Ella Walter
Stuffed bell peppers are a hearty and flavourful meal that can be made in a crock pot. They are inexpensive to make and can be adapted to suit almost any diet. The crock pot does most of the work for you, and the meal can be left to cook slowly while you are busy with other things. This dish is perfect for busy families who want to enjoy a homecooked meal during the week.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 5-20 minutes |
| Cook time | 3-8 hours |
| Main ingredients | Bell peppers, ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, tomatoes, cheese |
| Additional ingredients | Green chiles, broth, tomato paste, brown sugar, black beans, quinoa, chili powder, cumin, enchilada sauce, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce |
| Crockpot preparation | Spray crockpot with cooking spray, fill with half an inch of water |
| Filling preparation | Combine ingredients in a large bowl, stir to combine |
| Bell pepper preparation | Cut tops off, remove seeds and ribs, dice tops |
| Cooking temperature | Low heat for 4-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours |
| Serving suggestion | Top with cheese and garnish with parsley |
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What You'll Learn
Prepping the peppers
Preparing the bell peppers for your crock pot stuffed peppers is a simple process. First, select your bell peppers. You can use any colour of bell pepper, but note that yellow and red peppers tend to be a bit sweeter than green peppers. When purchasing your peppers, look for shiny, brightly coloured peppers with firm sides that are unblemished.
Once you've selected your peppers, it's time to start prepping. Start by washing them. Then, cut off the tops of the peppers as close to the top as you can to maximise the space for stuffing. Be careful not to break the sides of the peppers. You can use a spoon to scoop out the ribs and seeds from the inside of the peppers and set them aside. If you want less soft peppers, you can boil them for 2-3 minutes before placing them in the crock pot. This may seem counterintuitive, but it helps to remove extra moisture.
After your peppers are prepped, you can start making your filling. There are many different fillings you can use to stuff your peppers, depending on your preferences. Some common ingredients used in fillings include ground beef or chicken, rice, beans, onions, garlic, spices, and cheese. You can also add in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, and brown sugar for extra flavour.
Once you have prepared your filling, you can start stuffing your peppers. Spoon the filling into the hollowed-out centres of the peppers, filling them all the way to the top. You can stuff them right to the brim to ensure they are packed full of flavour.
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Making the filling
To make the filling for crockpot stuffed peppers, you will need ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, tomatoes, and cheese. You can also add in some Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper for extra flavour. Start by cutting the tops off your bell peppers and setting them aside. Remove the seeds and ribs from the peppers, then dice the tops.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, rice, diced onion, minced garlic, and any desired seasonings. You can also add in the diced pepper tops at this stage. Stir everything together until well combined. If you're using raw ground beef, make sure to brown the mixture in a skillet before stuffing the peppers. Otherwise, simply stuff the peppers with the beef mixture.
For a saucier version, you can add in some marinara or spaghetti sauce to the filling mixture. You can also pour some sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker before adding the stuffed peppers. This will help keep the peppers moist and add extra flavour.
If you prefer a vegetarian option, you can omit the meat and add an extra can of black beans or some other plant-based protein. You can also experiment with different types of cheese, such as mozzarella or Colby-Jack.
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Stuffing the peppers
To make stuffed bell peppers in a crock pot, you'll first need to prepare the bell peppers by cutting off the tops and removing the seeds and ribs. You can use a spoon to scoop out the ribs and seeds. Then, dice the tops of the peppers and set them aside.
Next, you'll make the filling. For a beef and rice filling, combine ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, and seasonings like salt and pepper in a large bowl. You can also add in a can of tomatoes with green chiles, although this is optional. If you're using raw ground beef, you may want to brown it first in a skillet before adding it to the bowl. However, this step is not necessary if you plan on cooking the peppers for a longer period of time, as the beef will cook through in the crock pot.
Once you have your filling ready, it's time to stuff the peppers. Spoon the filling into the hollowed-out centres of the peppers, filling them all the way to the top. You can also sprinkle some cheese on top of the filling before placing the tops back on the peppers.
Finally, place the stuffed peppers in the crock pot. If you'd like, you can pour a small amount of water or marinara sauce into the bottom of the crock pot before adding the peppers. Cover the crock pot with a lid and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or on high heat for 2-3 hours. If you've sprinkled cheese on top of the peppers, leave the lid on for an additional 5-10 minutes after cooking to allow the cheese to melt.
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Cooking the peppers
To cook stuffed bell peppers in a crock pot, you'll first need to prepare the bell peppers. Cut off the tops of the peppers and remove the seeds and ribs from the inside. If you're having trouble removing the ribs and seeds, try using a spoon. You can then dice the tops of the peppers and set them aside.
Next, you'll need to make the filling. For a beef filling, combine ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and tomatoes with green chiles in a large bowl. You can also add other ingredients like black beans, quinoa, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, enchilada sauce, or Italian seasoning. If you're using beef, make sure it's lean ground beef to avoid excess grease. Stir the ingredients until they are well combined.
Once the filling is ready, stuff each pepper with the mixture. Fill the peppers all the way to the top and pack them tightly. Place the stuffed peppers upright in the slow cooker. If you want, you can add a bit of water to the base of the crockpot or pour in some marinara sauce.
Cover the crockpot with a lid and cook the peppers on low heat for 4 to 6 hours or on high heat for 2 to 3 hours. If you prefer your peppers to be less soft, you can boil them for 2-3 minutes before placing them in the crockpot. This will help remove extra moisture.
Once the cooking time is up, sprinkle shredded cheese on top of each pepper and close the lid again. Allow the cheese to melt in the residual heat for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
Your crockpot stuffed bell peppers are now ready to be enjoyed!
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Serving suggestions
Stuffed bell peppers are a hearty and flavourful meal, perfect for a chilly evening. They go well with many side dishes, such as mashed potatoes, fried potato cakes, or homemade biscuits. If you're serving a larger group, you might want to add some filling options like refried beans or crockpot pinto beans.
For a fun twist, serve the peppers in taco shells with all the classic toppings like tomatoes, olives, cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and jalapenos. You can also offer a variety of dips like Mexican corn dip or 7-layer taco dip with tortilla chips on the side.
For a refreshing drink to go with your meal, try a skinny margarita. And if you're looking for a vegetarian option, simply omit the meat and add an extra can of black beans to your stuffed peppers.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. Just let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and enjoying again!
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Frequently asked questions
It takes around 4 hours on low heat or 2 hours on high heat. Some recipes suggest cooking on low heat for 6 hours or on high heat for 3 hours.
You will need bell peppers, ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, tomatoes, and cheese. You can also add in other ingredients such as beans, quinoa, chili powder, cumin, and enchilada sauce.
No, you don't need to pre-cook any of the ingredients. However, some recipes suggest browning the meat and boiling the peppers before putting them in the crock pot.
Cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds and ribs. You can then dice the tops and set them aside to be added to the filling.
