This hearty soup has all of the ingredients you love in classic stuffed peppers. Loaded with chopped vegetables, lean ground beef, and rice, this Stuffed Pepper Soup cooks together in just one pot and is warm, comforting, and full of flavor!
The classic recipe for stuffed peppers is delicious, nutritious, and unique. It’s also a lot of work! That’s why I love to make this homemade Stuffed Pepper Soup instead.
All you have to do is brown some lean ground beef and saute a few vegetables, then throw everything in a soup pot (or a slow cooker or Instant Pot) and forget about it for under 30 minutes. When it’s done, you end up with a cozy, rich, and flavorful weeknight dinner.
The combination of healthy vegetables, savory lean ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, broth, and white rice is almost as hearty as chili, but still light like vegetable soup. Go ahead and finish each bowl with all of the toppings! I like to use freshly chopped cilantro, but you could switch it up and use parsley, a scoop of Mexican crema, or a sprinkle of crumbled Cotija cheese.
Ingredients in Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Bell peppers – A variety of red and green bell peppers will give the soup a pop of color.
- Onion and garlic
- Ground beef – 90% lean ground beef will give you tons of flavor without the grease.
- Seasonings – You need chili powder, kosher salt, cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and dried oregano.
- Tomatoes – This soup has a tomatoey base, so you’ll need both canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
- Broth – Use either beef or chicken broth, or vegetable broth if that’s all you have.
- White rice – Long grain white rice will make each bite of this soup tender and comforting. Feel free to use brown rice instead (just know that it will take longer to cook).
How to make stuffed pepper soup
- Saute the veggies: Cook the onion and bell peppers in a large pot over medium-high heat until they’re soft and translucent. Then add the garlic.
- Brown the beef: Add ground beef to the same pot along with the seasonings. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and cook until it’s browned.
- Bring it to a boil: Add in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, and uncooked rice. Then give the soup a stir and bring it up to a boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Serve: Fill individual bowls with some soup and serve with chopped cilantro on top and fresh bread on the side.
Tips and tricks
- Is the soup too thick? Feel free to thin it out at the end with more broth or water. You could also use only half of the rice to give it a thinner consistency.
- Slow cooker instructions: Saute the onions and beef in a frying pan on the stove first, then add them into your crockpot. Mix everything except for the rice in the pot and cook on Low for 6 hours. You’ll need to cook the rice separately and then stir it into the soup right before it’s done.
- Instant Pot instructions: Saute the onions, peppers, garlic, and beef in the Instant Pot until the veggies are soft and the meat is browned. Turn off Saute mode and add in the rest of the ingredients (except the rice). Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally when the soup is done cooking. Cook the rice on the stovetop, then add a scoop into each bowl and pour the soup over top.
Substitutions and Variations
Even though this recipe uses easy ingredients, it would still be great with a few adjustments:
- Instead of ground beef, use ground sausage, chorizo, pork, chicken, or turkey.
- Make this recipe without rice or replace it with quinoa or barley instead.
- Want to make it vegetarian or vegan? Use vegetable broth and replace the beef with a plant-based alternative (or omit it entirely).
- Give the soup a kick by sauteing diced jalapenos with the bell peppers or by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Storing and reheating
To store, place the soup in airtight containers and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze, place the soup in a freezer-safe sealed container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat right from frozen.
To reheat, place the leftovers in the microwave and heat for a few minutes. Alternatively, warm them up in a small pot on the stove.
More soup recipes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 (15-oz) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 (15-oz) can tomato sauce
- 5 cups broth (beef or chicken)
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell peppers. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent.
- Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Add ground beef, chili powder, salt, ground cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and dried oregano.
- Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into smaller chunks. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 8 minutes, until beef is browned.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, and uncooked rice. Stir and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and serve in bowls. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Isabel’s Tips:
- Is the soup too thick? Feel free to thin it out at the end with more broth or water. You could also use only half of the rice to give it a thinner consistency.
- Don’t have white rice? You can replace it with brown rice, quinoa or barley instead. Keep in mind that cook times will vary depending on the grain.
- Slow cooker and Instant Pot instructions are located in the recipe post above.
Nutrition Information
Hi Isabel – I found this recipe of yours back at the end of January this year. I have proceeded to make it every week since. It is divine! Thank you. It’s the perfect complete meal and the flavors are so fantastic.
Hi Melissa! Thank you so much, this is definitely one of my favorites!
This soup is fantastic! I have made it several times now. I use basmati instead of long grain white rice. I just shorten the cooking time a few min. I like to make baked tortilla chips out of corn tortillas and eat those with it. I also like to add guac. Sometimes I add up to an oz of pepper jack cheese to my bowl as well.
Hi Jasmine! Thank you for sharing, this recipe is one of my personal favorites!
Delicious and easy.
I love your website because I love Mexican food! The recipes are relatively simple, easy to print out, and really good. I am working up to making things I only previously have eaten in restaurants. The website is easy to navigate and so colorful!
Thanks for doing it!!