Hearty & Easy Crockpot Stuffed Peppers with Cheese: A Family Favorite Slow Cooker Meal
Discover the ultimate weeknight hero: a simple yet incredibly satisfying Crockpot Stuffed Peppers recipe, generously topped with melted cheese. This fuss-free slow cooker meal brings together seasoned ground beef, tender rice, and vibrant bell peppers, all simmered to perfection. It’s a wholesome, flavorful dish designed to be both delicious and incredibly convenient for busy families.
Effortless Comfort: Why You’ll Love Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
There’s something uniquely comforting about classic stuffed peppers, and the slow cooker elevates this dish to new heights of ease and tenderness. Imagine coming home to the enticing aroma of a home-cooked meal, with minimal effort required during your busy day. That’s the magic of these crockpot stuffed peppers. The slow cooking process ensures the bell peppers become incredibly tender, practically melting in your mouth, while the savory filling of ground beef, rice, and a rich tomato sauce melds together into a symphony of flavors. Topped with a generous layer of gooey, melted cheese, this dish transforms into the ultimate comfort food that genuinely delights every family member.
This recipe isn’t just about convenience; it’s about creating a hearty, satisfying meal that feels both wholesome and indulgent. It’s a complete meal in itself, offering a balanced combination of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. Perfect for a chilly evening or a simple Sunday dinner, these stuffed peppers are destined to become a staple in your meal rotation. Forget the stress of elaborate cooking; embrace the simplicity and incredible results of slow cooking with this family-friendly recipe.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Stuffed Peppers
Crafting delicious slow cooker stuffed peppers begins with a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Bell Peppers: Choose vibrant bell peppers in any color you prefer – green, red, yellow, or orange. Look for firm peppers with a relatively flat bottom to ensure they stand upright in your slow cooker.
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is ideal for this recipe, providing a robust flavor without excessive grease. For alternative options, see our “Recipe Tips” section below.
- Onion: A finely chopped onion adds a foundational layer of aromatic flavor to the filling.
- Egg: A whisked egg acts as a binder, helping the filling hold its shape within the pepper.
- Cooked Rice: Pre-cooked rice is crucial for proper texture in this slow cooker recipe. You can use leftover rice or quickly prepare some before mixing the filling.
- Tomato Sauce: Canned tomato sauce forms the savory base of the filling and provides moisture for cooking.
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese adds a creamy, tangy finish and is melted over the peppers during the final cooking stage.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance all the flavors in the dish.
Recommended Kitchen Tool: The Smart Slow Cooker
While any slow cooker will work, we highly recommend using a model with a digital timer that automatically switches to a “warm” setting after the set cooking time. This feature offers incredible peace of mind, preventing overcooking and ensuring your dinner is perfectly ready whenever you are, without constant monitoring.
Expert Tips for the Best Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
Transforming this simple recipe into an extraordinary meal is easy with a few insider tips and customizable options:
Meat & Protein Variations
The beauty of slow cooker stuffed peppers lies in their versatility. While ground beef is a classic choice, feel free to experiment with other proteins to suit your dietary needs or flavor preferences:
- Ground Turkey: A leaner alternative to ground beef, ground turkey creates a lighter dish. Season it well with herbs and spices like oregano, thyme, and paprika to boost its flavor.
- Sausage Blend: For a richer, more complex flavor profile, try using a mixture of ground beef and Italian sausage (mild or hot, depending on your preference). The fennel and garlic in Italian sausage add a wonderful depth.
- Vegetarian Option: Easily convert this into a vegetarian delight by substituting the ground meat with plant-based ground “meat” crumbles. Ensure you brown them lightly with the onions before mixing with other ingredients. You can also use a combination of cooked lentils and mushrooms for a hearty, earthy filling.
Rice & Grain Alternatives
The type of rice you choose can subtly alter the texture and flavor of your stuffed peppers. Cooked rice is essential as uncooked rice may not fully cook or absorb all the liquid in the slow cooker, leading to a watery filling.
