Description
These slow cooker stuffed peppers simmer gently in a rich homemade marinara sauce until perfectly tender. Filled with black beans, quinoa, and zucchini, they’re hearty, healthy, and completely plant-based—ideal for a comforting dinner with minimal effort.
Ingredients
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juices)
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 ½ teaspoons minced garlic (about 5 cloves)
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 medium bell peppers, tops sliced off and seeds removed
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 medium zucchini, chopped
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, combine crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes with juices, tomato paste, onion, garlic, bay leaves, basil, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
- Remove 1 ½ cups of this marinara mixture and set aside.
- Prepare the bell peppers by slicing off the tops and removing seeds and membranes. Place them cut-side up in the slow cooker over the sauce.
- In a bowl, mix black beans, quinoa, zucchini, and the reserved marinara sauce.
- Stuff each bell pepper with the filling and place back into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, until peppers are tender and filling is cooked through.
- Serve hot with extra marinara sauce spooned over the top.
Notes
- Add shredded cheese on top of each pepper before serving for extra richness.
- Swap quinoa with rice, couscous, or bulgur.
- Add chopped spinach, mushrooms, or corn to the filling for extra veggies.
- Use lentils instead of black beans for a different texture.
- Spice it up with extra chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 13 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
