Beef Taco Stuffed Peppers

Name: Beef Taco Stuffed Peppers (Slow Cooker)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h 45 min
Total time: 4 h
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 3 large bell peppers, orange, yellow or red; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tbsp chili powder; 2 tsp cumin; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed; 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen; 12 oz ground beef, 85% lean; 6 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded, and divided; 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro; 1 tsp kosher salt; ½ tsp ground black pepper; ¼ cup water

Beef taco stuffed peppers are bell peppers hollowed and filled with seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and cheese, then slow-cooked for 3 hours until tender. They deliver taco flavor without tortillas in an easy, hands-off one-dish meal.

🌍Mexican 🥗Gluten-Free 🏷️Taco 🏷️Stuffed peppers 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️Slow cook

Total

4h

Servings

6

Difficulty

Hard

Est. Cost

$26–$43

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Recette Magazine

Ingredients

3 large bell peppers, orange, yellow or red
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
12 oz ground beef, 85% lean
6 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded, and divided
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
¼ cup water

14 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise, and scoop out the ribs and seeds. Set aside.
2
In a Suvie pan, stir together 1 chopped onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp chili powder, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Place pan in the bottom zone of Suvie and broil for 15 minutes, or until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
3
Transfer onion mixture to a large bowl with 1 can drained black beans, 1 cup corn kernels, 12 oz ground beef, 4 oz shredded cheese, 1 tsp kosher salt, and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Mix together until incorporated.
4
Stuff mixture into prepared peppers, mounding up filling as needed. Pour ¼ cup water into the bottom of the pan and then arrange bell pepper halves in the pan. Place pan in the bottom zone of Suvie, input settings and cook now or schedule.
5
Set Suvie to Slow Cook High for 3 hours.
6
Remove pan from Suvie and sprinkle remaining cheese over the stuffed peppers. Return pan to Suvie and broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and browned. Remove from Suvie, sprinkle with 2 tbsp cilantro and serve.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Cut the pepper top off cleanly and remove seeds; a small melon baller helps hollow without puncturing the walls.
Brown the ground beef and sauté aromatics separately before stuffing for deeper flavor and to ensure the meat is fully cooked before the slow cooker step.
Divide the cheese: mix half into the filling and top each pepper with the remainder in the last 15 minutes so it melts without overcooking.
Stack peppers upright or lay them on their sides in the slow cooker; standing upright prevents filling from spilling into the cooking liquid.

Substitutions

Bell peppers → poblano peppers (milder, earthier; reduces cook time by 15–20 minutes)
Pepper jack cheese → sharp cheddar or Monterey Jack (adjust spice level to preference)
Ground beef → ground turkey or ground chicken (reduces slow-cook time by 30 minutes)
Black beans → pinto or kidney beans (no texture change; drain well)

Storage & make-ahead

Refrigerate covered up to 4 days; reheat gently on low in the slow cooker for 1–2 hours or in a 325°F oven for 20–25 minutes until warmed through.

Equipment

Slow cooker (4-quart or larger) · Melon baller or small spoon (optional, for coring peppers)

Common Questions

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble the peppers up to 12 hours ahead, cover, refrigerate, then add 30–45 minutes to the slow-cook time. Alternatively, cook fully and reheat gently on low for 1–2 hours.

What type of bell pepper works best?

Red, yellow, and orange peppers are sweeter and softer after slow cooking. Green peppers work but are firmer and slightly bitter; use them if you prefer crunch.

Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead?

Yes. Use the same amount of ground turkey or chicken; reduce slow-cook time by 30 minutes since poultry cooks faster than beef.

How do I prevent watery peppers?

Drain canned black beans and corn thoroughly before mixing. If excess liquid pools during cooking, tilt the slow cooker lid slightly to vent steam in the final hour.