You’ll love these Jimmy Dean Stuffed Peppers for an easy weeknight meal that’s full of bold flavor! No need for pre-cooking or browning the meat. Just toss in the slow cooker and go!

stuffed bell peppers

Ever find a go-to recipe for busy weeknights? The whole family likes it, and it’s a wholesome meal with protein, veggies– all the good stuff?

That’s these Crockpot Stuffed Peppers. It took an average weeknight meal and turned it into something remarkable. I got enthusiastic approval from my family– on a dish that I literally tossed into the crockpot. No pre-cooking or browning required.

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE CROCKPOT STUFFED PEPPERS:

• 4 medium-large bell peppers, depending on size of slow cooker
• 1 pound Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage, Country Mild
• 1 cup long grain white rice, uncooked (quick cooking rice turns to mush, must use regular rice)
• 1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes (drained)
• 1 14 ounce can of corn (drained)
• 1 teaspoon, cumin
• ½ teaspoon, chili pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1½ cups shredded cheddar or Colby-Jack cheese, divided
• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
• Optional: sour cream, guacamole, or salsa for serving

HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT STUFFED PEPPERS:

Onto the recipe!

handy tools to use to make these Jimmy Dean stuffed peppers:

• crock pot – timer, intelligent cooking, huge
• serrated knife – cuts easily without crushing food, dishwasher safe, stays sharp

It’s like stuffed peppers with a twist. An added southwestern flavor, if you will. I love using canned goods in my slow cooker recipes, because it gives me flexibility on when I make the dish. If you prefer fresh corn and diced tomatoes, by all means. Make the recipe work for your family.

I love that you can just pop the peppers in the pot and let them do their thing. No added sauces, no extra nonsense. Just stuff the peppers with sausage, rice, and veggies; and set to cook.

I added a sprinkle of cheese and some parsley on the top for extra flavor. Plus, it adds to the presentation. I usually choose vibrantly colored peppers to add to the southwestern feel. They also really compliment the flavor of the sausage.

I used Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage Country Mild for this recipe, and you could always add more heat by using Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage Hot or serving it with salsa and letting everyone chose their own level of heat.

Sour cream, salsa, guacamole… it’s all fair game. Easy, filling, and kid-friendly. Check, check, check.

FAQs

How to make stuffed peppers?

Grab your ingredients listed about and follow these directions:

1. Cut tops off of bell peppers and remove membranes and seeds. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine next 8 ingredients and 1 cup cheese. Stir to combine.
3. Spoon ground beef mixture into peppers.
4. Place stuffed peppers into the slow cooker.
5. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours or High for about 3 hours, until ground beef is cooked and rice is tender. Top stuffed pepper with parsley and remaining cheese.
6. Serve warm with toppings.

Do you cook the meat before making stuffed peppers?

Some recipe do require cooking the meat, while some (like mine here) do not precook the meat. Just make sure you check your particular directions before you combine everything.

Can you freeze stuffed peppers?

Yes! You can freeze prior to cooking by preparing and then sealing in an airtight container. You can also cook them, let them cool and then wrap in plastic wrap.

I’m always looking for weeknight meal solutions, and this is one of my favorites. The best stories seem to come out during mealtime, don’t they? So we always try to make it a priority to gather around the table for a good meal. I love to check in with everybody and feed them a delicious dinner.

For another crockpot meal to add to your cold months, try the Crockpot Chili with Cornbread.