Looking for the best easy, crowd-pleasing go-to dinner recipe? This Crockpot Stuffed Peppers recipe is mine. It’s so easy to pull together that it almost feels like cheating (you don’t even need to brown the meat before stuffing the peppers), it’s healthy (lean protein, whole grains, and vegetables; the gang’s all here), and as my extensive personal experience/Instagram feed can attest, Tex-Mex recipes are disliked by exactly no one, ever.
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Among the ever-growing collection of healthy slow cooker recipes on my site, these crockpot stuffed peppers have remained a constant favorite.
They’re easy, healthy, and taste as phenomenal leftover as they do the day you make them.
With the constant influx of new blog recipes invading our refrigerator (you’re welcome anytime, Jerk Chicken Tacos!), dinners are rarely repeats, but this crockpot stuffed pepper recipe is a notable exception.
Ben and I both love them; our friends and neighbors love them, and any slow cooker stuffed peppers that aren’t eaten right away, I’ll rewarm for fast lunches and dinners throughout the week.
We adore slow cooker stuffed peppers so earnestly that I even adapted this recipe to make Mexican Stuffed Peppers, Stuffed Peppers, and Italian Stuffed Peppers. Both of those stuffed pepper recipes are baked in the oven, casserole style. I also created this delicious Stuffed Pepper Casserole, which features all the same flavors in a deconstructed style.
Today’s stuffed pepper recipe follows a similar all-in-one healthy meal approach, but leverages the convenience of the slow cooker to make the recipe as fuss-free as possible.
How to Make Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
These slow cooker peppers are ultra flexible. Most often, I make these crockpot stuffed peppers with chicken, but you can switch up the recipe and use ground turkey or ground beef. I’ve also included a meat-free option for anyone seeking a slow cooker stuffed peppers vegetarian recipe.
The grains in this recipe are flexible too. I prefer to make crockpot stuffed peppers without rice and use quinoa instead, because quinoa is the most low-maintenance option. You don’t need to precook it before adding it to the pepper filling. If you’re a fan of quinoa and Tex-Mex flavors, give this Mexican Quinoa a try.
If you prefer, you can use rice (be sure to cook it first). Trying for low carb? Make these slow cooker stuffed peppers with cauliflower rice instead.
The Ingredients
- Ground Meat. Most of the time, I use ground chicken. I’ve also made these crockpot stuffed peppers with ground turkey and ground beef. Pick your favorite!
- Black Beans. A healthy way to add additional protein and fiber. Purchase low-sodium black beans, and be sure to rinse them before adding them to the filling.
- Quinoa. This super seed is a complete protein. If you like, you can make the stuffed peppers with rice or with cauliflower rice instead. If using rice: you need to precook it or the rice will turn out crunchy. If using quinoa or cauliflower rice, you do NOT need to precook. Just add it right to the filling raw.
- Cheese. I like pepper jack for a bit of a kick. If you prefer the stuffed peppers not be spicy, use sharp cheddar or Monterey jack instead.
- Spices. Cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder give this signature Tex-Mex flavor and are easy pantry staples. If you’d like the peppers more spicy, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chipotle chili powder.
- Toppings. THE WORKS. I love fresh cilantro, a dollop of Greek yogurt, avocado, more cheese, salsa…if it goes on a taco, it will go on these slow cooker stuffed peppers.
The Directions
- Start by slicing off the tops of your bell peppers. Carefully, remove the ribs and seeds without breaking open the sides of the peppers, then set aside. I find running a butter knife around the inside a quick, effective way to handle the task.
- Grab a large bowl and add your ground chicken (or turkey or beef), black beans, tomatoes, quinoa (or cooked brown rice or cauliflower rice), spices, and cheese, then stir to combine. DONE. Spoon the mixture into each pepper and fill to the top. That’s it!
- Add a little water to your slow cooker, and stand the peppers up on their bases in the water. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. Once the peppers are tender, remove the lid, and sprinkle the peppers with cheese. Cover the slow cooker again, and let sit for a few more minutes (we want to let the cheese become melty and delicious).
- Serve hot with any toppings you like, and DIG IN!
Storing, Freezing, and Reheating Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
After realizing how wonderful these peppers were (and deciding I needed to make another batch), I immediately wondered, “Can you freeze crockpot stuffed peppers?“
YES! Thankfully, these crockpot stuffed peppers are not only delicious the day they’re cooked, but they’re also one of my favorite recipes to freeze and reheat.
- To Store. Store cooked leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. For the best results, cut the peppers into a few pieces first so that they warm evenly. Place leftovers in the oven in a baking dish cut side up, and warm at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes. You can also gently reheat leftovers on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave until heated through.
- To Freeze. Place cooked leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
- Cornbread. For a fun and delicious side, try these peppers alongside this Mexican Cornbread.
- More Vegetables. This Sweet Potato Recipe would be a delicious addition to stuffed peppers.
- Margarita. Wash your peppers down with a tasty and refreshing Skinny Margarita.
- More Beans. If you’re serving these peppers to a larger crowd, try a filling, hearty side dish like Instant Pot Refried Beans or Crock Pot Pinto Beans.
- Chips and Salsa. The ultimate, classic crowd-pleasing appetizer or side. (This Mexican Corn Dip or 7-Layer Taco Dip would also be tasty with chips.)
Recipe Adaptations
- Vegetarian Crockpot Stuffed Peppers. Omit the meat; add an extra can of black beans. These Spinach Artichoke Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers are another vegetarian stuffed pepper favorite. Or try these Vegan Stuffed Peppers instead.
- Low Carb Crockpot Stuffed Peppers. Swap cauliflower rice for the quinoa.
