook, so I recommend sticking with white rice.
  • Ground Beef: You can also use ground pork or turkey.
  • Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pepper | Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 1364mg | Potassium: 1141mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 4490IU | Vitamin C: 168mg | Calcium: 212mg | Iron: 5mg

Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in October 2015. It was updated with new pictures, tips, and video and republished in October 2022.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy Brookshire says

    Tried these tonight awesome. But I had more stuffing mixture left. Can you make yo some and freeze whole stuff peppers for later

    Reply

  2. Theresa says

    Can you make these the night before and then put them in the slow cooker the morning? I want to mix everything and stuff peppers the night before. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Michelle says

      I've never tried it, but I would guess that's okay. Let me know if you do try it.

      Reply

  3. Peggy says

    I made this dish yesterday, and it was so delicious! Served it with mashed potatoes and garden salad for a complete and perfect meal. This will now be my go-to recipe for stuffed peppers. However, I respectfully disagree with not using minute rice. That is all I had on hand and had to use it. The end product was not even close to being mushy. This recipe is a definite keeper!

    Reply

  4. Linda says

    I could nit bring myself to not cook the hamburger before mixing all the ingredients. I cooked it first then Dded it all together. I made the filling the night before, had my peppers already to go for the next morning

    Reply

    • Phillip G says

      Me too, I also pre-cooked ground beef in little butter, drained and used on Colby-Jack cheese, Was delicious.

      Reply

  5. Phillip G says

    Simply delicious. I'm just shy of 83 and made Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers. Only things I did different were...
    browned the ground beef in little butter, and used only Colby-Jack Cheese. Was perfect.

    Reply

  6. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

    Oh wow, this looks so delicious. My family is going to devour it!

    Reply

  7. Elizabeth says

    I love stuffed peppers and I love the idea of cooking them in the crockpot. What a time saver at dinner time! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  8. Anjali says

    This recipe was so easy to make and turned out to be both flavorful and satisfying! Even my kids loved it!

    Reply

  9. Louise Cayzer says

    Such a cozy and delicious recipe. I love that it can be made in the crock pot.

    Reply

  10. Mairead says

    Such a tasty slow cooker recipe - definitely a keeper for me.

    Reply

  11. Ned says

    I love easy weeknight meals and this is no exception! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  12. Farah Abumaizar says

    Yum! I love anything that's cheesy and these stuffed peppers look like they are no exception. Always on the lookout for slow cooker recipes, can't wait to try this out!

    Reply

  13. Sara Welch says

    This was such a delicious and easy dish for a busy weeknight! Easily, a new favorite recipe; my whole family loved it!

    Reply

    • Dina and Bruce says

      You just blew my mind. I freaking love stuffed peppers, but I do not enjoy the time I have to wait to bake them. Or all the dishes for cooking rice and frying meat! THESE WERE SO TASTY!!!

      Reply

  14. Regina says

    This is so quick and easy!! My son asks for it every few weeks. I love that I don’t have to precook meat (I use ground sausage) or the rice. They come out perfect everytime. Thank you!

    Reply

  15. Debbie Gillette says

    I didn't cook anything ahead like the recipe said. Used a 10 oz. can of Rotel original tomatoes for the tomatoes and garlic powder because I didn't have fresh. They were fantastic! I will definitely make these again and again.

    Reply

  16. Jeanne says

    I have the stuffed peppers in the crock pot right now and loved how easy this recipe was to put together! Can't wait until they are done. Have never made stuffed peppers but have had the Stoffer's frozen ones and always liked them. Thank you so much for posting this recipe. They look delicious already.

    Reply

  17. Carrie Robinson says

    I haven't had stuffed peppers in forever! What a great idea to make them in the slow cooker. 🙂

    Reply

  18. Dannii says

    This is now my favourite way to make stuffed peppers. So easy!

    Reply

  19. Chelsea says

    I added the cheese (and then some!) for an extra cheesy result and these were SO good and so easy. I'm looking forward to making them again really soon.

    Reply

  20. Sara Welch says

    Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it was a savory success! Easy, hearty and delicious; a great recipe for busy weeknights, indeed!

    Reply

  21. R Deal says

    I have made this so many times and it’s always yum. I usually use ground sausage cuz that’s what my boys prefer and as far as cheese, just whatever I have in hand. This time I used Swiss and Gruyère and it was amazing!

    Thanks so much!

    Reply

  22. Holly Martin says

    If you don't precooked ground beef how do you keep them from sitting in hamburger grease? The recipe sounds delicious

    Reply

    • Michelle says

      You can use a leaner ground beef so there's not much grease, but it gets absorbed into the rice and rice mixture pretty well even if you don't use very lean ground. Basically, instead of cooking everything in butter or olive oil, the hamburger grease does the job.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you soften peppers before stuffing them? ›

I definitely suggest par-cooking the bell peppers first, just a little bit before stuffing them. Not only does this help to soften the bell peppers, but it also cuts down on your cook time. As the bell peppers are cooking you can make the filling, shaving off about 20 minutes from your total cook time.

