Stuffed Peppers With Meat are a fun and flavorful dish that works as an appetizer, snack, or even a light meal. With their vibrant colors and bite-sized shape, they add a festive touch to any table. Whether you’re hosting a party or looking for a healthier weeknight dinner idea, mini stuffed peppers are easy to make, customizable, and absolutely delicious.
These little peppers are naturally sweet and tender, which makes them a great vessel for all kinds of fillings. You can go the classic route with a savory mixture of ground meat, rice, and herbs, or try a vegetarian version with quinoa, black beans, and corn. Add cheese for creaminess, spices for heat, or fresh herbs for brightness. The options are endless, which makes this dish perfect for using up leftovers or experimenting with new flavor combos.
One of the best things about mini stuffed peppers is how quickly they cook. Unlike full-sized bell peppers, these little ones roast or bake in just about 20 minutes, making them a great choice when you’re short on time. They hold their shape well, and the slightly crispy edges contrast beautifully with the warm, melty filling.
They also make a great make-ahead option. You can stuff them ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Leftovers reheat well and taste just as good the next day. Serve them on a platter with a dipping sauce like sour cream, salsa, or ranch for an easy appetizer everyone will love.
Stuffed Peppers With Meat are the kind of recipe that looks impressive but requires minimal effort. They’re colorful, flavorful, and fun to eat, making them a hit with both kids and adults. Whether you keep it simple or get creative with the filling, they’re sure to become a favorite.
This recipe is made by Melody Rivera.
Ingredients
- 2 bags mini bell peppers
- 2 lb 80/20 ground beef
- 2/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 24 oz Hunt’s garlic & herb pasta sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano leaves rub between your hands before adding to the sauce
- 6-8 cups Jasmine rice for serving, cooked
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix the ground beef, breadcrumbs, onions, egg, salt and pepper.
- Stuff the mini peppers with the meat mixture.
- Any leftover meat mixture make into 1 to 1-1/2-inch meatballs.
- Empty the spaghetti sauce into a crock-pot and then add the raw meatball to the sauce.
- Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours, gentle stir every 30 minutes.
- When cooked serve over Jasmine rice. Enjoy!
Not gonna lie, 2 bags of mini bell peppers sounds like a lot—mine were small and I still had extra meat. I did the meatballs like the recipe says and it worked out, just plan for leftovers.
I totally get that—2 bags of mini peppers can feel like overkill. I used a little extra sauce and yeah, ended up with some meatballs too. Leftovers are the move.
Mine were normal size, and I barely got them stuffed with all the meat. Not complaining, but I’d call it “one bag per batch” depending on pepper size.
Wow, I didn’t expect much but these were a hit at the party! Will make again!
I made a batch for meal prep and the leftovers tasted even better the next day. I would absolutely make again.
The directions say to “empty the spaghetti sauce into a crock-pot” and cook raw meat in it—seems risky to me but it did cook through. Still, I’d cook a little longer just to be safe with 80/20.
I took these to a potluck, and they disappeared fast! Next time, I’ll double the recipe.
Mine came out a bit bland even with the garlic & oregano. I think I needed more salt in the meat mixture (or less breadcrumbs). Still, would make again and tweak.
I don’t know… mini peppers? Not sure if they gonna taste good.
Best recipe ever! 👌
Why do you have to wait so long? I ain’t got that kind of time!
These mini stuffed peppers were a hit at our family dinner! The recipe was super easy to follow, and everyone loved them!
I don’t like cooking meat in a crock-pot, it’s just too weird! Next time I’ll bake them instead.
I tried making these and they burned. The sauce was too thin. Maybe it was my fault.
Don’t be too hard on yourself! Baking can be tricky. Maybe try reducing the cooking time or checking the temperature next time? The sauce can be thickened with a bit of cornstarch if you’re into that! Good luck!
These turned out super tasty and the peppers were actually tender—good idea with the crock-pot. I added a little extra garlic just because I can’t help myself.
I don’t understand why it says pasta sauce but it’s not pasta… I mean, I served it over rice like the instructions, so I guess it’s fine? Taste was good.
