This Instant Pot stuffed pepper casserole is so flavorful and simple to make! Like deconstructed stuffed peppers in your pressure cooker but way easier!
Instant Pot stuffed pepper casserole comes out amazingly well as you see. It is definitely one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes now and you should definitely give it a whirl this week. Sponsored by HemisFares™ at Kroger. (originally published 11/17, affiliate links present)
So we love stuffed peppers here at the house…yes even my kids. They are a little labor intensive since you need to blanch peppers, stuff them, precook the rice etc..
I thought I’d make a deconstructed version as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe the other day. It came out great!! All the wonderful flavors you love in one pot and no precooking or boiling required to make this easy
Instant Pot Unstuffed Peppers
Let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then LIKE our IP Facebook page for new ideas daily.
- This is a great InstaPot cookbook and set of wooden utensils are great to grab too.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot. It is easier to clean and will avoid the burn message too.
For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have and use for all recipe creations.
If you’ve never had stuffed peppers may I say I hadn’t either before I married my husband.
- It is something he remembered his grandma making so he taught me this easy stuffed green peppers recipe she used and I made them as often as I had time.
I knew there was a much easier way to get the same flavors, but a lot less tedious prep time. This is how to do it for sure. You literally throw it all in and cook in under 20 minutes.
The only thing you need to ensure with this method is that you do NOT stir in the rice. Just sprinkle in at the end and gently submerge. If not your pot may display the burn message. NO good.
Instant Pot stuffed pepper casserole
Here are a few questions you might have before you get started. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed. Yes it will look different from your childhood but is a game changer because it tastes the same!
Great question. If you love batch cooking and found them on sale so you bought a BUNCH this is a great way to use them. Since the texture changes a bit when they defrost it won’t matter since they’re diced.
1 usually when diced will fill a measuring cup full. For stuffed pepper casserole it doesn’t have to be exact. Use a bit less or more depending on your taste buds. They add great texture to the dish for sure though.
Nope, I never do with any Instant Pot casserole I make. Just sprinkle on top, submerge into the liquid but do NOT stir or it may trigger the burn message.
Here’s what it looks like, yummy right??!! The kids love it!
Instant Pot bell pepper casserole
Too many steps can make me just not want to make something when I barely have an hour at home to cook.
I wasn’t sure exactly how this one was going to turn out but the rice was cooked perfectly the first time around.
This deconstructed stuffed pepper recipe is packed with flavor!
When adding additional seasonings I do so gently because we love the flavors as is and the HemisFares pasta sauce itself. Of course you can amp it up with more by adding a bit more chili powder if you like a little heat. 😉
That part is totally up to you……
One Pot Stuffed Pepper Casserole
- Instant Pot or pressure cooker – I have this basic 6 qt version
- I HIGHLY suggest you get a non stick pot too!
- White rice – we like Jasmine rice
- I haven’t tried it with brown rice yet but believe others have
- NO need to precook white rice beforehand, that’s handy
- Bell peppers (we like a few colors)
- Onion
Ground beef – you could use ground sausage too – This is how to defrost Instant Pot frozen ground beef in case you forgot to thaw it out the night before. 😉
We have made air fryer ground beef for prep before too.
- Mozzarella cheese (optional but a definite must for us here)
- Jar of spaghetti sauce
- Can of petite diced tomatoes
- Beef broth or water but broth is so much tastier
- Spices
- I’d season with salt and pepper at the end
- Adding cheese on top at the end is a must for us too
Pressure Cooker Stuffed Green Pepper Casserole
If you want a looser consistency you can also try our Instant Pot stuffed pepper soup which is equally amazing. Serve it with some cornbread for a completely amazing meal even the kiddos will love.
Here is a quick step by step of how I made this. I would recommend watching the video I made in this post before starting. It will give you a good idea of exactly what I did.
Time needed: 20 minutes.
Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Casserole
- Saute
Add olive oil. Set your Instant Pot to saute, normal or low and start to brown your ground beef.
When it is still slightly pink add in diced bell peppers and onion and continue to cook together so onions/peppers soften and beef is browned. Turn Instant Pot off to avoid burn notice. - Add ingredients
Leave ground beef on bottom of pot. Pour in spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, spices, chiles, uncooked rice, and either water or vegetable broth on top (broth is better). DO NOT STIR!
