Healthy Crock Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup {with Uncooked Rice}

Jump to Recipe

Packed with tender bell peppers and hearty ground beef in a rich, tomato broth, this slow cooker stuffed pepper soup tastes just like your favorite stuffed peppers in soup form. Just toss it in the crockpot in the morning, and come home to a warm, delicious meal at night. Perfect for those busy weeknights! {Gluten-free & dairy-free}

Healthy stuffed pepper soup in a white bowl with a spoon.

Table of Contents

Healthy Stuffed Pepper Soup in Crock Pot

I adore stuffed peppers, but am not always interested in doing all the work to prepare them. Fortunately, this recipe has all those same flavors but with way less prep. It even uses uncooked rice, so you don’t even have to cook it ahead of time!

Plus, it’s packed with both fiber and protein, making it a satisfying and balanced meal for the whole crew. What’s not to love?

For more easy slow cooker meals, you’ll also want to check out this Crockpot Sausage Peppers and Onions and Slow Cooker Cabbage and Sausage!

Stuffed pepper soup in a black slow cooker.

Why We Love This Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe

Healthy meal in a bowl: By using lots of green and red bell peppers, whole grain rice, and lean ground beef, this hearty soup is a meal in one! It’s a great source of vitamins and minerals in addition to protein and fiber. It’s also naturally gluten free for those with intolerances.
Ultra convenient: Slow cooker meals are the best! Although you do need to brown the beef and saute the veggies before popping them into the crockpot, the rest of the magic happens while you’re out for the day. You’ll come home to a delicious, homemade supper ready to go!
Family favorite: This really is the best stuffed pepper soup! It’s incredibly flavorful thanks to lots of aromatic ingredients, marinara sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a variety of spices and seasonings. Who said healthy meals have to be bland? The whole family will ask for this delicious soup again and again!

Ingredient Notes

Labeled individual ingredients for making slow cooker stuffed pepper soup in small bowls.

Extra lean ground beef: To keep the fat content low in this crockpot stuffed pepper soup, choose extra lean ground beef or your favorite lean ground meat. Ground turkey or even lean ground sausage can work well, too!
Yellow onion: Dice your onion into bite-sized pieces. Yellow or white onions work best.
Bell peppers: Choose any color bell peppers; we prefer green peppers and yellow peppers. Remove the stem and seeds, then cut into small pieces.
Garlic: Either freshly mince garlic or use store-bought minced garlic.
Beef broth: Use reduced sodium beef stock to avoid excess salt. Vegetable broth works well too!
Marinara sauce: Look for a low sugar tomato sauce to add a rich flavor without sugar.
Fire-roasted tomatoes: These add a nice smoky flavor. You can also use regular diced tomatoes, if necessary.
Quick cooking brown rice: We used Uncle Ben’s 20-minute brown rice, which cooks so quickly while still adding extra fiber. Instant white rice also works if that’s what you have.
Seasonings: Season this delicious soup recipe with a mixture of marjoram, chili powder, dried basil, red pepper flakes (optional), salt and black pepper.

How to Make Stuffed Pepper Soup in Crockpot – Step-by-Step

Ground meat in a white skillet with a wooden spoon.

Ground beef, peppers and onions being cooked in a frying pan with a wooden spoon.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes, making sure to break up the beef as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
Add onion, bell peppers and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. You can also do these steps in your slow cooker if it has a saute function.
Transfer beef and vegetables to a slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Serve topped with parmesan or shredded mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, if desired.

Scroll to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!

Expert Tips

We used Uncle Ben’s 20 minute brown rice and it worked really well in this recipe. You can try using regular brown rice or sub in regular long grain rice if that’s what you have.

If you have some leftover rice on hand, you can add that in at the end of the cooking time instead of using uncooked rice. You’ll need about 1 cup of cooked rice.

For a richer, more savory flavor, feel free to add a little tomato paste or a teaspoon or two of Worcestershire sauce.

Slow cooker stuffed pepper soup in a white bowl.

Recipe FAQs

Is this soup spicy?

If you add the red pepper flakes, it does have a slight kick to it, but it’s not overly spicy. If you prefer to keep it on the mild side, skip the red pepper flakes or add less.

Can stuffed pepper soup be made in the instant pot?

Absolutely! The Instant Pot is a great option. If you use your pressure cooker like a slow cooker, you don’t need to change anything. Just saute everything using the saute function before letting the soup cook slowly.

If you want to use the high-pressure feature, it won’t take long. You only need about 10 minutes of high pressure and 5-10 minutes of natural release before opening the lid. It’s a great choice for an easy meal on the fly!

Storage Guidelines

Refrigerator: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, either microwave a serving in a bowl or warm the leftovers in a small pot on the stove.

To freeze: You can also freeze leftovers, but the rice may become soggy and overcooked. If you plan to freeze, you could leave out the rice and then add in cooked rice when ready to serve.

Alternatively, you can add all of the uncooked ingredients in a bag (other than the broth) and pop them in the freezer until you need them. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then dump everything into the crockpot and cook for a dump and go meal! Simply add the broth and press start.

To reheat: Either microwave a serving in a bowl or warm the leftovers in a small pot on the stove.

Stuffed pepper soup in a black slow cooker with a ladle.

What to Serve with Stuffed Pepper Soup

This stuffed green pepper soup is a meal all on its own! However, it’s also great with these toppings or sides:

Sour cream or Greek yogurt
Sprinkle of fresh parsley or other herbs
A side salad (like this tossed green salad)
Extra rice
Whole grain dinner roll
Shredded cheese
Diced red onion

Recipe Variations

Experiment with different grains: Try quinoa, pasta or barley instead of rice.
To make low carb: Use cauliflower rice instead of brown rice.
Make it vegetarian: For a plant-based soup, skip the ground beef and use lentils or vegetarian crumbles. Be sure to use vegetable stock as well.

Slow cooker stuffed pepper soup in a white bowl with a spoon.

More Easy Soup Recipes

Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!

A bowl of slow cooker stuffed pepper soup topped with parsley.

Course Main Course, Soup