This Stuffed Pepper Soup has all the incredible flavors of stuffed peppers, like ground beef, bell peppers, fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, and rice, with much less time and effort.
Think of this recipe as deconstructed stuffed peppers. Serve this hearty soup with corn muffins or garlic cheese bread for a down-home memorable meal.
This soup has the same fantastic flavors as stuffed peppers with much less work. Think of it as deconstructed stuffed peppers in soup form. Preparing this soup takes about thirty minutes, making it doable for weeknights.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Ground beef: Use ground beef with some fat. Fat gives the beef flavor. You can substitute ground turkey, pork, chicken, or Italian sausage for the ground beef.
- Bell Peppers: Use any color bell pepper.
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes: I love the added flavor, but you can use any canned diced tomatoes.
- Rice: You can use any long-grain rice or short-grain rice, including white rice, brown rice, jasmine, basmati, or even quinoa. Brown rice will require a slightly longer cooking time.
How To Make Stuffed Pepper Soup
First, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the ground beef and brown it, breaking it up as it browns. About halfway through the browning process, add the onions and bell peppers. Stir several times to keep the meat browning and the vegetables from burning. Drain any excess grease from the pan. Reduce the heat to low and add the minced garlic, oregano, basil, and thyme, stirring constantly.
Add the fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, and rice. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer, covering it with a lid. Simmer for about 30 minutes or until the rice is tender. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Top each bowl with a bit of shredded cheese, fresh parsley, or red pepper flakes. This soup is best served promptly.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- Dice your bell peppers into small bite-size pieces. You can use any combination of colored bell peppers.
- If you know you will save leftovers, cook the rice separately and spoon a small amount into each bowl before adding the soup. This way, the rice will not continue to soak up the liquid and swell.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, use a reduced power level in the microwave and an extra low on the stovetop to prevent the rice from cooking more.
Serving Suggestions
This is a hearty, thick soup that is filling. I like to serve it with baguettes with sweet cream butter or cornbread. Other options include a garden salad, grilled cheese, or chicken quesadilla. I serve something light for dessert, like lemon chiffon pie or orange sherbet.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can substitute ground turkey, pork, chicken, or Italian sausage for the ground beef.
You most certainly can, although the peppers will be a little softer. First, cool the soup thoroughly. Then, ladle the cooled soup into quart or gallon-sized heavy-duty freezer zipper bags. Lay the soup bags in a single layer on rimmed baking sheets and place the sheet in the freezer.
Once fully frozen, stack the bags on their sides in the freezer to save space. Thaw the soup in the fridge overnight.
More Soup Recipes
Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 cups low sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¾ cup uncooked white or brown rice
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Shredded cheddar cheese garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the ground beef and brown it breaking it up as it browns. About halfway through the browning process, add the onions and bell peppers and cook until the veggies are soft. Stir several times to keep the meat browning and the vegetables from burning. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the minced garlic, oregano, basil, and thyme, stirring constantly.
- Add the fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, and rice. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer and cover. Simmer covered for 25-30 minutes or until the rice is tender. Stir several times.
- Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and if desired, cheddar cheese and serve.
Notes
- Dice your bell peppers into small bite-size pieces. You can use any combination of colored bell peppers.
- If you know you will save leftovers, cook the rice separately and spoon a small amount into each bowl before adding the soup. This way, the rice will not continue to soak up the liquid and swell.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, use a reduced power level in the microwave and an extra low on the stovetop to prevent the rice from cooking more.
Nutrition
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Michelle Murray
This stuffed pepper soup wass delicious and perfect for an Autumn lunchtime.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Michelle! We love this soup, too!
Jenny
I’ve been making a lot of soup now the weather has turned colder, can’t wait to try this stuffed pepper soup recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Jenny! Enjoy!
Lorilei
The idea of turning stuffed peppers into soup is such a time-saver, and I love how versatile it is with the ingredient swaps. I can’t wait to try this with my family!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lorilei! Enjoy!
Melanie E
This is a nice alternative to stuffed peppers. It makes for a tasty and hearty meal that is extremely satisfying. Thank for sharing the recipe.
Jaishree
This is yum! I am so fond of your recipes and this one is incredible.