If you’re a fan of stuffed peppers, you’ve probably tried your hand at making them at home. But have you ever tried Costco’s stuffed peppers? They’re a fan favorite for a reason, and with this step-by-step guide, you can recreate them in your own kitchen.

Ingredients Needed

Before you start cooking, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need for Costco stuffed peppers:

Peppers

• 6 large bell peppers
• Olive oil for drizzling

Filling

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 cup uncooked rice
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Sour cream for topping

You can also make some substitutions based on your preferences. For instance, if you’re not a fan of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or chicken instead. If you want to make the dish vegetarian, you can use lentils or beans instead of meat. Additionally, you can add some spices like paprika, cumin, or chili powder to give the filling more flavor.

Steps to Prepare

Once you have all the ingredients, it’s time to start preparing the peppers and the filling. Follow these steps:

Preparing the Peppers

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cut off the tops of the peppers and remove the seeds and membranes.
3. Drizzle the peppers with olive oil and place them in a baking dish.
4. Bake the peppers for 20 minutes or until they’re slightly softened.

Making the Filling

1. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, uncooked rice, chopped onion, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
2. Add the drained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water. Mix well.
3. Fill each pepper with the beef and rice mixture. Make sure to pack it tightly.
4. Top each pepper with shredded cheddar cheese, and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
5. Bake for 45 minutes or until the filling is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cooking the Stuffed Peppers

Once the peppers are stuffed and topped with cheese, it’s time to cook them. Here are the instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Place the stuffed peppers in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
3. Bake for 45 minutes or until the filling is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
4. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
5. Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley and sour cream if desired.

If you’re short on time, you can also cook the stuffed peppers in a slow cooker. Simply place the stuffed peppers in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

Steps to Prepare

Preparing the peppers and filling is just the first step. Here are some more detailed instructions to help you get the perfect Costco stuffed peppers:

Preparing the Peppers

1. When selecting peppers, look for ones that are large, firm, and have a flat bottom to keep them from tipping over.
2. To make it easier to cut off the tops, slice off a small portion of the bottom so the pepper can stand upright.
3. Use a sharp knife to cut off the top of each pepper and remove the seeds and membranes. Be careful not to cut through the pepper flesh.
4. Once the peppers are prepared, you can parboil them for 5 minutes before stuffing to speed up the cooking process.

Making the Filling

1. To make the filling, use a large bowl to mix together the ground beef, uncooked rice, chopped onion, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
2. Add the canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
3. To ensure the filling is evenly distributed, use your hands to pack the beef and rice mixture into each pepper.
4. When topping the peppers with cheese, make sure to cover the filling entirely so it melts and binds everything together.

Cooking Tips and Techniques

• To prevent the peppers from falling over, use a muffin tin to hold them upright while baking.
• For a lower fat option, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
• If you want a more tender pepper, add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of each pepper before stuffing.
• For a crispy cheesy topping, remove the aluminum foil covering the peppers for the last 10 minutes of baking.
• If you’re cooking the peppers in a slow cooker, add a cup of water to the bottom of the pot to keep the peppers moist.

Cooking the Stuffed Peppers

Cooking the stuffed peppers is the most important part. Here are the instructions:

Baking

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Once the peppers are stuffed and topped with cheese, place them in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
3. Bake for 45 minutes or until the filling is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
4. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Slow Cooker

1. Place the stuffed peppers in a slow cooker and add a cup of water to the bottom of the pot.
2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until the filling is cooked through.
3. Once done, remove from the slow cooker and let cool for a few minutes before serving.