Yeah I get that—“pasta sauce” is just the jar sauce they use as the cooking base. It’s still totally fine over rice (honestly sounds good). Glad the taste worked out!
Wait so it’s called stuffed peppers with meat but you gotta cook it in spaghetti sauce? Kinda confusing lol. I’d think it would be like tomato sauce, not pasta sauce, but if it’s good then whatever. I served it over rice too once and it was fine.
Can’t believe I’ve never tried stuffing peppers before. What a game changer!. 10/10
This recipe is fantastic! The flavors blend so well together. My family loved it!
I completely agree! It’s become a family favorite at my house too! 😊
So easy to make! I just used regular rice and it was still great.
I had a hard time with the meat mixture. It kept falling apart when I tried to stuff the peppers. 😕
I had that issue too! Maybe try adding a bit more breadcrumbs next time? It helps bind the mixture better. 😊
Can you use chicken instead of beef? I’m allergic to beef.
Sounds too complicated for me. I think I’ll skip this one.
This recipe is amazing! My family loved it!
Glad to hear! These peppers are a hit at my house too! 😊
Followed the steps but they came out a bit dry. Maybe more sauce next time??
But like, how can they be dry if you put sauce in? That doesn’t make sense to me. Are you sure you did it right?
I had the same issue! Maybe try adding a bit more sauce or even some cheese on top for moisture. It really helps!
I think the cook time is off? Mine was still underdone after 2 hours on high. Also, stirring every 30 minutes felt like a lot but it helped.
We followed it and were fine, but we used bigger peppers? Also maybe my crock-pot runs hot bc I didn’t have to stir that much—just once or twice. The 30 min stir sounds like overkill, but stirring could’ve helped it not stick.
Yeah, I’d trust you. I did 2 hours on high once and they were still kinda firm inside. Ended up needing extra time on low till the meat was fully cooked. Next time I’ll start checking earlier and maybe keep it closer to 3-4 hours.
Easy to make and so good! My kids loved the colorful peppers. Definitely making again!
Yummy! But why use so many ingredients? Simple is better, just meat and peppers!
I get what you’re saying, but the extra ingredients really add flavor! Plus, the breadcrumbs help bind everything together. Just meat and peppers sounds too plain to me!
This recipe is awesome! I made it for a family gathering and it was a hit! Everyone loved it. 😊
Sounds good, but can you really make it as tasty with ground turkey instead of beef? 🤔
I’m so glad it was a hit! We’ve made it a few times too, and it never fails! 😍
I just stuffed mine with cheese instead of meat and they were sooo good. 😋
I love the cheese idea! Sounds much lighter than meat. Gonna try it for sure! 🌟
Cheese? Really? Doesn’t that just turn into a gooey mess? Not sure if I buy that 😕.
Okay but why jasmine rice? I mean it’s fine, but I think mashed potatoes would slap with this. The recipe is solid though.
I had no idea what Jasmine rice was, but used basmati and it still turned out great. Thanks!
5 stars for sure! Cooked it in my slow cooker and my house smells amazing!
I love stuffed peppers! They always turn out so tasty. Slow cooker is the best for this! 👍
Super easy to follow! I added some cheese on top and it was a hit! Will make again.
I used regular bell peppers instead of mini and they didn’t fit in the crock-pot right. Flavor was still good, but portioning was messy. Maybe cut them lengthwise next time.
Good note! I’m glad the flavor still worked out—those mini peppers are definitely meant to fit better in the crock-pot. Cutting regular bell peppers lengthwise (and maybe trimming the base) sounds like the perfect workaround for the portioning mess too.
One word: AMAZING. My kids ate it without complaining (which is basically a miracle).
I mean, it’s just beef and peppers. Nothing special. Meh.
Love the idea of stuffing mini peppers with meatball filling. Mine took a bit longer than 4 hours on low because the peppers were stubborn, but still great.
I tried this but my peppers were hard after 4 hours, so I ended up baking them longer… not sure if I did something wrong. Also 6-8 cups rice for serving seems like a ton lol.