- Gluten Free Stuffed Peppers No changes needed! These stuffed peppers are naturally gluten free.
- Paleo Stuffed Peppers (this change also makes the recipe dairy free). Omit the cheese. Add additional chili powder (about 1 teaspoon extra) and cumin (about ½ teaspoon extra) to the meat to bump up the flavor.
- To Make in the Instant Pot. Try this equally delicious Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers recipe.
REPEAT (because I still can’t get over the ease/taste payoff we have at work here): This crockpot stuffed pepper filling takes less than five minutes to stir together, you can adapt it to almost any diet, and the final dish is so loaded with sassy Tex-Mex flavor that no one will believe you when you confess how easy these slow cooker stuffed are to make.
Enjoy these peppers tonight, eat the rest leftover tomorrow, then add this recipe to your 9-1-1 dinner file. It’s a regular for us, and I hope it will be for you too!
Recommended Tools to Make Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
- Programmable slow cooker. I like that is one switches to “keep warm” at the end of the cooking time to deter overcooking.
- Giant mixing bowl. Perfect for stirring together the stuffed pepper filling.
- Two sided measuring spoons. Game changer! Less washing and so easy to store.
Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
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Ingredients
For the Peppers:
- 6-8 large bell peppers any colors you like (I like red)
- 1 pound ground chicken or turkey or lean ground beef
- 1 can reduced-sodium black beans (14 ounces), rinsed and drained
- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (14 ounces), with juices
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa or swap 3 cups COOKED brown rice or 3 cups raw cauliflower rice
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ¼ cup shredded pepper jack cheese divided; for a milder flavor, swap Monterey jack or cheddar
For Serving:
- Sliced avocado
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Salsa
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Freshly squeezed lime juice
Instructions
- Slice the tops off of the bell peppers (cut as close to the top as you can so that you have max space for stuffing), then carefully remove the ribs and seeds so that you do not break the sides of the peppers. Set aside.
- Place the ground chicken into a large bowl. Add the black beans, tomatoes with their juices, quinoa, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and 3/4 cup of the cheese. With a fork or your fingers, stir to combine. Spoon the filling into the hollowed-out centers of the peppers, filling them all the way to the top. (The number of peppers you need for all of the filling will vary depending upon the size of the peppers. I usually fill about 7.)
- Pour 1/2 cup water into an empty 5-quart (or larger) slow cooker. Stand the peppers up on their bases in the water, arranging them so that they are evenly spread apart. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, until the peppers are tender. Remove the lid, sprinkle the peppers with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese, then cover the slow cooker again and let heat for a few additional minutes, until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with desired toppings.
Notes
- TO STORE: Store cooked leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: For the best results, cut the peppers into a few pieces first so that they warm evenly. Place leftovers in the oven in a baking dish cut side up, and warm at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes. You can also gently reheat leftovers on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave until heated through.
- TO FREEZE: Place cooked leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- TO MAKE IN THE OVEN: These peppers can also be baked in the oven: Stand the peppers up in a pan, pour a little water in the bottom, and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes at 400 degrees F, until softened, hot, and cooked through.
Nutrition
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Sign Me UpI originally shared this post back in 2014, then updated the post in 2017 with improved photos (then updated it AGAIN with more improved photos and recipe step by steps in 2019). The recipe has not changed and is still one of my favorites.
I love that you don’t have to boil the peppers first. That’s such a pain! These look amazing.
I love stuffed bell peppers . . and love that this is made in the slow cooker!! definitely going to try this one! thanks, Erin!
Heck Yes to Stuffed peppers.. Love that these can be made in a slow cooker.
I am SO impressed that you haven’t touched the AC! Even as a lady who is perfectly happy and content with a warm 78 degrees inside (I blame my year in Nicaragua with no AC!) I have caved and cranked the AC this summer. But AC or no AC, I am SO in love with the idea of meals that don’t require an oven or a stove right now. Other than the fact that these babies look INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS, I am sooooo in for any and every crockpot meal during the dog days of summer. Winner, winner stuffed pepper dinner :)
Whattttt?? You haven’t turned on your AC? Jealous. Our AC is cranking at full speed pretty much non-stop at this time of year, and probably will be until the latter part of September. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten the unforgiving Kansas summers?? :) Even with air conditioning, I second guess turning the oven or stove on, but I’ve yet to break out the slow-cooker! These are just what the Kansas heat ordered…
I love stuffed peppers. I like the addition of quinoa. So delicious!
Wow, this recipe hits the jackpot – easy, tasty, healthy, and doesn’t even heat up the house! I’m super impressed that you haven’t turned on the AC. I caved in June, when my allergies got so bad that keeping the windows open simply wasn’t an option anymore!
Mmmm I have this on my list of “must make” meals! I think these stuff peppers will be perfect for the first pre-season football game (GO PACK GO!) I love stuffed peppers and even better that these are an easy set and go type of meal.
Yellow and green peppers for the Pack! I LOVE it Chrissa! Thanks for the inspiration :)
It’s been in the 90s here and I don’t know what I’d do without the AC! Although… my room has no vent in it and I tend to keep the door shut, so maybe I can imagine- it gets preeeetttyy hot! These stuffed peppers look amazing :)
I am seriously impressed by your ability to keep the AC off this whole summer, as ours has been blasting at full force since basically June. That said, I’m still all about the slow cooker this season, and these stuffed peps are right up my alley!
I love this! This is how I cook stuffed peppers in the oven, but using the slow cooker I can just put them in and then go about my day!
Hi Erin,
I love stuffed peppers and the crock pot so I cant wait to try this. One question, you really put the ground chicken or turkey in the peppers raw??
