Are you looking for a low carb alternative to Stuffed Peppers? This incredible low carb version of Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers is so good no one will ever miss the carbs!
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Cris here.
I am super excited to share this recipe for Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers with you because a reader asked me a while back to come up with a stuffed pepper that didn’t include rice and I decided to take it a step further and try to lower the carb count as much as I could. So with a little trick, we cut the carbs of the peppers literally in half 😉 and with the filling base coming from one of my all time favorite meatball recipes, we have an excellent low carb (and rice free) version of Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers… and you guys… I like it even better than traditional stuffed peppers… I am telling ya, that meatball recipe is totally ah-mazing and it does wonders in these stuffed peppers!
How to Make Low Carb Stuffed Peppers in a Slow Cooker
This recipe is super easy. The most difficult part is cutting the peppers and scooping out the seeds. You will want to cut the peppers in half (see video), cut out the stem from the tops and flip both the bottoms and tops with the the large openings facing up in our Casserole Crock (or 6 quart slow cooker). Then whip up a batch of our Meatball Parmesan Recipe and fill each pepper with the meat mixture. Top with additional sauce and cook on high for 3-4 hours or until the meat reaches 165 on a meat thermometer. Top with mozzarella cheese and let the cheese melt before serving.
Notes on Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers (Low Carb)
- We are using our Crock Pot Meatball Parmesan Recipe as the filling for these Stuffed Peppers. If you would like to make a half batch of the peppers, you could turn the other half of the filling into our meatballs or even our Crock Pot Meatloaf Parmesan.
- We used our Casserole Crock Pot for this recipe (and our Mini Casserole Crock for the half batch in the video) but you can use a 6 quart slow cooker, it just may be a bit snug.
- We like to use meat thermometers like this one so we can leave it in while cooking to ensure it gets to the temperature we need.
- When choosing your peppers, choose tall skinny peppers to make fitting them in the slow cooker easier.
- As with any of our recipes, carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly depending on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish.
- All slow cookers cook differently, so cooking times are always a basic guideline and should always be tested first in your own slow cooker and time adjusted as needed.
Printable Recipe for Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers (Low Carb)
Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers (Low Carb)
Ingredients
- 4 Bell Peppers seeded and cut in half (see note)
- 2 lbs Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Cup Marinara Sauce divided
- 2 tablespoons Dried Minced Onion
- 2 teaspoons Minced Garlic
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Pizza Seasoning or Italian Seasoning
- 3/4 Cup Shredded Parmesan
- 2 Eggs beaten
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
- 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella
Instructions
- Instead of cutting the tops off your peppers like you do in traditional stuffed peppers, cut the pepper halfway down the pepper, creating “two peppers” to stuff instead of just one.
- On the “tops” peppers, use a paring knife to carefully cut out the stem. (It will be okay that this pepper will have a hole in what will become the bottom.) On both the tops and bottoms, scoop out all seeds and white parts with a spoon.
- Place each pepper (we’ve turned 4 into 8) in a casserole crock or large 6-8 slow cooker with the large openings facing up.
- In a bowl, mix together beef, parm, eggs, 1/2 cup of sauce, salt, pepper, garlic, onion and pizza seasoning until blended well.
- Fill each pepper with meat mixture and top with a tablespoon of remaining sauce.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours until beef reaches at least 165 with a meat thermometer and then top with cheese and cook until melted.
Notes
- We are using our Crock Pot Meatball Parmesan Recipe as the filling for these Stuffed Peppers. If you would like to make a half batch of the peppers, you could turn the other half of the filling into our meatballs or even our Crock Pot Meatloaf Parmesan.
- We used our Casserole Crock Pot for this recipe (and our Mini Casserole Crock for the half batch in the video) but you can use a 6 quart slow cooker, it just may be a bit snug.
- When choosing your peppers, choose tall skinny peppers to make fitting them in the slow cooker easier.
- As with any of our recipes, carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly depending on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish.
- All slow cookers cook differently, so cooking times are always a basic guideline and should always be tested first in your own slow cooker and time adjusted as needed.
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Dana says
Made these tonight, husband said ” these are REALLY good !” Cooked them 4 hours on high, I added a little more seasoning than you called for, and substituted salsa for the Marinara sauce because that’s what I had on hand. Will make again !
Ed Komoroski says
I use a very similar method, but, I substitute riced cauliflower for a filler instead of the rice. Also low carb. It can be used in a variety of foods to add fiber and replace a carb filler.
Paula Meier says
I guess I’m the only one who thinks this really lacked flavor. I used real onions and garlic, and thought that would be enough. It has a lot of potential, but I’d definitely add some spice when making it again. Like crushed red pepper for starters. It also needed more sauce and cheese (grated parmesan), which I added when serving. To keep it lower carb, I “stir fried” some frozen riced cauliflower as a side dish, one of my favorite starch substitutes. I will definitely make this again, but I’ll add some zing to it.
Cris says
Hi Paula-
We hate to hear that the flavor wasn’t your cup of tea, however, we are so glad to hear that you have found ways to make it your own. We love your suggestions. Hope you enjoy it when you try it again with your changes!
Ben says
Can this cook on low or will the peppers get too soft from the longer cook time?
Cris says
Hi Ben!
I haven’t tried it but I know other recipes cook stuffed peppers on low, so while they may be softer, my guess is they will still hold up. Let me know how it goes if you try it.
Megan says
I made this tonight! I put it on low before I left for work at 7:30am and turned it off around 5:15pm when I returned home. Although the peppers were very cooked and did not have crunch, they were DELICIOUS! I served this with green beans and garlic breadsticks to my husband. We used 93/7 lean beef. He’s a bit pickier, but had no complaints 🙂 Thank you for a tasty, healthy recipe!
Susan D Turner says
If I want to add a little brown rice should it be pre cooked?
Cris says
Hi Susan- Without testing I would safe the safest route would to use cooked rice. Enjoy!
Barbara says
So happy to find this. I used chicken sausage and brown rice . I have to get the carbs out. Thanks
Cris says
So glad to hear you find it helpful! We really enjoy them. Everyone fights over the leftovers 😉
Cris says
So glad to hear you find it helpful! We really enjoy them. Everyone fights over the leftovers 😉