Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers + Tutorial {Gluten-Free, Low Carb}
Did you know you can make delicious stuffed peppers in your Instant Pot? These Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers are so delicious and filling and can be quickly made in your pressure cooker. Suitable for a Gluten-Free diet and Low Carb diet. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Stuffed peppers are my new thing. Probably because they are super easy to make and (I) you can add in anything you like. If you can think of it and like it, you can pretty much add it in. My current favourite version are these delicious stuffed bell peppers with mince topped with melted cheese. Next week however, the additions will be different…….
And then there are Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers, which are even easier to make. Especially as there’s no need to sauté your onions because the Instant Pot will handle all of that work for you. Pressure cooker stuffed peppers are the perfect solution if you’re in a pinch and want a comforting meal fast.
Did I mention this recipe is quick? And I mean quick. That’s what I love about the Instant Pot. A typical recipe for stuffed bell peppers can take over an hour in the oven. Your Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers, on the other hand, will be on your plate in less than half that time.
This easy stuffed bell peppers recipe is great because it uses a lot of what you have in your pantry already or can be made from leftover ingredients from another recipe. They’re also great to make ahead and keep well in the fridge to enjoy for lunch over the next 2 days. Are you sold yet?
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers Tools
KITCHEN TOOLS, UTENSILS & APPLIANCES NEEDED
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Here are some of the items you will need to make this recipe.
- 8 qt Instant Pot.
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- I use and love the 8 qt, extra Instant Pot Insert & sealing ring.
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- 3 qt Instant Pot or 6 qt Instant Pot depending on family size.
- Cutting board.
- Trivet.
- Tongs.
- Measuring jugs or cups.
- Measuring teaspoons.
- Bowls with covers.
- For storing your leftover food.
You can have these Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers that are jam-packed with flavour in less than 20 mins. Gather your ingredients and I’ll show you how…..
How to Make Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
Step 1. Combine mince, half shredded mozzarella, rice, a quarter of the tomato sauce, egg, spring onion, herbs, garlic, paprika, salt and black pepper in a bowl.
Step 2. Prick the base of the peppers with a fork and fill with seasoned meat mixture
Step 3. Pour the water into the Instant Pot Insert and place a trivet into the Instant Pot.
Step 4. Place the peppers on the trivet so they are standing upright and cover the peppers with the remaining tomato sauce.
Step 5. Cover your Instant Pot, set the vent to ‘sealing,’ select the manual or pressure cook button (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 10 mins.
Step 6. When done allow the pot to undergo natural pressure release, open and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the peppers, and cover the Instant Pot (but not seal) and let stand for 2-3 mins until the cheese melts.
Pressure Cooker Stuffed Peppers Tips
- You can use any fresh bell pepper for stuffed peppers. Colour of the pepper doesn’t matter. There are some differences in the different bell peppers and I prefer the red bell pepper for its nutritional value and light sweetness.
- You can substitute a lot of ingredients. Stuffed peppers exist in a lot of cuisines all over the world and work well with many different spices. You can also swap out the rice for more protein or veggies to make low carb.
- Use a lean meat mince. Using a lean meat like turkey mince will prevent your stuffed peppers from becoming too greasy in the Instant Pot.
- You can use a pan with holes to help drain the liquid from the stuffed peppers. But no worries if you don’t have a pan with holes. You can drain later.
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers with Brown Rice
You can certainly make Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers with brown rice. Plenty of extra fibre if you do so. Simply swap the white cooked rice for some brown cooked rice.
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa
Prefer a grain-free version, then why not try making Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers with quinoa instead of rice?
What to Serve with this Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe
The Easy Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe is actually a complete meal in itself. However, if you have some very hungry guests or want some extra sides to go with these then why not serve them with some of the recipes below.
What’s the Difference in Bell Pepper Colours?
Bell peppers can add a rainbow of colour to any recipe requiring peppers but there is a difference. Red and yellow peppers are peppers that have been allowed to ripen. Red bell peppers are the ripest with yellow being somewhere in the middle. And because green bell peppers can be harvested and sold sooner, they’re typically cheaper at the market.
The riper the bell pepper, the more nutritional value there is. If you’re looking to add a bit of Vitamin C to your diet, choose the red bell pepper which has the most out of all the bell peppers.
Are Bell Peppers Spicy?
Nooooope. Even though bell peppers are in the capsicum family the bell peppers have zero capsaicin. These stuffed peppers won’t set your mouth ablaze.
Weight Watchers Points in Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
There are 5 Freestyle points in each serving of these pressure cooker stuffed peppers.
Thank you for reading my Pressure cooker Stuffed Peppers recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
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Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 5 bell peppers, tops removed and deseeded
- 450 g 1 lb turkey or lean beef mince
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella divided use
- 3/4 cup cooked rice
- 250 ml 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 egg beaten
- 3 spring onions scallions finely chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp Herbes de Provence dried mixed herbs
- 1 tsp garlic puree
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- 250 ml 1 cup water
Instructions
- Mix together the mince, half the shredded mozzarella, rice, 60 ml (1/4 cup) tomato sauce, egg, spring onion, herbs, garlic, paprika, salt and black pepper in a bowl until well combined.
- Prick the base of the peppers with a fork and fill with seasoned meat mixture
- Pour the water into the Instant Pot Insert and place a trivet into the Instant Pot.
- Place the peppers on the trivet, to they are standing upright (you could also put the peppers standing upright in a shallow dish) and cover the peppers with the remaining tomato sauce.
- Cover your Instant Pot, set the vent to 'sealing,' select the manual or pressure cook button (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 10 mins.
- When done allow the pot to undergo natural pressure release, open and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the peppers, and cover the Instant Pot (but not seal) and let stand for 2-3 mins until the cheese melts.
- Switch off the heat and serve.
Notes
- The total cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to get to pressure and the time for the natural pressure release.
- Place stuffed peppers on pan with holes so the water drips out. Not necessary and you can drain the liquid without the use of the pan.
- Using lean mince will prevent your stuffed peppers from becoming too greasy.
- Red bell peppers pack the most Vitamin C and nutritional value but any colour bell pepper will do.
- Substitute rice for more mince or vegetables to enjoy a low carb meal.
- The total cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to get to pressure and the time for the natural pressure release.
Made for the first time and it was simple, filling, and quite delicious.
Tried these, made in Greece with local produce and spices. Came out wonderful! And so quick and easy.
Bintu, thank you ever so for you post.Much thanks again.
Every time I see an IP recipe I tell myself I need to buy one and yours is not different! Stuffed peppers are delicious but they can be a bit long to prep โ I love that your recipe is so quick and easy!
Thank you
Love all the ingredient substitutions you have listed but what I love the most is how quick and easy this recipe is.
Happy to be helpful ๐
What an awesome recipe! Ive never tried pepper in the instant pot before. I’m so excited that they can be cooked quicker now ๐
I know right?
These would be ideal as a light summer dinner! Iโd love to serve them up at a garden party.
Now that is an idea.
I love stuffed peppers, looks like you have this instant pot down pat on how to make delicious recipes!
Aww, thank you. I use it a lot as it cuts down on cooking time.
Can you make them stuffed with ground beef?