Instant Pot Unstuffed Peppers is a great busy weekday night meal. You get all the flavors of a stuffed pepper without all the extra steps of prep. A ground beef and rice seasoned mixed with peppers throughout.
Stuffed peppers were a classic recipe we ate growing up. Something about being served food stuffed inside a pepper made it so fun! Now as an adult I found a simple way to get those same flavors, with a lot less work on my end.
Instant Pot Unstuffed Pepper
Add on a sprinkle of cheese and even a dollop of sour cream and ring that dinner bell! Your family young and old will love the flavors this Instant Pot dinner recipe brings.
What Type Of Meat Do You Use for Unstuffed Peppers
For this recipe, I used ground beef. You are welcome to swap it out with ground turkey or even do a mix of sausage and ground beef.
We have batches of ground beef I have cooked in the Instant Pot in the freezer for meal prep meals I use a lot. We are a huge fan of homemade Instant Pot freezer meals.
What Color Of Bell Peppers Do You Use For Stuffed Peppers
Any color works! I find that the red, yellow and even orange bell peppers offer a sweeter flavor than green bell peppers. I have even bought those mini sweet peppers and diced them up and it turned out great.
If you use a variety of colors it adds a splash of color to your Unstuffed Pepper mixture. Which adds to the presentation value.
What to Pair With Unstuffed Peppers Casserole
For this recipe, we normally count it as a one-pot meal. If you want to add a side salad to the mix or even a slice of bread or dinner roll.
This recipe is hearty, comforting and filling! If you are not serving a handful you will have leftovers!
How To Prepare for Freezer meal:
- Use a gallon size freezer bag
- Add one Pound of prepared ground beef
- 28 oz chopped tomato
- 2 oz tomato puree
- 2 cups uncooked rice
- 3 peppers chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cups beef broth
- Freeze for up to 6months
How to Prepare from Frozen:
- Place contents of freezer bag in the instant pot
- Cook on Manual High Pressure for 4 minutes.
- Do a quick release
- You can either use already prepared Rice and stir in Or
- Add 2 cups uncooked rice
- Manual low pressure for 12 minutes
- quick release
- Optional stir in cheese.
How to Store Leftovers of Unstuffed Peppers
Simply allow the dish to cool then transfer into an airtight container and tuck into the fridge. Or go the extra step and do single-serve containers for quick meal prep for a few days of the week.
Does Unstuffed Peppers Casserole Reheat Good
Yes! This recipe reheats rather well. The flavors blend even more through the night so the next day flavors are even better than day one.
Why Make Unstuffed Peppers In The Instant Pot
Why not? You get perfectly cooked rice, flavorful flavors with little effort on your hand. Sit down and help kids with homework while it cooks away. Or sit on your patio sipping tea relaxing after a hard day.
The Instant Pot is a more hands-off approach whereas the stove you would be stirring and watching the mix cook away.
If you love this Rice Dish you will also love My One-Pot Asiago Chicken and Risotto, Cracked Up Chicken and rice casserole, Or Fire Hot taco bowls.
Instant Pot Unstuffed Peppers
Instant Pot Unstuffed Peppers is a great busy weekday night meal. You get all the flavors of a stuffed pepper without all the extra steps of prep.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 28 oz chopped tomato
- 2 oz tomato puree
- 2 cups uncooked rice
- 3 peppers chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cups beef broth
- 16 oz cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Place your pressure cooker or instant pot on saute
- Cook the ground beef until crumbles and brown
- Pour in chopped tomatoes, rice, peppers, onion, beef broth, and tomato puree.
- Place your pot on Manual Low pressure for 12 minutes. ( or use rice button)
- Do a Quick Release
- Stir in cheese and serve.
How To Prepare for Freezer meal:
- Use a gallon size freezer bag
- Add one Pound of prepared ground beef
- 28 oz chopped tomato
- 2 oz tomato puree
- 2 cups uncooked rice
- 3 peppers chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 cups beef broth
- Freeze for up to 6months
How to Prepare from Frozen:
- Place contents of freezer bag in the instant pot
- Cook on Manual High Pressure for 4 minutes.
- Do a quick release
- You can either use already prepared Rice and stir in Or
- Add 2 cups uncooked rice
- Manual low pressure for 12 minutes
- quick release
- Optional stir in cheese.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 573Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 760mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 27g
Emily Endrizzi commented
These look wonderful! I love stuffed peppers so these would be delicious too!
Shelby commented
Do you use fresh tomatoes or canned?
Adventures of a Nurse commented
I used canned
Heidi commented
I’ve made with canned and also with fresh. It turns out well both ways.
Tiffany commented
Mine is not coming to pressure. Wondering what I did wrong…
Jo commented
I’m guessing not enough liquid. That was my question looking at this recipe. Normally, you need a cup of liquid to reach pressure. Add water? The rice would need it, anyway?
Jo commented
But now I that I re-read it, I see the 3 cups of broth… That should’ve been enough to come to pressure…
Jeannine commented
Have you tried this with brown rice? Wondering how I would adjust cook time for brown instead of whiwhite rice.
