Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers with Rice at the Table

Slow cooker Mediterranean stuffed peppers on a plate.

Our slow cooker Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers with Rice is a hearty, hands-off meal that will have you looking forward to dinnertime! With savory beef, bright bell peppers, fresh herbs, and a vibrant tomato sauce, these stuffed peppers are packed full of flavor.

The finest part about this simple recipe is that it’s also packed with protein, nutrients, and wholesome goodness. It makes for a super satisfying meal that’s reliable for busy days or when you want a comforting dish without a lot of effort!

The Finest Stuffed Peppers with Rice, Mediterranean Style

There are endless ways to make stuffed peppers, and we love them all! However, our go-to way to enjoy the dish is with a Mediterranean twist, of course.

These Mediterranean stuffed peppers with rice are savory, tangy, and refreshing. With minimal prep time, they cook in the slow cooker for an simple meal that’s waiting for you when you get home.

Even better, the peppers feature protein, carbs, and nutrients for a complete meal all on their own. That means you don’t have to prepare any additional sides, and cleanup is a breeze!

Dinner doesn’t get any better than this! Make extras for speedy meals you can reheat throughout the week, too. Trust us. You’ll be glad you did.

Beef, Veggies, and Rice, Oh My! Ingredients You Need

Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for this recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details and nutrition information!

Tomato Sauce – This forms a flavorful liquid, preventing the peppers from burning and adding lots of flavor.
Rice – Use cooked long-grain or Jasmine rice. Day-old rice works finest as it soaks up the liquid more easily!
Beef – Use cooked ground beef.
Diced Tomatoes – We use Roma tomatoes, but any variety you like finest will work.
Aromatics – Garlic and onion add a sweet, tangy taste.
Fresh Herbs – Use a combination of fresh dill, fresh parsley, and fresh Italian parsley to add lots of bright, herbaceous flavor.
Bell Peppers – The star of the show! Use large bell peppers for simple stuffing. Green, red, yellow, and orange all taste great.

Ingredients to make slow cooker Mediterranean stuffed peppers.

Ingredients in a bowl for stuffed pepper filling.

Flavor Variations

You can definitely mix and match different ingredients to make this recipe your own. Some of our go-to ways to switch it up include:

Swapping the meat: Not a fan of beef? Feel free to use ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a vegetarian option instead.
Adding cheese: Top your peppers with feta cheese, cheddar cheese, or any variety you have on hand. It melts in the oven becoming gooey and irresistible!
Incorporating more veggies: Finely dice veggies like mushrooms and zucchini, and fold them into the meat mixture for even more fiber and nutrients.
Replacing the rice: Feel free to use quinoa instead. Or, opt for cauliflower rice to keep this simple stuffed peppers recipe low-carb.

How to Make This Simple Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Combine the filling. Add the rice, beef, diced tomatoes, garlic, part of the onion, herbs, seasonings, and olive oil, to a bowl. Mix to combine.
Prepare the peppers. Remove the tops of the peppers. Then, hollow out the insides, removing the white membrane and seeds.
Stuff the peppers. Fill the center of each pepper with the beef mixture.
Cover the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the water and tomato sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Then, add the salt and pepper, and mix to combine.
Cook. Arrange the stuffed peppers over the sauce. Then, cover and cook until the peppers are tender.
Enjoy! Spoon the sauce over the peppers, and serve warm.

Tomato sauce being poured over stuffed peppers in a crockpot.

What Goes Well with Stuffed Peppers?

These stuffed peppers are super filling, so we often enjoy them all on their own! But you can also pair them with sides like Middle Eastern Cobb salad, shirazi salad, or chickpea and lentil salad.

Stuffed peppers in a crockpot with a spoon stirring tomato sauce in the bottom.

Make Ahead and Storing Options

Make Ahead: Feel free to combine the ingredients for the pepper filling one to two days in advance. Store the mixture in an airtight container in the fridge.
Store: Transfer leftover peppers to an airtight container, and keep them in the fridge for one two to days.
Reheat: To serve, warm your peppers in the microwave. Or, cover them loosely with foil, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit just until warm.
Freeze: Portion leftovers into airtight containers, and freeze for one to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat as normal, and enjoy.

A slow cooker Mediterranean stuffed pepper sliced in half.

A spoon lifting a bite of filling from a stuffed pepper with rice.

Common Questions About This Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers with Rice

What kind of rice works finest?

We love using long-grain white rice or jasmine rice. Brown rice can work too, but you’ll need to increase the cook time and possibly add a bit more liquid.

Can I use different bell pepper colors?

Absolutely! Red, yellow, orange, or green—any color works. Each one brings a slightly different flavor, so feel free to mix and match for a pretty presentation.

Can I make these vegetarian or vegan?

Yes! Just leave out the meat and bulk up the filling with extra veggies (like mushrooms or zucchini), canned chickpeas, or lentils. Use a plant-based cheese or skip it altogether!

What if my peppers fall over in the slow cooker?

Try trimming the bottoms just a bit to make them stand upright. Or, nestle them close together so they support each other!

More Tasty Ways to Use Bell Peppers

We love finding ways to use colorful, crunchy bell peppers! Take a peek at some of our other recipes that incorporate them:

the Ayyem kitchenServings: 8 servings

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 3 hrs
Total: 3 hrs 10 mins

Make these simple slow cooker Mediterranean stuffed peppers with rice for a hands-off meal full of flavor and nutrients! Email

Ingredients

2 cups cooked long-grain or jasmine rice preferably a day old or cold.
1 pound cooked lean ground beef about 2 cups cooked
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
4 cloves minced garlic
1 cup finely diced onion
1 cup fresh herbs a mix of dill, cilantro, and Italian parsley (1/3 cup each)
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
6-8 large colored bell peppers smaller peppers may be substituted, but more will be needed
1 cup water
4 ounces canned tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the filling: rice, cooked ground beef, diced tomatoes, minced garlic, half a cup of diced onion, fresh herbs, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mix well.2 cups cooked long-grain or jasmine rice, 1 pound cooked lean ground beef, 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 cup finely diced onion, 1 cup fresh herbs, 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 2 tablespoons olive oil
Prepare the bell peppers by removing the tops and hollowing out the insides.6-8 large colored bell peppers
Stuff the peppers with the filling mixture until they are full.
In the bottom of the slow cooker, pour in the water and canned tomato sauce. Add salt and pepper, then mix until combined.1 cup water, 4 ounces canned tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
Arrange the stuffed peppers over the sauce mixture in the slow cooker.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours or until the peppers are tender.
Once cooked, serve by spooning the sauce from the bottom of the slow cooker over the stuffed peppers.