Stuffed Bell Peppers are one of those classic dinners that remind me of my childhood. Full disclosure: as a kid I only liked the beefy rice filling, so I would scoop out the stuffing and leave the peppers on the plate, much to our mom’s chagrin. Luckily, I got over myself and learned to love the crisp peppers along with that hearty filling. The peppers are the star of the meal, after all. Using the Instant Pot for this stuffed peppers recipe keeps the peppers crisp, yet tender with bubbly filling inside. A delicious Instant pot meal every time! If you haven’t jumped on the Instant Pot train yet – YOU NEED TO! It is one of the most convenient kitchen appliances I have ever owned. This recipe is just one of the MANY Instant Pot recipes that I have incorporated into my regular meal rotations.
Ingredients in Stuffed Peppers
This recipe is healthy and wholesome, made with simple ingredients. The fresh bell pepper, alone, is chock full of vitamins and flavor. In addition to that, the possibilities are endless. Try any combination and enjoy experimenting!
Basic ingredients
Bell peppers – We like using red, orange, and yellow for the sweet flavor and the pop of color. Green bell peppers work great as well.Ground beef – ground sausage or ground turkey can also be used, or a combination of two.Rice – Cooked white rice or brown rice.Vegetables – onions and diced tomatoes. If you are trying to get more veggies into your meal, celery and/or diced carrots can also be added.Tomato sauceSeasonings – Parmesan cheese, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper.Cheese – Sharp cheddar, mozzarella, Colby Jack.
Optional add-ins and variations
Ground turkey, chicken, or sausageFeta cheeseBacon and eggsLamb or porkCouscousCornBlack beansCauliflower riceFresh parsleyQuinoaHam and cheeseFresh basil, parsley, or thyme
How to Slice Peppers for Stuffed Peppers
Vertical or horizontal, which is best for Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers? There are pros to each.
If you slice horizontally down the middle, you can get two stuffed peppers out of one. Costco prepares their stuffed peppers this way. If you simply cut off the top and fill the entire pepper, the filling can overpower the pepper ratio. This is how I cut the peppers in the recipe below.Slicing the pepper vertically will allow you to fit a lot into one pan, so it’s ideal for baking. How you cut the peppers really boils down to personal preference. But you can definitely fit in more in the Instant Pot when cutting vertically.
Does the Ground Beef Need to be Cooked?
Nope! Lean ground beef or ground turkey can go in UNcooked! That is the wonderful thing about this recipe. Of course, if you would like to pre-cook the beef, you absolutely can. The only reason for pre-cooking the beef would be so you can drain the grease from the beef if you are using ground beef with a higher fat content. In this picture below, actually, I lightly browned the beef JUST enough to get some of the excess grease off but it is not necessary. If you pre-cook the beef, you can reduce the pressure time to only 3-5 minutes.
What Kind of Rice to Use for Stuffed Peppers
Using leftover cooked rice is definitely the way to go when making stuffed peppers. I honestly just use whatever leftover rice is on hand. Brown or white, seasoned or plain, it really isn’t going to make a huge difference. I especially love using leftover Mexican Rice and Garden Vegetable Rice. Seasoned rice just kicks it up a notch. When I don’t have leftover rice on hand, I usually just cook up rice quickly in the Instant Pot and then wash the Instant Pot out before using again for the stuffed peppers (you can also use a rice cooker).
Frequently Asked Questions About Stuffed Peppers
Read Next:27 BEST Instant Pot Recipes
What To Serve With Stuffed Peppers
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers are a simple meal all on their own, but we love to serve a light fruit salad alongside. Your family would also love potato chips, a green salad, green beans, fruit, or some nice, crusty bread.
Nuts About Berries Salad
Light and Fluffy Breadsticks
Waldorf Salad
Cheesy Italian Bread
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