Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers Effortless Comfort Food

Recipe Introduction

Quick Hook

Fancy a comforting, no-fuss dinner? Have you ever thought of letting your slow cooker do all the work? This slow cooker stuffed peppers recipe is your answer! Think classic comfort food with minimal effort and maximum flavour.

Brief Overview

Stuffed peppers, originating from Mediterranean and Eastern European cuisines, are a staple for good reason. This stuffed bell pepper slow cooker recipe simplifies everything! It's an easy recipe, taking about 20 minutes to prep and 4- 6 hours in the slow cooker.

Makes four servings, perfect for a family meal.

Main Benefits

This healthy easy crock pot recipe is packed with protein and fibre. Slow cooker stuffed peppers vegetarian ? Easily done with lentils.

The best part? You come home to a delicious, ready-to-eat dinner. Perfect for busy weeknights when you fancy Crockpot Dishes Healthy !

Getting Started with Your Slow Cooker

Are you ready to have your home smelling delicious? First, get those lovely peppers prepped. Halve them, get rid of the seeds, and bam, you're halfway there.

This is where this Easy slow cooker stuffed peppers shines.

Stuffing the Peppers

In a pan, brown your ground beef (or turkey for a lighter twist, Stuffed peppers slow cooker ground turkey ).

Then, mix in some cooked rice, diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning for the ultimate comfort combo. Honestly, the smell alone is worth it.

Assembling your Crockpot Bell Peppers Masterpiece

Now, spoon that mixture into those pepper halves. Nestle them in your slow cooker, in a bed of tomato sauce and beef broth (or chicken if you're short!).

Then, let the slow cooker do its magic. Remember, Don't overcrowd!

Time to Cook!

Set your slow cooker to low for 4- 6 hours. Or high for 2-3 if you are rushing. Keep an eye on them, you don't want them to become mushy! During the last 30 minutes, sprinkle some mozzarella on top.

Get ready for some seriously delicious Pepper Crockpot Recipes . Easy slow cooker stuffed peppers , that everyone will love! You can even omit rice if you fancy slow cooker stuffed peppers no rice .

Alright, so you fancy making some Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers ? Good on ya! They're proper lush and dead easy.

These are also healthy easy crock pot recipes , and they taste absolutely amazing. Forget slaving over a hot stove the crockpot does all the hard graft.

Let's talk ingredients and kit you'll need for these pepper crockpot recipes before we get started.

Ingredients & Equipment

Main Ingredients: Your Shopping List Sorted

Right, let's break down what you'll need for these beaut slow cooker stuffed peppers . Don't worry, it's mostly stuff you'll probably have knocking about.

• 4 large bell peppers (any color will do, innit!), halved lengthwise and seeded.
• 1 tbsp olive oil ( 15 ml ) for a bit of flavour when browning the beef.
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup ).
• 2 cloves garlic, minced.
• 1 lb ground beef (about 450g ), 80/20 blend. Lean is alright, but a bit of fat gives it flavour.
• 1 cup cooked rice (about 200g ), long grain or brown. Leftovers work a treat.
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained (about 400g ).
• 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce (about 225g ).
• 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning a must for that Italian vibe!
• ½ tsp salt.
• ¼ tsp black pepper.
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 50g ) because cheese makes everything better.
• For the sauce 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained (about 400g)
• For the sauce ½ cup beef broth (about 120ml)
• For the sauce 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• For the sauce ½ tsp garlic powder

For the bell peppers, they need to be firm to the touch. No squidgy peppers allowed, alright? I once tried to use some slightly soft ones, and they completely fell apart in the slow cooker - total disaster! Also remember this recipe is an easy slow cooker stuffed peppers

Seasoning Notes: Flavour Bombs

Seriously, don't skimp on the seasoning. A good Italian seasoning blend is essential. If you haven't got any, mix together dried oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme.

For extra oomph, chuck in a pinch of red pepper flakes. A little garlic powder can do wonders. You know? You could also use ground turkey to be more healthy

Equipment Needed: Keep It Simple

You really don't need much fancy kit for this Stuffed bell pepper slow cooker recipe . Here's the bare minimum:

• Slow cooker (6-quart or larger).
• Large skillet for browning the beef.
• Mixing bowl for combining the filling.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Knife & Cutting board

Don't have a skillet? A large saucepan will do. No fancy measuring cups? Use a mug just be consistent, yeah? This slow cooker stuffed peppers vegetarian meal is all about easy grub.

Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers: Effortless Comfort Food

Fancy a bit of proper comfort food? These slow cooker stuffed peppers are just the ticket. They're proper easy, I promise.