Great question Rhea, and yes. Since putting raw meat in the crock pot is common, I felt comfortable with the risk. If you prefer not to, you could substitute a can of refried beans instead.
Totally obsessed with these! I have so many peppers coming out of my garden right now, I totally need to make these! Love that they’re made completely in the crock!
Yum! This sounds really good!
You and your puns. Gets me every time. So does this stuffed pepper goodness.
this looks amazing! i too have held off turning on the AC at my place and my crockpot is on full time duty!
one questions- beans do not sit well with me, can i omit or will i need to sub something in?
Great question Jackie! You could swap additional turkey or even a can of corn (fire roasted or Mexican-style corn would be especially tasty). I hope that helps and that you love the recipe!
Can’t wait to try these! What is the best way to reheat these?
I hope you love this recipe Destiny! We reheated ours in the microwave, but cut the peppers into quarters first to make sure that they heated evenly. Nothing fancy, but the leftovers tasted great!
I can’t fit all of the peppers in my crockpot. I put the extra in some cling wrap. Will the cooking process/timing be thrown off when I go to cook this one last pepper alone? Thanks!
Elayne, you can also bake that pepper in the oven, which is the only way I tried baking one by itself. Put some water in the bottom of a small pan with the pepper, cover with foil, and bake for about 45 minutes at 400 degrees. I hope that gives you a quick and easy solution!
Hi Erin, I am just trying this recipe now. I did 1/2 my cooked peppers in the crockpot and 1/2 in the oven. The peppers in the crockpot look beautiful, but the ones in the oven don’t look good. I’m assuming it’s because I didn’t realize they needed to be topped with foil (only noticed you say that in the comments) in order to cook the quinoa. Just a friendly reminder to please put it in the main directions too. :)
Thank you so much for all of your wonderful recipes. We love them.
Kimberly
Hi Kimberley! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for your note about the directions! I’ve updated the directions to mention adding foil.
Would it be possible to substitute rice for the quinoa? These look perfect for a weeknight meal! Thanks!
Hi Katie! I’ve never tried the peppers that way, but you can certainly experiment. I hope that you love the recipe!
Hi Katie! Honestly, I can’t say for certain since I’ve never tried the recipe this way. If you want to experiment with rice, I would suggest comparing the regular cooking time of your rice to that of quinoa (quinoa takes about 20 minutes ordinarily). If they are similar, my guess is that should be safe. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Hi there,
I have extra meat/bean filling since my crockpot can only hold 4 peppers. Do you think it would turn out ok if I the rest in the oven like a “meatloaf”? How long and at what temperature would you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Allison! This is an interesting and creative idea, but I just can’t say for certain since I’ve never tried the recipe this way. One thing that you could do is freeze the filling and save it for another time when you have more peppers. You’re welcome to try the meatloaf experiment, I just can’t say for certain as I’ve never done it myself. Another thing that you can do is bake the peppers in the oven, which I have actually done. Place them in a baking pan with a little bit of water, cover with foil, and bake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees. I hope that it’s at least a little helpful and that you enjoy the recipe!
Can I freeze the leftovers? If so, what’s the best method? Thanks!
Absolutely! I would wrap each pepper individually in plastic wrap, then put them in an airtight container. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and then reheat gently in the microwave. I hope you love the recipe!
I would love to make this! Is the tomato can necessary or has anyone experimented with a replacement? That’s the only thing I don’t have in my house right now! I was debating add some pico de gallo and seeing how it goes to avoid a trip to the store?
Hi Ericka! The tomatoes are pretty important, because they add both liquid and flavor to the dish. If you don’t have fire roasted, regular diced tomatoes are just fine. The pico de gallo might work, but it’s not super liquidy, so you might consider adding a bit of water too. To be totally safe, I’d use the diced tomatoes, but if you do experiment with the pico, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Could you potentially use cabbage instead of the peppers. My mom would love the filling, but does not like peppers.
Hi Jessica! I’ve never tried this recipe with cabbage, but I do think it might become too soft and fall apart in the crockpot. You need a veggie that can hold up to a long cook time. You could try tomatoes—I’ve never made the recipe this way, so it would be an experiment, but that’s my best suggestion for a swap. If you do try a different veggie, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Erin, thanks for this great recipe! I made these yesterday. Delicious and so easy. Thanks again!
I’m so excited to hear that Stefanie! Thanks for taking time to leave this review—I really appreciate it, and it’s helpful for others too!
This recipe is absolutely amazing!! I added some cottage cheese. I have to say, these are the best stuffed peppers I’ve ever had – restaurant or homemade. Thank you!
HOORAY!! I’m so excited to hear this. Thank you!
My mom does the same thing but with green peppers, with rice and tomato paste! But I would like to try this!
I hope you love it Suha!
Love this recipe! One question, do I need to cook to quinoa before I add it to the mixture? Or does it cook on the Crock-Pot?
No need to pre-cook Jennifer! This recipe is low maintenance :-) I hope you love it!
Loved these! We substituted 1/2 ground beef 1/2 spicy italian sausage for the meat and used red quinoa. I’ll have to remember to rinse the quinoa next time. I was a little worried that the quinoa wouldn’t cook through all the way, but it was perfect! Cooked on low for about 7 hours overnight and served with salsa and greek yogurt in place of sour cream. Will be eating these with avocados later tonight.
Heidi, I am so happy to hear this! Thanks so much for trying the recipe, and taking time to leave this kind review. Enjoy the leftovers!
Any suggestions for how to best make this recipe without the cheese? Though I love cheese, family members are lactose intolerant. Thoughts on if these will fall apart (esp re: quinoa) without the cheese or if there is any other ingredient one could add so these aren’t bland without it???
Thanks.
