Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers with Beef and Rice Recipe
Delicious slow cooker stuffed peppers filled with a savory mix of ground beef, cooked rice, and aromatic herbs, all simmered in rich marinara sauce. This easy and comforting meal is perfect for hands-off cooking and results in tender peppers bursting with flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 stuffed peppers 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 ½ cups cooked rice (can be leftover rice)
- 1 small white onion, diced
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
- ½ tsp. dried oregano (tarragon works well too)
- 5 bell peppers (tops cut off and diced for filling)
- 24 oz. jar marinara sauce, divided
Instructions
- Brown ground beef: Place the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Once browned, drain excess fat and set aside.
- Prepare filling: In a medium bowl, combine the browned beef, diced bell pepper tops, cooked rice, 1 cup of marinara sauce, diced onion, salt, garlic powder, dried thyme, and oregano. Stir well to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Stuff peppers: Take each hollowed bell pepper and fill them generously with the beef and rice mixture. If any filling remains, place it at the bottom of the slow cooker to prevent sticking and to add flavor.
- Add marinara sauce: Pour the remaining marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker around the peppers to keep them moist and enhance the taste.
- Arrange in slow cooker: Place the stuffed peppers upright inside the slow cooker, trying not to let them touch the sides to maintain their shape; however, they may fall over during cooking, which is normal.
- Cook low and slow: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 5 hours. Avoid opening the lid during cooking to ensure steady heat and proper cooking.
Notes
- You can use any color bell peppers for this recipe, but red, yellow, and orange add sweetness.
- Leftover cooked rice works great here for convenience.
- If you prefer a spicier flavor, add red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeños to the filling.
- For a lower-fat version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Do not open the slow cooker lid during the 5-hour cooking period to maintain heat and cook evenly.
Keywords: slow cooker stuffed peppers, stuffed bell peppers, beef and rice stuffed peppers, slow cooker dinner, easy stuffed peppers