Yes!! Mini peppers are the move. I did 5-6 hours on low the first time too—seems like they need extra time to really soften. Still super tasty over rice.
Too much work for me. Just gonna stick to pizza. Not worth it. 😒
Can I use chicken instead of beef? 🤔
Sure, chicken will work! Just make sure to season it well. 😊
I dunno, chicken might not taste the same… Is it really a good idea? 🤨
I dunno… stuffed peppers never really did it for me. I prefer just regular meatballs.
Honestly, I thought this would be basic but was blown away by the flavors! A total keeper!
So glad you loved it! These flavors are a surefire way to spice up dinner. 🍽️
I dunno… stuffed peppers always seem kinda boring to me. Are these really that good?
The meatball-in-sauce step is genius. I was worried about it drying out, but it stayed juicy. Would recommend.
Pretty good, but my filling was a little dry. Next time I’ll use slightly less breadcrumbs or add a splash of sauce to the meat mix.
Thanks! A drier filling makes sense with that amount of breadcrumbs—next time I’d definitely try less or add a spoonful of extra sauce to the meat mix before stuffing.
Huh, I add bread crumbs too but I think the problem was cooking time. Shoulda been like 1 hour only? Also 2 bags mini peppers seems like a lot for 2 lb beef lol.
These came out really tasty and the crock-pot made it super easy. I added a little extra garlic and it was perfect with the jasmine rice.
Followed it pretty much as written and it turned out great. The crock-pot method really helps the sauce cling to everything. Family asked for seconds.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about stuffing peppers and then slow-cooking them in pasta sauce… but it worked! The peppers softened nicely.
This sounds interesting, but what if I don’t have garlic powder? Can I use fresh garlic instead?
But isn’t garlic powder like way different? Fresh might be too strong. I dunno, maybe try it and see?
Yes, fresh garlic would work great! Just use a clove or two, depending on how much you like garlic. It’ll give it a nice flavor!
Waaaay too much onion! I love onions but it was overpowering. Next time I’ll cut back.
I left out the onion & it still came out great! Make sure u cook them well tho.
Step 3 confused me a bit—do you really put the raw meatball into the sauce and then cook everything together? I did it anyway and it turned out okay.
Yummy! I added some cheese on top. Made it even better! 🧀
Cheese on top sounds amazing! I might try that next time. 😍
I didn’t have mini peppers, used normal ones. Worked okay, but more filling! 🤷♂️
I like the simplicity, but 2 bags mini bell peppers seems like it might not be enough for 2 lb of meat unless the peppers are pretty big. Still delicious though—next time I’ll weigh/measure.
Who needs rice? Just give me the stuffed peppers! So tasty 🌶️❤️
Meatballs in sauce didn’t cook well for me. Watched it like a hawk but they still fell apart. Ugh.
I’m sorry to hear that! Maybe try adding the meatballs straight to the sauce earlier or use less breadcrumbs next time. Better luck next time!
These look so comforting. The combo of mini peppers + meatballs in garlic & herb sauce is honestly genius. I’d probably add a little extra oregano and mozzarella on top when serving.
I didn’t have Jasmine rice, so I used regular long grain. Still good. Also I forgot the egg once (oops) and it was less cohesive—so yeah, don’t skip the egg.
I thought the stuffing part would be harder, but it’s actually pretty quick. I used a spoon to pack the meat in tight. Sauce was flavorful, and the rice soaked it up nicely.
Totally agree—once you mix the filling, it’s not that bad. I packed mine with a spoon too and it held together way better. The pasta sauce flavor getting absorbed by the rice is the real win.
Quick? Mine was messy 😅 Also I didn’t use enough sauce and the rice didn’t soak up like yours. Maybe next time I’ll add more. Still tasty though—wouldn’t call it “stopped in the crock-pot” easy.
This is just a fancy way to make tacos, right? That’s like… weird.
Hunt’s garlic & herb sauce is the real MVP here. I used regular bell peppers since I couldn’t find mini and it still tasted amazing.
So good!
Not gonna lie, I thought stuffing mini peppers would be a pain. It was a little fiddly but worth it. Sauce flavor was really nice.