Hi Alexa! I think that you would be safe to omit the cheese. You can also try vegan shredded cheese, such as Go Veggie brand. I’ve had it before, and while it’s not the real thing, it’s not bad either. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
We loved this recipe! I did find that it was a little lacking in salt in my first batch – so I increased this in my second (maybe b/c my tomatoes were unsalted?). I also threw in 1/2 a can of corn. Next time, I’ll add in some onions as well. Oh and I made a couple without cheese (since I eat totally dairy free) and it didn’t fall apart at all and was still delicious. It’s a keeper recipe for sure – and SO easy to make. THANK YOU!
I am so happy to hear this Patty! Thanks so much for trying the recipe and leaving this lovely review. Great to know about the cheese as well!
These look so colorful and AMAZING! And I love that there’s little to no prep!
That’s one of my favorite parts! Thanks, Gaby!
Obsessed with stuffed peppers! These look so amazing!
Thanks so much Lexi!
You are my crock pot queen! I can’t wait to make this. Saves me from turning on the stove or oven! And love stuffed peppers!
Anything that saves turning on the oven in summer feels awesome!
WOW! I love that you cooked these in a crock pot! So brilliant!
I have not been a fan of stuffed peppers for years (I grew up on a Hungarian version of them), but this version sounds like it would be well worth making. I like the fact you only have to mix all the ingredients together and stuff them into the peppers. My mother always did these with green bell peppers, but I would choose red, yellow and/or orange, which to my mind would make them more interesting. At least visually.
That’s what I like about this recipe too—the prep is pretty easy! I hope you do enjoy these if you decide to give them a try, Susan!
I really like the sound of this recipe but will be making it vegetarian. Could I replace the extra can of black beans or kidney/pinto beans with lentils to give more variety?
Amanda, I think that would be fine! Just be sure the lentils are cooked first. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I LOVE stuffed peppers, especially as our pepper harvest in the garden happens at all once, they are a great way to not let them go to waste. I’m excited to give this recipe a go, several years ago I tried my hand at using quinoa. It was NOT a success. And my husband swore off ever making it again. I feel like this could be the recipe to get us to give quinoa a second-chance. Do you have any tips for cooking quinoa properly? I’d love to hear any advice you might have on this!
Hi! I’m so glad you’re wanting to give this recipe a go! I don’t have any special tips for quinoa—I like using Bob’s Red Mill brand, and many people have found that they like quinoa better if they rinse it and drain before cooking it. After that, just follow the instructions on the packet and you should be fine!
Thanks, I think I will give the rinsing a try, I’ve heard that helps :)
Would it be possible to substitute rice for the quinoa? These look perfect for a weeknight meal! Thanks!
Hi John! Honestly, I can’t say for certain since I’ve never tried the recipe this way. If you want to experiment with rice, I would suggest comparing the regular cooking time of your rice to that of quinoa (quinoa takes about 20 minutes ordinarily). If they are similar, my guess is that should be safe. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I haven’t done stuffed peppers in ages! these look great!
I hope you love them if you give them a try, Lizzie!
I’ve wanted to try stuffed peppers for a long time and finally did it on Friday. These came out really well!
I had 3 lbs ground turkey so I scaled it up and split it in half. 1.5 lbs worth of filling made 10 medium to large sized stuffed peppers; the rest of the filling went in the freezer. Assembly took me more like 30-40 minutes, but not at all unreasonable for 20 servings worth of filling and 10 full bell peppers.
Since they wouldn’t all fit in the crockpot, I tried both cooking methods and both went well. I fell asleep and left the ones in the oven in a bit too long. They emerged slightly blackened on top; they still tasted great. The ones that came out of the crockpot after three hours on high were perfect. My husband and I ate them Friday night, put the rest in the fridge and pulled them out again for dinner with our kids and my brother’s family tonight. We reheated them in a casserole dish with just a teeny bit of water at the bottom at 350 for 25-30 min. I did not cut them up because I was afraid of the mess. I was skeptical how well they’d survive saving and reheating but if anything they were better the second night!
To top it all off, our extremely picky five-year-old who complains about dinner almost every night finished his nightly prayer with “and thank you for the stuffed peppers and the cake.” The three-year-old followed with, “thank you for the ‘squished’ peppers…” Happy Mommy!!! (I topped the kids’ peppers with mozarella instead of pepper jack, but there was pepper jack in the filling and no one complained.)
I’m so happy I have another batch of filling in the freezer! This one is absolutely going into our regular rotation.
HOORAY Rebekah, I’m so happy to hear this recipe was a hit with your whole family! Thank you so much for these detailed notes about your prep and experience with reheating! It will be so helpful for other readers as well. I so appreciate your taking the time to leave this awesome review!
I have made this recipe at least ten times. It’s my go-to favorite! I like the red bell peppers and ground turkey better. I put chicken stock in the bottom of the slow cooker and add two tablespoons to the mixture. Other than that, I follow your recipe exactly!
Mary, thanks so much for taking the time to leave your tweaks and feedback! I’m so happy to hear this recipe is a favorite!
Recently discovered you on Instagram. Made these tonight, delicious and leftovers will be great for lunch. Easy recipe.
Julia, I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, and I’m happy to have you as a reader! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review!
I only had 3 peppers and read that I could freeze the extra filling to use another time. Could you please tell me your recommendation for thawing the filling for next time?
Hi Veronica, I would thaw the filling overnight in the fridge. You can reheat it gently in the microwave if it’s not quite scoopable after that.
This came out very tasty, and was so easy to prepare! I don’t know if my 6 qt slow cooker is small, or my grocery store’s peppers are big, but I could only fit five… so they were EXTRA stuffed. :D My roommate also thought they were great!
