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

When should you add bell peppers to 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.

Should I cook my bell peppers before stuffing them? ›

You can also pre-cook them in the oven before they're filled. Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended by the recipe, place them in the oven until they are tender, then fill and return the stuffed peppers to the oven for the remainder of the cooking time.

How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting soggy? ›

To prevent it from happening, you should try to avoid or reduce excess moisture – here are three of the things you can do:
  1. Pre-cook Peppers. ...
  2. Use Leftover Rice. ...
  3. Save Cheese for the Topping.

Why do my stuffed peppers fall apart? ›

The problem stems from the common practice of boiling the peppers to start. The goal is to tenderize them before they're stuffed and baked, but generally the poor fellas are over-boiled, which results in their tendency to fall apart and, as noted, be flavorless.

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.

Will peppers soften in slow cooker? ›

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours or until peppers are soft.

Should you soften peppers before stuffing them? ›

The peppers need to be par-cooked before filling so that they cook through. Many recipes call for boiling the peppers first, but I prefer to roast them – more flavor and less cleanup!

What is the best way to Precook peppers for stuffed peppers? ›

Some stuffed pepper recipes call for boiling your peppers before baking. Others don't pre-cook them and they turn out too crunchy. Our research found that pre-baking the peppers for 30 minutes makes them perfectly tender! Once you stuff them, you'll need 20 minutes in the hot even to get the cheese nice and melty.

What goes well with stuffed peppers? ›

Stuffed green peppers are a meal in itself so I prepare a fresh tossed salad with French bread. Or dinner rolls. What are some good side dishes to serve with stuffed green peppers? Scalloped potatoes, buttered noodles, a small sweet potato, sliced and fried squash, a salad, cole slaw —- just to name a few.

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 are my stuffed peppers taking so long to cook? ›

ANSWER: Some recipes call for blanching the peppers to soften them slightly; others do not. Green peppers at a local store were stuffed with a raw ground meat mixture and looked as though they were not boiled or blanched. If you bake peppers this way, they will take longer to cook and will hold their shape better.

Why are my stuffed peppers bitter? ›

To prevent stuffed green peppers from turning out bitter, consider these tips: Choose fresh peppers: Select ripe, green peppers with smooth skin and no signs of wrinkling or blemishes. Remove the pith and seeds: Cut out the white pith and seeds, as they can contribute to bitterness.

How do you fix too much pepper in stuffing? ›

Add something sweet. A sweet ingredient distracts away from the extra pepper. Sprinkle a pinch of sugar into your food, or mix in a spoonful of honey. Sweet ketchup is another great way to balance out your dish.

How do you keep stuffed peppers upright? ›

With the simple trick of using a muffin tin, ramekin, or other handy kitchen pan, you can ensure that your stuffed peppers stay upright and always cook perfectly. Say goodbye to the frustration of toppling peppers and enjoy a hassle-free cooking experience.

Can you overcook peppers? ›

Make sure you don't overcook them or they will be a little mushy. Take them off the grill when they give a little and are no longer ridgid, and the skin is uniformly charred. Once they steam in a closed container and collapse on themselves, the peppers will be sweet, soft and silky.

When should you add pepper when cooking? ›

If you're a fan of black pepper, adding fresh ground (never pre ground) pepper after cooking and immediately before eating provides the best experience. Heat, fat and moisture have a dramatic effect on the flavor and aroma of black pepper, rounding it off and subduing the highest and lowest notes.

When should I add vegetables to slow cooker? ›

For more delicate vegetables, add them last. Precooking Can Boost Flavor. While the slow cooker is designed to make meals as easy as possible, you can add another depth of flavor by sautéing vegetables first, before adding them to the crock. This is especially true with aromatics like onion and garlic.

Do you cook peppers before or after meat? ›

Some recipes call for the ingredients to be raw when combined and then cooked; however, for the best results in texture and flavor, you should brown the meat before stuffing the peppers. Ground beef cooks at a slower speed compared to peppers, taking up to an hour in the oven.

Will vegetables soften in slow cooker? ›

Yes, they will definitely soften in the slow cooker. However, it does take a while, so you need to allow yourself some time and check for doneness.

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