How Long To Cook Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are a delicious meal any time of the year. This dish is easy to prepare, and the stuffing options are endless. If you are thinking about cooking stuffed peppers for dinner, you probably want to know how long to bake them. Lucky for you, we have all the information you need about baking stuff peppers.

Stuffed pepper bake time varies. The average cook time for stuffed peppers is 35 to 45 minutes. However, there are a few factors that influence bake time. Here are some factors that affect pepper cook time:

• Oven temperature
• Cut of the pepper
• Type of filling

Sometimes, peppers cook as fast as 20 minutes or as long as 90 minutes. It all depends on the above factors.

Since there are many possible ways to make stuffed peppers, there is no specific bake time that works for every stuffed pepper dish. But don't let this discourage you from making stuffed peppers because they are an easy and delicious meal. Keep reading to learn about stuffed pepper cook time.

How Long Do Peppers Take To Cook?

Most recipes say stuffed peppers take about 35 to 45 minutes to bake. However, there are a few factors that change the cooking time of stuffed peppers. Let's take a look at these factors:

Oven Temperature

Stuffed peppers usually bake between 350°F and 400°F. While this is the average temperature range, you may find a recipe that says to bake your peppers lower or higher. If you bake your stuffed peppers under 350°F, then they will take longer than 45 minutes to cook. If you bake your peppers over 400°F, then there is a high chance they will be done sooner than 35 minutes.

Remember that an extremely high oven temperature can lead to uneven cooking, dried-out peppers, and burnt ingredients. This is why it is recommended to bake peppers in the 350°F to 400°F range.

If you have a convection oven, you should read this article: Do Convection Ovens Cook And Bake Faster? [Including Typical Cooking Times For Common Dishes].

Cut Of The Pepper

Stuffed peppers are typically prepared two ways. The first way is in a whole pepper. The top of the pepper is cut off,  and the seeds are scooped out. Then the pepper is filled with the stuffing. Sometimes, the top is saved and put back on top. It acts as a lid to keep the filling moist. The whole pepper serves as a bowl to completely contain the filling.

The second most common way to prep stuffed peppers is to use pepper halves. To make them this way, first, chop the peppers in half. Then scoop the seeds out of the inside. Next, fill the pepper halves with the stuffing. The pepper halves are more like a serving dish than a bowl in this stuffed pepper option. Halved stuffed peppers cook faster than whole stuffed peppers.

Type Of Filling 

The possibilities of pepper stuffings are endless. Whether you are vegan or a meat-lover, there are flavor and filling options to suit every diet.

There are two common ways to prepare the filling for stuffed peppers. The first is cooking the filling in a pan on the stovetop before putting it inside the pepper. Even if you use meat, the meat is cooked all the way through before you add it to the pepper with this cooking style.

The other way to prepare the pepper filling is to use raw ingredients. This could include raw vegetables or raw meat. We don't recommend using an uncooked grain source like rice or quinoa. Uncooked grains will not cook inside a pepper.

Some people prefer this method for preparing the filling because you don't use a stovetop. However, if any raw ingredients are used, especially meat, then your stuffed peppers will take longer to cook. It is imperative to cook the filling all the way through if raw meat is used.

For more information about prepping meat, check out this article: Can You Cut Meat On A Wood Cutting Board? [Raw And Cooked].

A Closer Look At Stuffed Pepper Cook Times And Temps

Now that you know all about what affects the bake time of stuffed peppers, let's take a deeper look at specific cook times for the different stuffed pepper preparation methods:

Whole Peppers Stuffed With Cooked Filling

Filling a whole pepper with cooked ingredients is the most common way to prepare stuffed peppers. For this style, the recommended baking time is 40 minutes at 350°F or 30 minutes at 400°F.

Halved Peppers Stuffed With Cooked Filling 

Stuffed peppers prepared in this manor cook the fastest. As soon as the pepper is cooked to your desired softness, the dish is ready to eat. Usually, they are ready in 20 minutes at 400°F and 30 minutes at 350°F.

Whole Peppers Stuffed With Raw Filling

Out of all the ways to prepare stuff peppers, this way takes the longest to cook. The combination of whole peppers and raw ingredients means it takes 60+ minutes to cook the filling all the way through.

Also, since you don't want to risk burning the outer pepper, we recommend cooking at a lower temperature of around 350°F. If you try to increase the oven temperature, you may burn the pepper and not cook the filling all the way.

Halved Peppers Stuffed With Raw Filling

If you must use raw filling, putting it in halved peppers decreases the baking time. They can cook as fast as 25 minutes at 400°F and 35 minutes at 350°F.

Antonki Timer Set

If you need a timer to know exactly how long to cook your peppers, this is an excellent option. You receive two digital timers with this set. Batteries are included and last for over 1,000 days.

Click here to view it on Amazon. 

How Do I Know When My Stuffed Peppers Are Done?

Stuffed peppers are done when the peppers are tender, and the filling is heated thoroughly. The perfect stuffed peppers are soft but still chewable. If they are still crisp enough to apply a lot of pressure for a fork to poke them, they are not done yet. If the peppers are incredibly mushy, then you cooked them for too long.

However, some people prefer their peppers less or more done. It is ultimately up to you to decide when they are finished. Keep in mind that if you use raw meat, then you should double-check the filling with a meat thermometer to ensure the meat is cooked all the way through.

How Long To Cook Stuffed Peppers With Raw Meat

Stuffed peppers with raw meat in the filling need to bake for at least one hour. However, cooking time varies. Sometimes, it may take closer to 90 minutes to cook the meat all the way. It is important to note that the oven temperature should be at least 350°F.

The best way to guarantee your pepper is fully cooked is to use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat inside. Ground meats should cook until they are at least 160°F.

Kuluner Meat Thermometer 

This foldable food thermometer is easy to store and records accurate measurements in as little as two seconds. It is a great option to make sure the meat inside your stuffed peppers is done.

Click here to view it on Amazon. 

Lasagna is another popular dinner dish that many people prepare regularly. If you are curious about lasagna bake time, read this article: How Long Should You Cook Lasagna? [Including The Pasta Noodles & Time In Oven].

How Long To Bake Stuffed Peppers At 400°F?

Bake time at 400°F for stuffed peppers varies. On average, bake time is between 40 minutes and 60 minutes at this temperature. But, halved peppers may bake as fast as 30 minutes or less, while whole peppers with raw meat in the filling may bake for up to 90 minutes.

As a general guideline, the higher your oven temperature, the faster the peppers bake. However, the higher the temperature, the more likely the peppers will burn or dry out. Because of this, it is recommended to cook stuffed peppers at 400°F or less.

Time To Stuff Some Peppers 

Now that you know all about stuffed pepper bake times, you can make a delicious dinner for the whole family. Remember, cooking the filling on the stovetop decreases cooking time. Also, when you fill your peppers with raw meat, you make sure it is cooked all the way through.