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Jessi! Thanks for taking the time to give it a try and reporting back!
I am going to try this recipe tomorrow! One quick question, I am gone at work for 7.5 hours during the day, do you think cooking on low for 7.5 instead 6 would work?
Alison, the peppers may be extra soft (at 6 hours, they still have a bit of pleasant firmness to them), but if that doesn’t bother you, I wouldn’t worry about it. I hope you love the recipe!
Great! Thanks you so much! I can’t wait to try them!
Hi. Do you have any instant pot modifications for the recipe? Do you think it’s possible in the instant pot? Thank you!
Hi Kristin! I definitely think this recipe would be possible to make in an Instant Pot but I have not tried it this way. Please let me know if you do and how it goes – hope you enjoy! :)
Have you ever tried assembling these and feeezing them to pop in the slow cooker another time? Im searching for recipes for a meal prep party I’m hosting and I’d love to try your stuffed peppers. Just want them to be preassembled, ready to thaw and drop in slow cooker….thanks!
Kerri, I haven’t! One way you could experiment though would be to cook the peppers all the way through as directed, cool and freeze them, then the night before the party, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Before the party, arrange them in a baking dish so that they are standing up, then pop them into the oven to reheat. I hope that helps!
Those stuffed peppers look amazing. I am a huge stuffed peppers fan. Thanks for the shout-out for my Low-Carb Stuffed Peppers Soup!
You bet Kalyn (and I love your version of stuffed peppers too!!!)
This may be a silly question, but should I brown the ground turkey before stuffing the peppers?
No silly at all! No need to brown it. I hoe you love the recipe!
Recipe looks great, i would love to try this one at home. Thanks for sharing
I hope you love it Karan!!
WOW! This recipe was easy, healthy and delicious! I will absolutely make this again sometime soon. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review, Victoria! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
My quinoa didn’t looked like it was cooked after 50 minutes in a 400 degree oven. I even covered the pan with foil hoping more steam would help with the cooking process. I just added some tomato sauce on top of them, recovered them, and am giving them another 30 minutes,Fingers crossed.
I hope you enjoy the peppers, Michele!
I love this recipe, but it looks like something went wrong on the website with step 4 and I’m unable to see the cooking instructions. Is it 4 hours on high? Thanks!
Julie, that is SO ODD. Step 4 was an extra line of code. The cook time is in Step 3: 3 hours on high. Thanks for drawing this to my attention! It should be fixed once you clear your browser cache.
I figured that out after I sent in this comment… just in time to get these started for tonight’s dinner :). Thank you!
This recipe was absolutely delicious! It was also very easy to make. I’ll be making this on a regular basis!!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Amanda! Thanks so much for taking the time to report back.
I accidentally gave this recipe 4 stars when I posted my comment.. I meant to give it a 5 but don’t know how to change it ?
Also, I added a cup of chopped onion the last time I made it & it was even better than the first batch!
Thanks so much, Amanda! I’m happy to hear it was worthy of 5 stars. :)
Hi! Just confirming, I mix raw ground turkey and uncooked quinoa/ or do I brown meat first?
Hi Eileen! Yes, you’ll mix all the ingredients for the filling together and add them to the peppers. No need to brown the meat before. I hope you love the recipe if you try it!
I have made this a couple times in the crock pot and it is awesome! I recently got an Instant Pot so I am interested in making things in it. Today I was reading posts from the Instant Pot group on Facebook and someone posted they had made stuffed peppers (they used ground beef instead of chicken but no mention of quinoa) and it turned out great so I am going to try this in the IP. What the person on Facebook did was put a cup of water in the IP, put the trivet in the IP and place the stuffed peppers on the trivet (they did not precook any of the ingredients), and pressure cooked for 20 minutes with a natural pressure release.
I am going to give it a shot! I’ll post again after trying it to let everyone know how it went!
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Kim! I hope you enjoy your adaptation of the recipe!
How did the instapot work out for you? I was going to try this in an instapot as well!
Hi Ashley! While I haven’t tried this recipe in the Instant Pot, another reader has reported success with it. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it goes!
I love every recipe of yours I’ve made. Do you think cooked farro would work in these instead of the quinoa?
Thank you for your kind words, Cin! I haven’t tried farro in this recipe, but I suspect it would work fine. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it goes!
I made these tonight and they were delicious! I topped them with sour cream and salsa and crunched up a few tortilla chips to sprinkle on top. Excellent flavor and super easy. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, Julie! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
I’m making these with ground beef. Do I cook the ground beef first or mix it raw with the other ingredients?
Hi Barbara! No need to brown the meat first. You can mix the raw ground beef with all the other filling ingredients. I hope this helps!
Absolutely love your recipes! Dinner is going to be much more interesting in our home from now on. Thank you!
Connie H
Connie, this makes my day. THANK YOU!!!
i like peppers very much, thanks for the recipe!
Thank you for sharing this kind review, Helen!
UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS and shamefully easy! I didn’t have ground chicken but had some leftover rotisserie chicken which I chopped and used instead. My husband and I just couldn’t get over how perfectly seasoned they were. Keep wanting to try one of your other stuffed pepper recipes but can’t seem to stop making THIS recipe. Making it again tonight!
This MADE my day! Thank you for sharing this kind review, Pam! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe!
My husband is a hunter, so I have a freezer packed full of ground venison. I’ve made this recipe with ground chicken before and loved it so much, but LET ME TELL YOU, venison-stuffed peppers is the way to go! So delicious and my husband and in-laws both loved them. Feeding people is my love language, so it made me so happy to feed them this recipe with my husband’s kill. Thanks for such a great recipe. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes with venison! ❤️
Thank you for sharing this kind review, Rachael! I’m so happy the recipe was a hit!
