Effortless & Delicious: The Best Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers with Ground Beef & Rice
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Welcome to your new go-to recipe for a comforting and incredibly easy weeknight dinner: Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers! This delightful dish features tender bell peppers brimming with a savory ground beef and rice filling, all cooked to perfection in your slow cooker. It’s a true family favorite that simplifies mealtime without sacrificing flavor.
The beauty of this slow cooker stuffed peppers recipe lies in its simplicity and versatility. You can prepare the flavorful meat and rice mixture ahead of time, making it an ideal option for meal prepping busy schedules. Once prepped, it’s merely a matter of stuffing the bell peppers and letting your crockpot do the rest. The result is a hearty, wholesome, and satisfying meal that’s especially inviting during the cooler winter months.
Gone are the days of complicated weeknight meals. With this recipe, you’re set for a delicious experience that brings warmth and flavor to your dinner table with minimal effort. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or new to slow cooking, these stuffed bell peppers are designed for success, offering a rich taste that the whole family will adore.
Why Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers are a Must-Try
Stuffed peppers have always been a classic comfort food, but making them in a slow cooker elevates their convenience to a whole new level. Here’s why this method stands out:
- Hands-Off Cooking: After a little initial prep, your slow cooker takes over, allowing you to go about your day without constantly monitoring the stove or oven.
- Tender & Flavorful: The low and slow cooking process ensures the bell peppers become incredibly tender, almost melting in your mouth, while the flavors of the ground beef and rice filling meld beautifully together.
- Meal Prep Friendly: The filling can be made in advance, saving precious time on cooking day. Simply stuff and cook when you’re ready.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with common, affordable ingredients, this recipe is a fantastic way to feed a crowd or enjoy leftovers without breaking the bank.
- Customizable: Easily adapt the filling to your family’s preferences with different meats, vegetables, or seasonings.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers:
- Bell Peppers: The star of the show! Feel free to pick your favorite bell peppers – green, red, yellow, or orange. While green peppers offer a slightly more traditional, robust flavor that stands up well to the rich filling, any color will work beautifully and add vibrant hues to your dish. Choose large, firm peppers that can hold a good amount of filling.
- Lean Ground Beef: Using lean ground beef ensures a less greasy filling, though you’ll still drain any excess fat after browning. You can also opt for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter alternative.
- Onion: Diced yellow or white onion adds an essential aromatic base to the meat mixture, deepening its flavor profile.
- Uncooked White Rice: White rice cooks directly in the slow cooker with the filling, absorbing all the delicious juices and expanding to create a hearty texture. Long-grain white rice or Jasmine rice are excellent choices. If using brown rice, note that it may require a slightly longer cooking time or pre-cooking.
- Seasoning: A simple yet powerful blend of minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and paprika brings warmth and depth to the filling. Freshly minced garlic is always best for maximum flavor.
- Rotel (Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilis): This ingredient is a secret weapon for adding a burst of tomato flavor with a subtle kick of green chilis. It provides a lovely acidity and moisture to the filling, making it incredibly savory.
- Tomato Paste: Essential for thickening the meat mixture and intensifying the rich tomato flavor. It acts as a binder, ensuring the filling stays together inside the peppers.
- Brown Sugar: Just a touch of brown sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes and adds a subtle sweetness that rounds out the savory notes of this classic stuffed pepper recipe. Don’t skip it; it truly enhances the overall taste.
- Chicken Broth or Stock: Provides the necessary liquid for the rice to cook and prevents the filling from drying out. Use what you have on hand, ensuring it’s low sodium if you’re watching your salt intake.
How to Make Delicious Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers:
Making these slow cooker stuffed peppers is incredibly straightforward, breaking down into a few simple steps. Here’s a detailed guide to ensure your success:
Step 1: Prepare the Ground Beef Filling
To begin, grab a large skillet and place it on your stove over medium heat. Add in the ground beef and diced onion. Break up the ground beef with a spoon as it cooks, ensuring it browns evenly. Continue cooking until the beef is fully cooked through and the onions have softened and become translucent, typically about 7-10 minutes.
Once the ground beef is cooked, it’s crucial to remove any excess grease from the pan. You can do this by carefully tilting the skillet and spooning out the fat, or by using a paper towel to absorb it. This step prevents the filling from becoming too oily.
Step 2: Combine the Filling Ingredients
Now, it’s time to build the flavor! Stir in the uncooked rice, minced garlic, Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilis), tomato paste, brown sugar, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and paprika into the skillet with the cooked beef and onions. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined. The tomato paste will help thicken the mixture, and the brown sugar will balance the acidity. Once everything is mixed, remove the skillet from the heat.
Step 3: Prepare the Bell Peppers
While your filling cools slightly, prepare your bell peppers. Carefully cut the tops off of the bell peppers, creating a wide opening. Then, use a spoon or your hands to remove all the seeds and white membranes inside the peppers. This ensures a clean cavity for your delicious filling. For stability in the slow cooker, gently slice a thin layer off the very bottom of each pepper (without cutting all the way through) to create a flat base. This will help them stand upright in the crock pot and prevent them from toppling over during cooking.
Step 4: Stuff and Cook
Evenly spoon the prepared ground beef and rice mixture into each bell pepper, filling them generously but not overly packed. Place the stuffed peppers carefully into your slow cooker. Arrange them so they are standing upright, which will help them cook evenly and prevent the filling from spilling out. If you have extra filling, you can place it around the peppers or serve it on the side.
Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on your slow cooker and the size of your peppers. The peppers are ready when they are fork-tender and the rice in the filling is fully cooked. Serve hot and enjoy!
Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Crockpot Stuffed Peppers:
One of the many benefits of this recipe is how well the stuffed peppers store, making them perfect for future meals or quick lunches.
Fridge: Any leftover slow cooker stuffed peppers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. This makes them a fantastic option for easy dinners or lunches throughout the week. To reheat, simply place them in the microwave for a few minutes until heated through, or warm them in a conventional oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until piping hot.
Freezer: Yes, you can freeze stuffed peppers! Once completely cooled, wrap individual peppers tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, or place them in freezer-safe bags or containers. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. To reheat from frozen, you can bake them in an oven at 350°F (175°C) for 45-60 minutes, or until fully heated, sometimes covered to prevent drying out. You can also thaw them overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Tips and Tricks for Making This Delicious Dinner Recipe:
Add-ins for the Rice Mixture:
While the classic filling is fantastic on its own, don’t hesitate to get creative with additional ingredients to customize your stuffed peppers. Here are some ideas to enhance the flavor and texture:
- Black Beans: A can of rinsed and drained black beans adds extra protein, fiber, and a wonderful earthy flavor.
- Corn: Fresh, frozen, or canned corn kernels provide a pop of sweetness and vibrant color.
- Cheese: Stir in some shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or a Mexican cheese blend into the filling before stuffing, or sprinkle it on top during the last 30 minutes of cooking for a gooey, cheesy finish.
- Garlic Powder & Chili Powder: If you love a stronger flavor profile, extra garlic powder and a touch of chili powder can elevate the savory and spicy notes.
- Other Vegetables: Diced mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach can be sautéed with the onions and beef for added nutrition and texture.
Meat to Use for Pepper Filling:
While ground beef is my personal favorite for its rich flavor and hearty texture in these stuffed peppers, this recipe is highly adaptable to other ground meats:
- Ground Turkey: For a lighter, leaner option, ground turkey works wonderfully. Choose a blend with some fat (e.g., 93/7) to keep it from drying out.
- Ground Chicken: Similar to ground turkey, ground chicken is a great alternative for those looking for a different flavor or healthier profile.
- Meatless Option: For a vegetarian version, consider using a plant-based ground meat substitute or a hearty mix of mushrooms and lentils.
Rice to Use:
Using rice in this recipe is a fantastic way to make it a truly filling and satisfying dinner. I typically use uncooked white rice, or whatever variety I have readily available. Here’s a little more detail:
- White Rice (Long-Grain or Jasmine): These are excellent choices as they cook perfectly within the suggested slow cooker times, absorbing all the delicious flavors from the meat and sauces.
- Brown Rice: If you prefer brown rice for its nutty flavor and added fiber, be aware that it will likely take a bit longer to cook through. You might consider partially cooking it on the stovetop before adding it to the filling, or adding a bit more liquid to the slow cooker to ensure it softens adequately.
- Cauliflower Rice: For a low-carb alternative, consider using riced cauliflower. It won’t expand like regular rice, so you might need more of it, and it cooks much faster. Add it towards the end of the cooking process to prevent it from becoming mushy.
Pro Tip for Bell Pepper Stability:
To ensure your stuffed peppers stand upright and look perfect in your slow cooker, especially if your peppers are a bit wobbly, trim a thin slice off the very bottom of each pepper. This creates a flat base without cutting into the pepper itself, making them much more stable during the long cooking process.
Don’t Overcrowd Your Slow Cooker:
While it can be tempting to cram in as many peppers as possible, avoid overcrowding the slow cooker. This allows for proper air circulation and even cooking. If you have too many peppers for one slow cooker, consider cooking them in batches or using a larger slow cooker.
What to Serve with Stuffed Peppers:
These slow cooker stuffed peppers are quite a complete meal on their own, but pairing them with a simple side can truly elevate your dinner. Here are some fantastic suggestions:
- Fresh Green Salad: A light, crisp green salad with a vinaigrette dressing offers a refreshing contrast to the rich and hearty peppers.
- Crusty Bread: Perfect for soaking up any extra sauce or juices from the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Steamed Vegetables: Simple steamed green beans, broccoli, or asparagus complement the meal without overpowering it.
- Mashed Potatoes: If you’re looking for extra comfort, a side of creamy mashed potatoes works wonderfully.
More Incredible Slow Cooker Recipes:
If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and flavor of slow cooker cooking, you’re in luck! There’s a whole world of delicious crockpot meals waiting for you. Here are some more favorites to add to your rotation:
- Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli: A takeout classic made easy at home.
- Slow Cooker Creamy Macaroni and Cheese: The ultimate comfort food, made effortlessly cheesy.
- Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Bowls: Flavorful and versatile for customizable bowls.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup: A warming and zesty soup perfect for any day.
- Slow Cooker Baked Ziti: Classic Italian-American pasta dish, slow-cooked to perfection.
Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
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Ingredients
- 6 bell peppers , (any color peppers will work)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- ½ cup uncooked white rice
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 10-ounce can rotel , (diced tomatoes with green chilis)
- 6 oz tomato paste
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
- To a large skillet on the stove over medium heat add in the ground beef and onion. Break the ground beef up and cook it through.
- Remove any excess grease from the pan.
- Stir in the uncooked rice, minced garlic, rotel, tomato paste, brown sugar, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Remove from heat. tCut the tops off of the bell peppers and remove any of the seeds and membranes inside the peppers. Now cut off the bottom of the peppers without cutting into the peppers to make them level so that they can stand up right in the crock pot.
- Place the ground beef mixture into all of the peppers.
- Place the peppers into the slow cooker (make sure they are standing upright)
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the filling is cooked through and the peppers are tender.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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