When should you add peppers to a slow cooker? ›

I add only part of the bell peppers in the beginning, which gives the tomato sauce and the chicken the flavor of peppers, but still keeps most of the bell peppers nice and crisp, since they are sort of steaming during the second part of the cooking process.

How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting soggy? ›

First and foremost, it's essential to precook your peppers. Bell peppers contain more than 90% water, much of which is released during the cooking process. If you cook your stuffed peppers in one fell swoop, that moisture will release and end up in the final dish.

How long does it take to soften peppers? ›

To boil bell peppers: Cook peppers, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water for 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp-tender. To sauté bell peppers: Heat a skillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking oil over medium-high heat. Carefully add bell peppers and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes.

How do you fix too much pepper in stuffing? ›

6 Tips to Fix Dishes That Are Too Spicy
  1. Add Dairy. There's a lot of hype about using milk to help provide relief from spicy foods, and for good reason. ...
  2. Use Citrus. ...
  3. Add Nuts or Nut Butters. ...
  4. Sprinkle in Sugar. ...
  5. Add Starch or Grains. ...
  6. Dilute It.
Apr 14, 2022

How long does it take vegetables to soften in a slow cooker on high? ›

Tender vegetables such as zucchini and beans can be added to your dish in last ¾ - 1 hour of cooking when cooking on High, or 2 hours if cooking on Low. Hard, starchy vegetables like potato and carrots are best added around 3 hours before the meal is done if cooking on High, and 4 hours on Low.

Do vegetables go soft in slow cooker? ›

In general, if you place vegetables on the bottom, hard vegetables like carrots and potatoes will get softer faster, both due to the heat and ultimately being submerged in any juices from the roast. If you cook them very long, they may get quite mushy, which some people like and others don't.

Why do my stuffed peppers taste bland? ›

The thing about most stuffed bell pepper recipes is 3that they call for salt in the filling, not for the peppers themselves. Without salt, the peppers are flabby and bland, merely a filling case. With a sprinkle of salt, they transform into a sweet and powerfully savory part of the dish.

Why do stuffed peppers take so long to cook? ›

For Uncooked Fillings in Whole Peppers:

It's possible to stuff peppers with a raw filling. If you're stuffing a whole pepper, it takes awhile to cook because the filling needs to reach a safe temperature. Out of all the stuffed peppers, this one takes the longest to cook because of its size.

How do you get the most flavor out of peppers? ›

Filleting a pepper is the best way to easily separate the seeds and pith from the flesh. Doing this allows you to get the most pepper flavor possible with the least amount of heat.

Do you have to boil peppers before stuffing them? ›

Easy. You don't need to cook the peppers before stuffing them. Budget-Friendly. Stuffed peppers turn humble, affordable ingredients like rice and ground beef into a well-rounded meal (don't miss these other Ground Beef Dinner Ideas for more wallet-friendly meals).

Which color bell pepper is the healthiest? ›

Red peppers pack the most nutrition, because they've been on the vine longest. Bell peppers come in a range of colors, including red (the sweetest), orange, yellow, and green.

What seasonings are good on peppers? ›

I love to use thyme on my sautéed bell peppers. But there are other herbs that also compliment the sweetness of them that you can use, too. Try adding basil, chives, cilantro, coriander, cumin, curry, garlic, marjoram, or rosemary to you bell peppers when cooking for more amazing flavor combinations.

How do you keep peppers crisp when canning? ›

Pickles, including pickled peppers, can be made crisper by adding calcium chloride granules. Calcium chloride does not lower the acidity in the jar and is safer to use than lime. It is used in commercially canned pickles.

Should peppers be soft when cooked? ›

Boiled or steamed peppers should be tender, but not cooked long enough that they begin to lose their colour. Boiling peppers will take approximately 5 minutes, while steaming will take slightly longer, up to 15 minutes.

How do you firm up peppers? ›

Peppers are a tricky bunch, with their ability to bounce back depending on the type of pepper and the thickness of the skin. If they've lost their crispness and you want them for salads, you can slice them up and try a 10 minute ice bath in a bowl. You can also pickle the peppers, even in their limp state.

How do you keep bell peppers from getting soggy? ›

"Humidity is the key here, as too much moisture can cause bell peppers to lose their crunch," Rotman says. She recommends you place bell peppers in a resealable bag and keep them in the front of the crisper drawer. That might seem very specific but we suggest you make room for bell peppers there.

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