I will never make Stuffed Bell Peppers any other way, ever again. Thank you so much for this recipe. I did everything according to the recipe, except I did not have black beans. So I substituted a drained can of chickpeas. Oh, and I seasoned with a little Tony Chacere’s as well, which is required for everything here in Louisiana, LOL! My Crock-Pot held seven bell peppers fresh from my garden. We ate one each, two days in a row, my husband and I period and then I was able to freeze the rest.
Anyone who is on the edge of liking or disliking stuffed peppers should try this easy recipe. It is divine!
I’m SO happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Holly! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Hi, I’m planning on making the stuffed peppers with ground Turkey this weekend. Just double checking to make sure it’s okay to put raw meat in the peppers?
Melissa, I’ve used raw meat in these crock pot stuffed peppers multiple times and been OK. I hope you enjoy the recipe! If you prefer a cooked version, I have several other oven stuffed peppers that you cook the meat first.
I made the crockpot stuffed peppers with ground turkey. They were amazing! Very tasty, with a little kick to them. I will make them again for sure. My husband liked them too!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Melissa! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Erin, this recipe is fabulous!!! My husband loved it and ate two! The flavors are amazing and this was so easy to put together. It smelled so good cooking for six hours and we even ate dinner early just so we could dive in. Thanks for such a great recipe! I got your cookbook for Christmas and love it!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Toya! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This recipe looks amazing! I plan on using ground beef and I was wondering if I had to brown the meat first before putting it in the crockpot?
Hi Rachel! No need to brown it first. You can mix the raw ground beef with all the other filling ingredients. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Wow! So delicious and easy to make. Thank you for sharing your recipes.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Marcia! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Great recipe! My husband loved them!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Kimberly! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Loved the recipe! It was a big hit with my husband! The only change I made was a used taco seasoning in place of the spices!
Thank you Erin for a healthy recipe for stuffed peppers!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Kimberly! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Loved by my family plus leftovers at my parents. Mom just had hip replacement surgery and Dad is blind so they were in need of easy to reheat, quick dinners. Perfect! Making more of your recipes to take to Mom and Dad. Oh, and feed my own little family too! Hehehe
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Lynne! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Does the ground chicken/beef have to be cooked before putting it inside the peppers?
Love the idea of using quinoa or cauli rice with this. Can’t wait to try this tomorrow!
Hi Jaime! No need to brown it first. You can mix the raw ground beef with all the other filling ingredients. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Hi, can you freeze leftover stuffed peppers? I don’t think we can eat all of these at one time. Thanks you.
Definitely, Holly! I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Made these with ground beef last month and they were a huge hit! I have some left over chorizo and thought about using that in this recipe. Do you think I’d have to make any adjustments if I used chorizo instead of chicken or beef?
I’m so happy that you enjoyed them, Lindsay! Thank you for sharing this kind review! I haven’t tried them with chorizo, but it sounds delicious. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Love it.i make these peppers all the time and they always turn out great! Love this website and plan to buy Erin’s cookbook too.
I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed them, Deb! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I have made these stuffed peppers several times and they are by far my favorite and I feel like they have everything in them for a healthy balanced meal. I eat with a salad or side veggie. And the crock pot makes it even easier. Next I am going to make the artichoke non meat one, that looks so good!
I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed the recipe, Chris! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Am I to brown the ground chicken/turkey first?
Hi Stephanie! No, you don’t need to brown it first. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
These peppers were amazing. I followed the recipe exactly except I didn’t have fire roasted tomatoes so I used a can of Rotel. Hubby and son thought I spent hours instead of minutes in the kitchen. Nothing better than quick healthy and delicious recipes. Thanks.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Eve! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I was curious if this recipe would work just cooking all the stuff you put into the pepper in a pan and just dicing up peppers to add in. My husband and kiddos are not huge fans of the idea of stuffed peppers but was thinking to sort of trick them, just use the insides as the meal without actually stuffing the peppers and cooking in crock pot. Thanks.
Hi Heidi! I actually have a Stuffed Pepper Casserole on my site that sounds like the perfect solution for you. I hope you enjoy the recipe if you try it!
Made this for my life group at church and it was such a hit!! Saving this recipe to come back to!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Michele! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Ugh,… i opted to make these in the oven like the recipe said you could do, originally planned for the crockpot but got a late start and WOW SUPER FAIL. Recipe called for 40 mins in the oven but no idea where that time came from… After 40 minutes I took the peppers out and the quinoa wasnt cooked and the meat was still raw… so in for 10 more minutes… took them out & once again the quinoa was not done and the meat was still a little raw in the middle. So in for 10 more minutes! Finally after over an hour the meat was done but the quinoa still needed more time. I said F it and tried a bite. EH. TOTAL disappointment lmao. The peppers and meat had okay flavor but that half cook/half uncooked quinoa really threw me off. Husband got home late so I shouldve just made them in the crockpot.. at least he ate it! I have left over mixture so im definitely going to try again the right away, i was so excited for this taco inspired pepper! oh well!
Hi TAH, I’m sorry to hear the peppers didn’t come out as expected. It’s so hard to know what might’ve gone wrong without being in the kitchen with you. I know it’s disappointing to try something new and not enjoy it, so I truly wish you would have loved them.
Can I use uncooked white rice? Instant or regular?
Hi Tara! If using rice: you need to precook it or the rice will turn out crunchy. You can use 3 cups cook rice. Hope you enjoy it!
I am using ground beef and Italian sausage (I can’t eat beef). Do I need to brown this ahead of time? Also, I have frozen cauliflower rice, should I just warm to break apart on the stove top before adding??
New cook here and I’m making it for a special guest!
