Our friend Heather from @fitmamarealfood absolutely loves stuffed peppers but being a busy mom doesn’t always allow her time to make them! She came up with this Stuffed Pepper Soup recipe that is quick and easy to prepare and lets her whole family enough the savory flavors of stuffed peppers in less time. Heather also included instructions for making it in an Instant Pot, a slow cooker and on the stove – so no worries if you don’t have any fancy gadgets, if you have a soup pot and a stove, you’ll be able to enjoy this soup!
If you love stuffed peppers, but don’t always have the time to make them, then this soup is for you! Stuffed Pepper Soup makes an easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love. Plus, the leftovers are even better the next day!
The star of this soup is our Sweet Bell Peppers in red, yellow and orange. Not only do they add color to the soup, but they add incredible flavor and essential nutrients the whole family needs! So grab your Instant Pot, or slow cooker, or soup pot and follow along to get cooking.
Pepper Soup Ingredients
Sweet Bell Peppers: You obviously can’t have Stuffed Pepper Soup without plenty of fresh bell peppers! To get them ready, dice them up. This can be done days ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready to be used.
Ground Beef: You can easily substitute ground turkey, chicken, pork, sausage, bison… whatever your family prefers! Don’t eat meat? You can substitute with a meat alternative, or beans, or tofu.
Bone Broth: Bone broth has a lot of flavor and protein, so it’s an extremely healthy option. If you’re unsure, you can substitute with just regular broth. Again, you can switch it up from chicken to beef, or if you are vegan or vegetarian, a vegetable or a mushroom broth.
Yellow Onion: White or red onions can be used for subtle flavor changes. If you’re looking for a more milder onion flavor, try using shallots.
Garlic: If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can substitute with one and a half teaspoons of granulated garlic.
Brown Rice: White rice works in place of brown, or if you’re feeling adventurous, give wild rice a try! Just be sure that you adjust your cooking time for whatever rice you choose.
How to Make Stuffed Pepper Soup
Instant Pot Method
Set your Instant Pot to sauté and when it’s hot, add the ground beef. Cook it until the beef is no longer pink inside, breaking it up as you go. Turn off the Instant Pot and add the broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, seasonings, and rice. Stir to combine everything, then put the lid on the pot and set the valve to seal. Cook on manual high pressure for 13 minutes. Once the Instant Pot is done cooking, let the soup sit for 5 minutes, then open the valve and allow a quick release.
Slow Cooker Method
Sauté the ground beef in a pan on your stovetop until it’s no longer pink and then add it to your slow cooker. Add in the remaining ingredients – except the cheese. Cook on high for three to four hours, until the rice is softened.
Stove Top Method
In a large soup pot, sauté the ground beef with the onions and peppers. When the beef is no longer pink, add the remaining ingredients – except the cheese. Bring the soup to a boil for a few minutes, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes until the rice is softened.
Whatever method you use, serve the soup with a generous sprinkling of shredded parmesan cheese. We also recommend a nice crusty baguette or some of your favorite crackers.
For Heather’s full Stuffed Pepper Soup recipe, click here.
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