- Cook
Close the lid on your Instant Pot or pressure cooker, close steam valve, and set to manual, pressure cook, low for 10 minutes cook time. (if you don’t have the ability to put it on low set for 7 minutes on high)
Allow to naturally release steam for 5 minutes, then let out rest.
Stir and serve topped with mozzarella cheese.
Saving leftovers: Make sure it reaches room temperature before transitioning what’s left into airtight containers. I like to store as much as I would reheat at a time. Transfer to microwave safe dish and warm.
Want to see a few of my favorite things you might want to write on your Christmas list this year??!! 😉 Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!
Looking for more easy family recipes and tips? LIKE The Typical Mom Facebook page?
Then sign up for my free newsletter, and follow me on Pinterest! 😉
***** If you LOVED this recipe give it 5 Stars below and let everyone know what you thought about it. 😉
Below is a printable version of this unstuffed pepper recipe. Throw it into your recipe box or just come back and see us every time you want to make it.
Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 bell peppers diced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1 can chiles diced, 4 oz.
- 2 c HemisFares spaghetti sauce
- 1 c diced tomatoes I prefer petite version, canned
- 1 1/2 c white rice uncooked
- 2 c beef broth or water, or vegetable broth
- 1/2 tsp chili powder or more
- 1 tsp seasoned salt or more, to taste
- 1 c mozzarella or parmesan cheese shredded
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
Instructions
- Add olive oil. Set your Instant Pot to saute, normal or low and start to brown your ground beef. When it is still slightly pink add in diced bell peppers and onion and continue to cook together so onions/peppers soften and beef is browned.
- Turn Instant Pot off.
- Leave ground beef on bottom of pot. Pour in spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, spices, chiles, uncooked rice, and either water or vegetable broth on top (broth is better). DO NOT STIR!
- Close the lid on your Instant Pot or pressure cooker, close steam valve, and set to manual, pressure, low for 10 minutes. (if you don’t have the ability to put it on low set for 7 minutes on high)
- Allow to naturally release steam for 5 minutes, then let out rest.
- Stir and serve topped with mozzarella cheese.
Katie says
This looks delicious! I know my family will love this.
Jane Saunders says
This went down very well with my whole family. Great recipe – thankyou 🙂
Pedro says
Very nice write-up. I definitely love this site. Stick with it!
Tatiana says
Made this once with ground turkey and once with ground sausage. Both were good but the sausage was 100x better! Can’t wait to make it again. Brown rice needed extra time so I just put the pressure cooker on for 10 more mins (Next time I’ll set it for longer now that I know)
The Typical Mom says
Yay glad it was a hit
Melissa moore says
Question if you double the recipe do you double the time also on instant pot?
The Typical Mom says
I have a 6 qt. and wouldn’t double as it would be too full so I am unsure.
Athena says
Good recipe! Taste was good. Only thing I would change next time is to add less rice. It seemed like there was too much rice and not enough ground meat so maybe next I will 1 cup of rice to every pound of meat?
Patricia says
I made this last night. Made a few changes.
I cooked frozen ground beef in the Crock-Pot I drained most if the liquid from it. I put it in my IP along with the chopped onion, I had frozen sweet pepper medley from trader Joe’s instead of fresh peppers. I used vegetable broth made from a cube. I put the rest of ingredients and set it for 8 minutes. It was great. The taste was similar to my mother’s recipe for “Spanish Rice” I forgot about the cheese but we didn’t need it! Thank you! Pat
The Typical Mom says
Yeah!! Glad you loved it!
Donald says
When do you add the garlic? Thanks
Lori says
Is it odd that there’s never an answer for when to add the garlic which is in the instructions but not the instructions. I put it in with the onions and peppers and that was fine. This is one of my favorite dishes now! So tasty!!
The Typical Mom says
Yes garlic is added with onions and so glad you loved it too!
Christina says
Oops, forgot to add the garlic. Might want to add that to the instructions!
Debbie says
Can you use a crock pot?
Tali Biselman says
Curious if this could be done with ground turkey instead of beef?