Hi Jackie! You don’t have to precook the meat in this recipe. For the cauliflower it needs to be raw and defrosted. Hope this helps and hope you love the recipe!
Hello! Just confirming we are putting the meat in raw in this recipe?
Hi Kaitlyn, yes you do. Step 2 in the recipe card tells you how to prepare it. Hope you enjoy it!
Excellent flavor easy to make and was a hit.
Hi Deborah! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
So easy and yummy! I’ve made it several time and it’s always great!
Hi Xochil! So glad you enjoyed the stuffed peppers! Thank you for this kind review!
Do you brown the ground meat? This is so easy!!
Hi Katie! No you don’t have to cook it first.
Hi Erin,
I loved the idea of the crock pot peppers but they came out super watery! They were soggy at the bottom from sitting in water during cooking. I saved them for leftovers in the fridge and also the freezer but they were inedible the next day due to being so soggy. I was sad, I absolutely love all of your recipes and cook them all the time. I’ll definitely be making more of your stuff but this one didn’t work for me :(
I’m sorry you had trouble with this recipe, Emily. Unfortunately, it’s so hard to say what might’ve gone wrong without being in the kitchen with you. I hoped it would of been a success for you.
My new favorite healthy meal! Will definitely be making this often :)
Hi Emma! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
What size crock pot is needed to make this recipe?
Hi PJ! It’s 5-quart (or larger). Hope you enjoy it!
Hey there! This looks delicious! Is the meat raw or cooked before putting in the crock? Thanks!
Hi MaryKate! The meat is raw. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Hi! How would you recommend using leftover filling if you don’t have more peppers?
Hi Christine! The filling is delicious on its own, but you could also serve it over a bed of lettuce as a salad, with tortilla chips, or wrapped in a tortilla like a quesadilla or burrito. I hope this helps!
Had to cook these in the oven due to my slow cooker being too small I did exactly as the recipe stated but cooked about an hour instead of the 40-50. It was perfect just made sure internal temp was 165. We will be doing this again.
Hi Nicole! Glad it worked out for you!
Was going to make my old standby recipe but it was too hot to put the oven on. Found this one. Quick and easy prep and a good way to use garden peppers. Different from the usual stuffed peppers but very good! I used lean ground sirloin. If your slow cooker gets very hot (mine does) reduce the cooking time a bit.
Hi Joanne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Great tasting stuffed peppers!
Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Kimberly! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
How do I know when the meat and quinoa are cooked?
Hi Deb! They should be done by the end of the cooking time stated in the recipe card. Hope you enjoy it!
Well this recipe work with ground venison?
Hi Sheila! It probably would, it’s just not something I’ve tested out. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Do you cook the meat before hand????? Or put it in your peppers raw?
Hi Klaye! It goes in raw and gets cooked while in the crockpot. Hope you enjoy it!
Hi! If I brown the meat first will it affect the cooking of the quinoa?
Hi Lisa! I’m not sure, I’ve only tested the recipe as is. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Made this in a 7 quart crockpot and followed the recipe exactly and they came out very soggy and not very flavorful. Not sure what I did wrong, but was kind of disappointed with how they turned out after cooking them for 6 hours :( Only had six peppers and the recipe probably made enough for 10 so I might try using the oven next time.
I’m sorry this recipe wasn’t to your tastes, Josh. I (and many other readers) have truly enjoyed it, so I wish you would’ve too!
Can I freeze the filling by itself to make at another time if I have leftover ?
Hi Denisse! I haven’t tested this out myself. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Hi, can I prepare the mix the night before and stuff the peppers in the am, Then put the peppers in the crock pot?
Hi Eileen! I’m sorry but I don’t think so for this, but honestly it’s not something I’ve tried before. I would be hesitant leaving the raw chicken with all of those flavors overnight uncooked.
I had some extra filling- any ideas on what I could do with it?
Hi Courtney! If you have extra filling that is cooked maybe you could eat it in taco shells or freeze it and save it for a later time. If it is uncooked I would just make extra peppers. Hope this helps!
Nowhere does it say to cook the ground meat but neither does it say to mix it uncooked before stuffing the peppers. I want to get this right before making it! Do I cook my ground beef or will the crockpot cook it sufficiently? Thank you!
Hi Christina, the ground chicken is uncooked. We always specific in our recipes if you need to cook it before adding it into a recipe. Hope this helps!
Great! Thanks!
Do you have to cook the raw ground beef before stuffing it into the peppers??
Hi Anthony! It goes in raw and gets cooked while in the crockpot. Hope you enjoy it!
So easy and delicious! One of my go to recipes. Highly recommend! Health, easy, delish! What could be better?
Hi Alexis! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I’ve made a billion diff great stuffed peppers and truly nothing seems different about these, but somehow they came out as the absolute best! So delish! Super easy also.
Hi Megan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Hello, could you use frozen brown rice?
Hi Nancy! It would need to be thawed and cooked first. Enjoy!
Would it be ok to use cooked ground meat?
Hi JM! I’m afraid that the meat would be overcooked, so I wouldn’t recommend it. Hope this helps!
Wondering if the extra meat mix could go in the bottom of the crock pot along with water
Hi Donna! I haven’t tried that before so I am unsure. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Awesome!! I had extra stuffing; here’s what I did: I sauteed onions and zucchini in one pan. In another, I cooked the stuffing mixture. After the meat was cooked, I added the onion and zucchini. Next, I added a sma can of tomato paste, a bottle of beer, and more spices. I let it simmer, adding more liquid as necessary to ensure the quinoa was cooked. I can use it as pasta sauce, sloppy joes, , or freeze it. Yummy!
Thanks for the feedback and glad you enjoyed it!!