- White Rice: A classic choice, white rice provides a soft texture that readily absorbs the flavors of the meat and sauce.
- Brown Rice: For added fiber and a nuttier flavor, use cooked brown rice. It offers a slightly chewier texture.
- Mexican Rice: If you enjoy a touch of spice and a more vibrant flavor, cooked Mexican rice can be a fantastic addition, especially when combined with other Southwestern-inspired ingredients.
- Quinoa: For a gluten-free and protein-rich alternative, cooked quinoa works wonderfully. It adds a pleasant, slightly grainy texture.
- Convenience Tip: If you don’t cook rice often, consider keeping individual microwaveable rice cups on hand. They are perfect for quickly adding cooked rice to recipes like this.
Selecting and Preparing Your Bell Peppers
The foundation of a great stuffed pepper is, naturally, the pepper itself! When selecting bell peppers at the grocery store, try to find ones with a flat, stable bottom. This seemingly small detail is crucial because it helps the peppers stand upright in the slow cooker, preventing them from tipping over and spilling their delicious filling during the long cooking process. While a tipped pepper will still taste amazing, keeping them upright ensures a beautiful presentation. Any color bell pepper will work, each offering a slightly different sweetness and flavor profile.
Efficient Stuffing Techniques
Stuffing bell peppers can sometimes be a bit fiddly. To make the process easier and cleaner, try this trick: place your hollowed-out bell peppers into a sturdy plastic square container or a small baking dish. This will hold them upright and stable as you spoon in the filling, preventing accidental spills and making the task much more manageable.
Unleash More Flavor: Add-ins and Seasonings
While the basic recipe is wonderfully flavorful, you can easily customize it to your taste with additional ingredients:
- Vegetable Boost: Mix in a can of drained and rinsed black beans, a cup of corn kernels (frozen or canned), or diced zucchini for extra texture and nutrition.
- Spice & Heat: For a bit of a kick, stir in a can of Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with green chilies, or add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Enhance the savory notes with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, or a dash of cumin to the ground beef mixture before cooking.
- Tangy Depth: A splash of Worcestershire sauce in the meat mixture can add an umami richness.
- Fresh Herbs: Stir in fresh chopped parsley or cilantro at the end for a burst of fresh flavor.
Perfecting the Cheesy Topping
While cheddar cheese is specified, don’t hesitate to explore other cheese options for a different flavor profile:
- Mozzarella: Offers a classic, mild, and super-stretchy melt.
- Provolone: A slightly sharper and smokier option.
- Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack: For a milder, creamier melt or a bit of spicy warmth, respectively.
No matter your choice, ensure you sprinkle the cheese generously over the peppers during the last 30 minutes of cooking. This allows the cheese to melt into a bubbly, golden-brown crust without overcooking the peppers.
Serving Suggestions
These stuffed peppers are a complete meal on their own, but a few additions can elevate the experience:
- A dollop of cool sour cream or Greek yogurt adds a delightful creamy contrast.
- Serve alongside a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness.
- Crusty bread or garlic bread is perfect for soaking up any extra tomato sauce.
- A sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs like parsley or chives adds a touch of brightness just before serving.
The Magic of Slow Cooking: Why It’s Perfect for Stuffed Peppers
The slow cooker is an absolute game-changer for stuffed peppers, transforming them from a potentially labor-intensive dish into an effortless culinary masterpiece. The extended, gentle cooking at a low temperature is key to achieving peppers that are incredibly tender but still hold their shape, a texture often difficult to achieve in the oven without them becoming too soft or undercooked. This slow process also allows the flavors of the seasoned ground beef, rice, and tomato sauce to meld together beautifully, creating a more cohesive and deeply satisfying filling. Furthermore, it’s a hands-off method; simply assemble in the morning, and a warm, delicious dinner awaits you in the evening, making it ideal for busy weekdays and stress-free entertaining. The consistent, even heat ensures that every part of the pepper and its filling cooks through perfectly, delivering comfort with every bite.
