Stuffed Pepper Soup

This soup is hearty, filling, and has become a regular in our dinner rotation right alongside my lasagna soup recipe and taco soup recipe. It’s the cozy, no-fuss version of stuffed peppers — perfect for an easy weeknight or to make ahead for the week.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One pot, less cleanup – everything cooks together, including the rice, so there’s no extra pot to wash.
• Budget-friendly – simple pantry and freezer staples keep this an affordable dinner for the whole family.
• Ready in about 45 minutes – faster than making traditional stuffed peppers, with all the same cozy flavor.
• Great for leftovers – it reheats well for lunches or a second dinner later in the week.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef – We love using lean ground beef to limit the grease. We have even added in sausage for even more flavor. Substitute with Ground Turkey or Ground Chicken
• Make it Vegetarian – Skip the ground beef and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. Add a can of drained kidney or black beans for protein.
• Onion – Use white or yellow onion
• Bell Pepper – I like to dice up Red Bell Pepper and Green Bell Pepper. Frozen chopped bell peppers work too — no need to thaw, just add a couple extra minutes to the simmer time.
• Minced Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
• Petite Diced Tomatoes – Easily swap with regular diced tomatoes
• Tomato Sauce – Gives the soup the tomato base
• Beef Broth – You can substitute with chicken broth
• Uncooked White Rice – We use long grain rice but you can substitute with brown rice. For a low-carb version, swap in cauliflower rice — add it during the last 5-10 minutes of simmering since it cooks much faster than regular rice.
• Italian Seasoning – See Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe
• Worcestershire Sauce – See Homemade Worcestershire Sauce Recipe
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Optional Topping

A Quick Note on the Rice: This recipe uses uncooked rice added directly into the pot — no separate pan needed. The rice cooks right in the broth as the soup simmers, soaking up all that stuffed pepper flavor as it goes. Just keep the heat at a gentle simmer (not a hard boil) so the rice cooks evenly, and give it a stir now and then so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.

How to Make Stuffed Pepper Soup

Step 1 – Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.

Step 2 – Add the diced onion and bell peppers to the pot. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften. Add in the minced garlic and cook until aromatic.

Step 3 – Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, rice, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the rice is tender. The rice is ready when it’s soft all the way through with no firm center, and the peppers should be tender enough to easily cut with the side of a spoon.

Step 4 – Check the consistency of the soup and add more water if needed to thin out the soup based on your preference. Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with shredded cheddar cheese, if desired. Enjoy!

Make It Stretch

Need to feed a bigger crowd without spending more? Add an extra cup of broth and ½ cup more rice, or stir in a drained can of kidney beans. Both add heartiness and extra servings without needing more meat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not draining the beef. Extra grease left in the pot can make the soup taste heavy and greasy instead of light and brothy.
• Skipping the stir while it simmers. Rice can settle and stick to the bottom of the pot. Give the soup a stir once or twice while it cooks.
• Adding the rice too early or with the heat too high. A hard boil can cause the rice to cook unevenly. Keep the heat at a gentle simmer once the rice goes in.
• Serving it too thick. Rice keeps absorbing liquid the longer it sits. If your soup thickens up more than you’d like, just stir in a little extra broth or water until it’s the consistency you want.

What to Serve with Stuffed Pepper Soup

This delicious soup is perfect served on its own since it’s rich and hearty. But we love adding a side of Homemade Garlic Bread or a Grilled Cheese Sandwich for a comforting, filling meal. A simple side salad or a warm pan of cornbread are also easy, budget-friendly ways to round out dinner.