Melissa J Case commented
Did you try it with brown rice? I was wondering the same thing.
Gina commented
I would like to use brown rice as well. Did it work?
Melissa J Case commented
Is tomato puree the same as tomato paste?
Denielle commented
Tomato puree is with the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce in your grocery store . it is like a tomato sauce but thicker texture
Pam M commented
Do you drain the grease from the hamburger / sausage?
Thank you!
Mariann commented
Just purchased the 3qt insta pot. Cooking for ONE. need a few suggestions on some very simple meals. Or what Web site is good for EASY MEALS
L commented
Try to cut most recipes in half and don’t change the cooking time. Usually works well. Otherwise I haven’t found one good source. Eventually I bought the 6 quart and I still use the 3 quart for rice, applesauce, steel cut oats and small things. Hope that helps.
Karen commented
Do you have instructions for a crock pot?
Upsgirl97 commented
I received the burn notice. Rice tends to sink to the bottom so I wasn’t that surprised when this happened. I transferred to my enamel cast iron pot to finish. Did you use a quick cook rice or regular rice?
Adventures of a Nurse commented
I used regular white rice
Heidi commented
I use low fat ground beef and do not drain it, I use regular white rice and have never had a burn notice.
Heidi commented
This is a big hit at my house. Even my pickiest teen scarfs it down and my husband who doesn’t like stuffed peppers likes this. I’ve made it at least a dozen times now and so decided I should take time to say Thank you, I really appreciate you sharing,
Momwhoreads commented
This recipe was a hit the first time I made it and has made its way onto our family favorite recipe list. Even my picky husband who doesn’t like stuffed peppers likes this one.
Christine Marchand commented
I made this tonight with brown rice and ground turkey. (Yeah, I was trying to be healthy!) Hubby thought it was delicious! It’s really quite easy and tastes like it’s cooked a long time. Since I didn’t use any sausage, I should have added a little extra spice of some sort, but really, the fresh peppers gave all the taste needed. Since I had brown rice, I cooked it for 13 minutes. Could’ve maybe used another minute, but I liked it. It makes a TON.
Thanks for the recipe! I’m sure I’ll use it again!
Richard Ryan commented
When I saw how you mixed the ground beef and sausage I was intrigued. Just my tastes but I also used garlic when sautéing the meat. I also used the fire roasted tomatoes with tomato paste. When it came to the rice I used wild rice.
Fantastic recipe, thank you very much.
Sonja R Philip commented
Hi – I’m putting together a set of freezer meals for my family. I’m wanting to use this recipe, but I need some clarity about the rice. The instructions for making the freezer bag seems to say put the white rice in there with everything else and then freeze – but the instructions seem to say to “add white rice”… Can you clarify? thank you!!!
Adventures of a Nurse commented
There is 2 options you can add the rice fully cooked after or you can cook the rice after it cooks down
Emily Churchman commented
The recipe seems to be calling for 4 cups of rice total. 2 cups in the bag and an additional 2 cups during the cooking process. Is that correct?
Lisa commented
Yes, my question too. Were we supposed to put uncooked rice in with freezer bag? Thats what I did. Not sure how long to cook it now that it has the uncooked rice already in the bag. ;( Guess I’ll have to see how that works. Directions were unclear. Thanks for any clarification. And thanks soooo much for the recipes Just started this week and Im loving it!
Haylie commented
I have this same question. I already put the rice in my freezer meal do I need to add extra liquid when I cook and how long should I cook it for?
Jennifer Therens commented
If you add uncooked rice rather than pre-cooked, do you need to add extra liquid?
Leslie commented
I never ever comment on recipes but this was so yummy I had to! I added the peppers after the meal cooked because I like them a little crunchy. My daughter in law is due with my first grandchild in 2 weeks so I’ve made several of these freezer meals. Tonight I wanted to eat one! The Jasmine rice was perfect!
Kathy commented
I’ve a question regarding the length of cook time for this recipe. Due to my own mistake, I made this using 12 minutes on high the first time I made it. It was mushy but so good. Today, I saw that your recipe calls for 12 minutes on low or to use the rice button. I used the rice button and walked away – just came back to see that the pot said 16 minutes! Does 4 minutes make a big difference? I’d like to get this right the next time…
Thanks so much,
Kathy
Doreen Simonsen commented
If I do the freezer meal using prepared rice, I would just cook it on HIGH pressure for 4 minutes, then add the cooked rice and serve? Or do I need to continue cooking after adding in the cooked rice?
D commented
The frozen recipe, am I including the rice in the ziplock bag to freeze or adding the rice afterwards. The recipe and directions are contradicting. Thank you!
Lisa commented
My instant pot lux only has high pressure setting. How long would it need to cook on high pressure vs low pressure?
Ashley commented
Your freezer meal instructions say to add two cups of uncooked rice to the freezer bag, but then it says to add already cooked rice or stir in 2 cups of uncooked rice after bringing to high pressure from frozen. Are we supposed to freeze with the rice or no?