Meal Prep & Storage Tips
Make your life even easier with these meal prep and storage suggestions:
- Advance Prep: The filling can be prepared a day in advance. Cook the ground beef and onion, then mix with the other filling ingredients. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, stuff the peppers and proceed with the slow cooker instructions.
- Leftovers: Cooked stuffed peppers store wonderfully. Place any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual peppers in the microwave until warmed through. For larger quantities, place them in an oven-safe dish, cover, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 20-25 minutes, or until hot.
- Freezing: Stuffed peppers freeze exceptionally well. Once cooked and cooled, wrap individual peppers tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, or place them in freezer-safe bags or containers. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use uncooked rice in the slow cooker?
We do not recommend using uncooked rice directly in the slow cooker for this recipe. The slow cooker’s temperature is generally not high enough, or the cooking time might not be long enough, to fully cook the rice and absorb all the liquid properly. This can result in hard, undercooked rice or a watery filling. Always use pre-cooked rice for the best results.
My peppers are too hard/soft. What went wrong?
If your peppers are too hard, they likely needed more cooking time. If they are too soft or mushy, they might have cooked for too long or your slow cooker runs a bit hot. Adjust cooking times based on your specific slow cooker and desired pepper tenderness. Generally, 8-10 hours on low yields tender but not mushy peppers.
How can I prevent the peppers from falling over?
Choose bell peppers with a flat bottom. If your peppers are rounder, you can trim a very thin slice from the bottom to create a stable base, being careful not to cut through to the cavity. Arranging them snugly in the slow cooker also helps, and using a square container during stuffing as mentioned in our tips can assist.
Can I make this recipe spicier?
Absolutely! To add heat, incorporate diced jalapeños (remove seeds for less heat), a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a dash of your favorite hot sauce into the meat mixture. Using Pepper Jack cheese instead of cheddar will also add a mild kick.
What if I don’t have ground beef?
As mentioned in our tips, you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken, or a blend of ground beef and sausage. For a vegetarian version, use plant-based ground crumbles, cooked lentils, or a mixture of finely chopped mushrooms and cooked grains.
Other Delicious Crockpot Recipes to Explore
If you love the ease of slow cooker cooking, be sure to check out these other fantastic recipes:
- Crockpot Turkey Chili
- Crockpot Garlic Potatoes
- Crockpot Refried Beans
- Crockpot Bolognese Sauce
- Crockpot Rice
Explore our full collections of vegetarian slow cooker recipes and ground beef crockpot recipes for more inspiration. This recipe is also a wonderful addition to our side dishes for chicken and crockpot side dishes collections.
For even more culinary adventures, browse our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and all our amazing Crock Pot Recipes.
Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers with Cheese
Easy and delicious crockpot stuffed peppers with cheese! This family-friendly recipe is a perfect set-it-and-forget-it meal for any day of the week.
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- ½ Onion, chopped
- 15 Ounce Tomato Sauce
- 1 ½ cups cooked rice (leftover is perfect)
- 4 Bell Peppers
- 1 Egg, whisked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove caps and seeds from bell peppers.
- In a separate pan, brown ground beef and chopped onions until beef is no longer pink and onions are softened. Drain any excess grease.
- In a large bowl, combine the browned beef and onions, salt, pepper, whisked egg, and cooked rice. Mix thoroughly. Stir in approximately ⅓ of the can of tomato sauce into the beef mixture.
- Carefully stuff the mixture into each bell pepper. Place the stuffed peppers upright in your slow cooker.
- Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the tops of the stuffed peppers.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until peppers are tender.
- Approximately 30 minutes before serving, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese generously over the tops of the peppers.
- Cover again and continue to cook until the cheddar cheese is completely melted and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy!
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 306
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Recipe originally shared on September 24, 2016. Updated and enhanced on May 8, 2020.