Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

I love all the flavors in this soup and how well they all meld together. The peppers offer a mellow and faintly sweet flavor, while the tomatoes and beef kick in that flavor that will remind you of a traditional stuffed pepper.

When the leaves start to fall and the air turns nippy, who doesn’t love to come home from a hard day of work or play to a hearty bowl of red pepper soup that’s chock full of savory seasoned beef? You never know who might come by the house unexpectedly and this fantastic slow cooker dish makes setting an extra place or two at the table easy-peasy.

INGREDIENTS
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes with garlic and onions
3 cups beef broth
1 cup cooked rice
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeds removed, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeds removed, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 bay leaf
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

PREPARATION
Brown beef in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat, then drain all but 2 tablespoons of fat and set aside.
Return skillet to heat and sauté onions until softened and translucent. Season with salt and pepper.
Place beef and onions in slow cooker, then add in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, rice and bell peppers.
Season with oregano and basil and add in bay leaf.
Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6-8.
Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary, then ladle into serving bowls and serve hot.