The Typical Mom says
Absolutely. We think spicy ground sausage is best but any ground meats can be used. Enjoy!
Puffalump says
Do you drain the grease
The Typical Mom says
I chose not to, you can.
JEAN I LUBERTO says
I have a 3.4qt IP, so is it allright to cut it in half?
The Typical Mom says
For minis yes cut all recipes of mine in half.
Bianca says
I will use less rice 1cup is enough and less liquid was soupy as well put in on for Cyrano 5-10 min on low rice wasn’t cooked enough ( basmati) so either 15 -20 min on low or perhaps 10-15 min on high.? And for easier clean up add cheese to individual bowls!
Becky says
I just made this and it was fantastic!! Can you freeze the leftovers?
The Typical Mom says
I would think so.
Amy says
I have the IP-lux model that doesn’t have a low pressure option. How long do you recommend cooking for on high? Thanks!
Roger says
Why is it that you dont stir?
Thanks
ASHLEY says
my rice was under cooked… I’m wondering is it because I put the liquid in before the rice? Should I have covered the rice with liquids? I thought about stirring it but the recipes specifically said not to lol
The Typical Mom says
Yes you do not stir but rice needs to be submerged in the liquid to cook properly so water goes in last.
Kim says
This was great I used Brown rice so I cooked the rice first. Then just left out the broth and added the rice back in with the cheese. I also drained the meat, onions and peppers before I started the pressure cooker and I only pressure cooked for 8 minutes. My daughter loved it too!!!
The Typical Mom says
So glad!!
Jana Crawford says
I would like to substitute brown rice for white rice. How do you think this would change cooking time?
The Typical Mom says
Brown rice takes quite a while longer to cook than white rice so your peppers may be mush by the time the rice is tender.
Paula says
Just to clarify, the recipe shows 1 1/2 cup rice. I am assuming uncooked. When we imported it into my fitness pal it showed as cooked. I used 1 1/2 cup uncooked and it was marvelous. Was I correct? 1 1/2 cup uncooked rice ?
Candice Shrieves says
Can I use Jasmine rice instead of white rice?
The Typical Mom says
Of course.
Vicki says
Sounds yummy. I have the same questions as several other people. Does the hamburger get drained, also, it doesn’t look like you drain the tomatoes, but just checking. Also, when do you add the garlic? Can’t wait to try it.
The Typical Mom says
It is up to you really, drain if you wish, some prefer not to. Either way is fine.
Jean says
Très bonne recette merci
Jay says
Can I use regular spaghetti sauce, instead of what you used? I always have that on hand.
The Typical Mom says
Any style will work yes.
Julie says
So I have a different brand then instant pot – not sure I have a low pressure setting maybe I do and just missed it in book – would rice setting work ?
Margaret says
I’m trying it in my power pressure cooker xl on the soup/stew setting in order to get 10 mins. on the timer. I don’t think there are different pressures on it. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll experiment with another setting.
Nea says
I have same pressure cooker. It does have a low and high setting. But just curious about how it went on stew/soup setting?
Heather W says
Did you drain the tomatoes?
Carlene says
Is it canned tomatoes or fresh diced?
The Typical Mom says
Canned diced tomatoes.
Crystalyn says
Do you drain the grease from the hamburger?
Jane A. says
Do I drain the chiles and diced tomatoes before adding them and a what point do I add the garlic?
Jane A. says
At what point does the garlic go in?
Crystalyn says
Does this take instant rice or regular rice?
The Typical Mom says
Regular white rice.
Crystalyn says
Thank you! Just about to make it now. Can’t wait!
Crystalyn says
Do you drain the grease from the hamburger?
Natalie Sandler says
I know brown rice takes longer…..can i use this and do you know how long i would have to cook it for?
Margaret says
I made it with cauliflower rice because real rice messes with my husband’s blood sugar. It turned out soupy because I didn’t think to reduce the liquid.
Donna says
This looks amazing! Thinking about using riced cauliflower in place of the rice since I can’t eat the starch…
The Typical Mom says
Let me know how it goes!!
Frank says
What is the cup of green stuff you put in? Looks like hot dog relish.
The Typical Mom says
In recipe, diced chiles.