Easy and excellent! Great recipe! Never made stuffed peppers in the crockpot before, but I will make this recipe over and over!
Happy to hear that! Thank you Marisa!
Hi Erin i’m fresh out of quinoa. I have couscous. Could I use that as a replacement for quinoa ? I also have plenty of rice that I could use but I just thought that I could use this up and get it out of my pantry. Thanks. I’ve made this recipe before it’s awesome. Everybody loved it just curious on the couscous,and what you thought.
Hi Greg! With couscous being a pasta I don’t think it would work in this recipe due to not actually submerging it in any kind of liquid to cook it. That said, if you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes. Also I do have a few recipes that use couscous if you’d like to try one of those! https://www.wellplated.com/moroccan-couscous/ or https://www.wellplated.com/israeli-couscous-salad/ Enjoy!
What an amazing and easy recipe! I will be using this over and over in the future! I love that I was able to throw this together in 15 minutes before work and it was ready for the family at the end of the day! Thank you!
Yay! Thank you Kevin!
Have you tried it with Minute rice? Was curious if I would still need to cook the rice if I used the minute rice…
Hi Terrie, I haven’t tested it out myself so I’m unsure. Although I feel like you would still need to cook the rice. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Hi! I have filling left over. Any suggestions on how to use it up? Great recipe!
Hi! If you have extra filling that is cooked maybe you could eat it in taco shells, over nachos or freeze it and save it for a later time. If it is uncooked I would just make extra peppers. Hope this helps!
Hi Erin, I don’t think I am asking questions in the right spot, not sure, but here goes.
I just purchased the ingredients to make these Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers, they sound wonderful! However, and I did look thru to see if you mention this, but I did not see anything.
My quinoa states to rinse before cooking. You mention not having to cook it first but I didn’t see anything about rinsing.
Thank you, have a great day! :)
Hi Bella! This is the right place! I don’t have any special tips for the quinoa—I like using Bob’s Red Mill brand, and many people have found that they like quinoa better if they rinse it and drain before cooking it so you could really do either. After that, just follow the instructions on the packet and you should be fine! Thanks!
Thanks Erin, going in the crock pot right now! I’m sure it will be scrumptious!
What on earth did I do wrong!? I’ve read over this again and again. Mine are so grainy and dry, literally inedible!
I made this exactly as written. I’m a pretty good cook, honestly, a really good cook. This us my first time making stuffed peppers in the crock pot. But still, the rave reviews, I have to be missing something. I’ve been reading and rereading it, dud it exactly. I love every recipe of yours Erin, I just don’t get it.
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Bella. When you say grainy are you talking about the feeling? Was the quinoa cooked and the peppers soft? How many peppers did you fill?
Hi Bella, I’m very familiar with Bob’s Red Mill products. BRM quinoa is freeze-dried, and it not only needs rinsing, it really needs to be “reconstituted”, if that’s the right word. I found this out the hard way! I would soak the quinoa the morning of or the day before making your peppers.
After moving from PA to CA, I discovered Seeds of Change quinoa with roasted garlic. It’s fabulous, and it makes this recipe even better! You heat it in the microwave, then drop it in your meat & spice mixture. I use it in many recipes.
Erin Clarke, pls feel free to delete this 2nd paragraph, if it’s an issue. BRM products are harder than rocks – need a lot of soaking! They are healthy and flavorful – just need to work for it :-)
Thanks for the tip SusieA!
This was my first time making stuffed peppers and the recipe is definitely a keeper for regular rotation! It was perfectly filling, straightforward to make, and delicious. We used avocado slices and Greek yogurt (thinned with water) mixed with salt and pepper as toppings, which was excellent!
Great to hear, thank you Nicole!
This was so easy to make, and it turned out well. So grateful for recipes like this that are inexpensive, healthful, and EASY!
Thank you Emily!
I was a bit skeptical about this recipe; the only way I’ve ever cooked stuffed peppers is in the oven. They turned out perfect! So delicious! And now I can enjoy stuffed peppers in the summer in NC without turning on the oven! Only changes I made were I sauteed some onion and 2 cloves of garlic to soften (omitting the garlic powder) and added to the raw mixture. I also added about 4 tablespoons of chopped cilantro to the raw mix. Delish!
So glad to hear you enjoyed them, Stephanie! Thank you!
Okay, I read through all 244 comments but didn’t see my question answered so here goes. How do you think this would be with the impossible, imitation meat. I always use this instead of ground beef but not sure if it would work in this recipe. I’d love to try though….. Thanks.
Hi Sherry, if you are using something like Beyond Meat Plant Based Ground Beef or something similar I would think it would work. I haven’t tested it out myself so you’d have to experiment. If you decide to give it a try, let us know how it goes!
Question- any suggestions on how to make this using mini peppers as an appetizer? (Cook level and time)
Also, has anyone tried to blister the peppers before slow cooking for a an added roasted feel?
Hi Jennifer, no I’m sorry, I’ve not made this with mini peppers and I’m not sure it would work. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Erin,
I want to make the vegan stuffed peppers & my question is can I use this method & make them in a crockpot? I’ve never been a fan of stuffed peppers but this sounds too good to pass up on.
Hi Irla, I’m actually now sure how the vegan ones would work due to the lentils being in that mixture. I haven’t tested it so it would be hard for me to say for sure. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Went with organic beef mince, mushrooms, cooked brown rice, tomato & herbs as r/c and slow cooker. Not my fave as found a bit overcooked on high in 3 hrs. Will try the oven next with a different cheese topper.
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Vi. Sounds like my crockpot runs cooler than yours, so I’d just adjust the cooking time some, just until the peppers are tender. Hope this helps!