We are talking about the stuffed bell pepper slow cooker recipe with Italian American flavors but we are doing it using the slow cooker.

Prep Steps: Get Your Ducks in a Row

First things first, let's talk prep. Proper mise en place is key, innit? Dice one medium yellow onion and mince two cloves of garlic.

Cook one cup of rice I tend to go for long grain. Halve four large bell peppers . Remove those pesky seeds and membranes and set it aside.

Get all that organized. This will save time later, honest. Now, grab one pound of ground beef.

step-by-step: Slow Cooking Magic

Here’s how to turn simple ingredients into healthy easy crock pot recipes , particularly these easy slow cooker stuffed peppers !

1. Sauté your aromatics: In a pan, cook the onion ( 5 mins) until soft. Then add the garlic (1 min).
2. Brown that beef: Add the ground beef and brown it. Drain off any fat we don't want that.
3. Mix it all together: Combine the cooked beef, rice, one can of diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
4. Sauce it up: In your Crockpot , mix the other can of diced tomatoes, beef broth, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
5. Stuff 'em: Spoon the filling into the pepper halves. Be generous!
6. Slow Cook Time: Place the stuffed peppers into the slow cooker and cook on low for 4- 6 hours , or on high for 2- 3 hours .
7. Cheese time! Sprinkling mozzarella cheese during the last 30 minutes until melted!
8. Serve this healthy pepper crockpot recipes !

Pro Tips: Level Up Your Stuffed Peppers

Want to take these Crockpot dishes healthy up a notch? Avoid mushy peppers by keeping an eye on things and don't overcook.

It is a good idea to use pre-cooked rice to prevent the filling from getting wet! If you have a small slow cooker , cook in batches.

Or, like, just use fewer peppers. I tend to spray the slow cooker with cooking oil. It prevents sticking! Also, it avoids the slow cooker stuffed peppers no rice .

Slow cooker stuffed peppers vegetarian ? Just replace the meat with lentils, halloumi or quinoa. For the stuffed peppers slow cooker ground turkey , switch out the ground beef! Give these slow cooker bell peppers a go! They are the real deal and this Easy slow cooker stuffed peppers are really something!

Recipe Notes for Effortless Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

So, you're about to dive into making these slow cooker stuffed peppers , eh? Ace! Let's quickly run through some handy notes to make sure your experience is as smooth as a gravy sandwich.

Honestly, these are the little things that can really make a dish shine. Think of these stuffed bell pepper slow cooker recipe notes as secret weapons for the kitchen.

Plating Power: Serving Suggestions

Presentation matters, even with comfort food! I reckon a proper plating can make all the difference. For these Crockpot bell peppers , try arranging them on a platter.

Drizzle them with a bit of extra tomato sauce from the slow cooker. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley. Boom! Looks like a proper restaurant dish.

If you want some sides, a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette would be smashing. Also, crusty bread for mopping up that delicious sauce is essential.

And, of course, a glass of red wine never goes amiss with Pepper crockpot recipes .

Stash it Away: Storage Tips

Got leftovers? No worries! These healthy easy crock pot recipes are great the next day. First, let the peppers cool down completely.

Then, pop them into an airtight container. In the fridge, they'll be good for up to 3-4 days .

Fancy freezing them? You can! Just be aware the texture of the peppers might change a bit. They might be slightly softer after thawing.

To reheat, you can use the microwave, oven, or even back in the slow cooker . Remember to reheat them to 165° F ( 74° C) for safety.

Mix it Up: Variations

One of the best things about easy slow cooker stuffed peppers is how versatile they are. Fancy a slow cooker stuffed peppers vegetarian version? Swap out the ground beef for cooked lentils or quinoa.

Sorted!

Want to go low-carb? Skip the rice or replace it with cauliflower rice. Job done. You can also use ground turkey as a replacement.

If you are out of beef broth, you can use chicken broth. Also, if you are out of mozzarella cheese, you can use cheddar cheese as a replacement.

For a seasonal twist, use different colored bell peppers or add some butternut squash to the filling in the autumn.

Know Your Grub: Nutrition Basics

Each serving of these slow cooker stuffed peppers rocks around 450 calories. You're getting a hefty dose of protein (35g) and decent fiber (5g).

Keep in mind these are estimates. It always depends on your exact ingredients. However, these are definitely healthy easy crock pot recipes .

Using your crock pot also makes this one of the Crockpot dishes healthy for you and your family

So, there you have it! A few extra notes to make your slow cooker stuffed peppers experience even better. Don't be afraid to experiment and make this recipe your own.

You got this! If you enjoy cooking, checkout more of my content for amazing slow cooker bell peppers .