Slow Cooker Taco Stuffed Peppers Recipe
These Slow Cooker Taco Stuffed Peppers are a delicious and easy meal combining the flavors of classic tacos with the convenience of slow cooking. Ground beef mixed with taco seasoning, salsa, rice, and crispy saltine crackers is stuffed inside bell peppers and cooked slowly to tender perfection. Topped with melted cheddar cheese, they make a flavorful, hearty dish perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 4-5 stuffed peppers (serves 4-5) 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 1 lb. ground beef
- Chopped tops of 4-5 bell peppers (seeds removed, tops reserved and diced)
- 1/2 cup diced white onion
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup salsa
- 1.25 oz taco seasoning mix (1 packet)
- 15 saltine crackers, crushed
- 1/2 cup minute rice (uncooked)
Other Ingredients
- 4–5 bell peppers (any color, 4 large or 5 medium sized, tops cut off and seeds discarded)
- 1 1/2 cup salsa (for slow cooker base)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker Base: Pour 1 1/2 cups of salsa into the bottom of the slow cooker. This will keep the peppers moist and flavorful during slow cooking.
- Prepare the Bell Peppers: Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds completely. Chop the tops and set aside to mix with the filling.
- Mix the Filling: In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, diced pepper tops, diced white onion, egg, sour cream, 1/4 cup salsa, taco seasoning mix, crushed saltine crackers, and uncooked minute rice. Mix gently with clean hands until just combined to avoid a dense texture.
- Stuff the Peppers: Fill each hollowed-out pepper with the meat mixture until fully stuffed.
- Arrange in Slow Cooker: Place the stuffed peppers upright on top of the salsa in the slow cooker.
- Cook Slowly: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5 hours. Do not open the lid during cooking to maintain heat and moisture.
- Add Cheese Topping: After 5 hours, sprinkle about 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese on each stuffed pepper. Cover and allow the cheese to melt for a few minutes.
- Serve: Carefully remove the stuffed peppers from the slow cooker and serve warm. Enjoy your flavorful taco stuffed peppers!
Notes
- Do not overmix the filling to keep the texture tender.
- Minute rice is added uncooked since it will cook absorb the moisture in the slow cooker.
- Use a variety of bell pepper colors for a vibrant presentation.
- Resist opening the slow cooker lid during cooking to ensure even heat distribution and proper cooking.
- If preferred, you can substitute ground turkey for ground beef for a leaner option.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently in a microwave or oven.
Keywords: slow cooker stuffed peppers, taco stuffed peppers, slow cooker recipes, ground beef stuffed peppers, easy dinner recipe, crockpot stuffed peppers
