Can you cook Costco stuffed peppers in air fryer? You sure can! Get directions for Costco stuffed peppers in the oven or air fryer in this Costco stuffed bell peppers review. Kirkland stuffed peppers are a delicious comfort food you can find in the deli area at Costco. You’ll love this easy family dinner idea for busy weeknights. Just heat and eat this one-ingredient air fryer recipe!
Let’s make Kirkland Signature Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Beef & Rice! (Pro tip: When it says “Kirkland,” we’re talking about Costco.) These are so simple and there are several ways you can make them.
IMHO, the best way to make this Costco stuffed bell peppers recipe is in an air fryer. You’ll save energy, you won’t heat up the house with the oven, and it’s a bit faster than oven baking.
However, if you don’t have an air fryer, I’ll also give the oven baking directions. You can find this Costco stuffed bell peppers with ground beef recipe on the package, but if you can’t read it, I’ve got you.
(That print they use is so SMALL- it can be tough on my old eyes!)
We’ll also cover other questions you may have about the Kirkland Signature stuffed peppers. You’ll learn which special diets they fit (are they low carb?), pricing info, nutrition info, and much more!
Jump to:
- 📋 Costco Stuffed Peppers Calories
- ⭐ Costco Stuffed Peppers Nutrition
- 🥘 Costco Stuffed Peppers Ingredients
- 🍽 Equipment
- 🔪 Costco Stuffed Peppers Cooking Instructions
- ⏲️ Costco Stuffed Peppers in Air Fryer
- 🌡️ How long do Costco stuffed peppers last?
- 👪 What to Serve with Stuffed Peppers
- 💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
- FAQs
- 👩🏻🍳 Best Stuffed Peppers Recipes
- The Disclaimer…
- 📖 Recipe
- ➕ Copycat Costco Stuffed Peppers
- 💬 Comments
📋 Costco Stuffed Peppers Calories
Unfortunately, there is no nutrition information on the Costco stuffed peppers packaging. According to some online sources, one Costco stuffed pepper half provides 350 calories. There are six pepper halves in the package (six servings).
⭐ Costco Stuffed Peppers Nutrition
Here is the nutrition info for one Costco stuffed pepper:
- Calories: 350
- Total fat: 16g
- Saturated fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sodium: 810mg
- Total carbohydrate: 23g
- Fiber: 2g
- Net carbs: 21g
- Sugar: 6g
- Protein: 26g
Are Costco stuffed peppers keto? No, the stuffed peppers from Costco are not keto because they contain rice. At only 21 grams net carbs each, you may be able to fit this food into a relaxed low carb diet.
🥘 Costco Stuffed Peppers Ingredients
What is in Costco stuffed peppers? Here’s what Costco puts in their stuffed peppers:
- Cooked ground beef
- Tomato paste
- Water
- Parboiled rice
- Mozzarella cheese
- Provolone cheese
- Vinegar
- Onion
- Sugar
- Salt
- Red peppers and green peppers (bell peppers)
- Brown sugar
- Spices
- Garlic
- Molasses
- Parmesan cheese
- Dried parsley
It's surprising these peppers contain three types of cheese. I don’t think they taste as cheesy as my homemade stuffed peppers.
They also contain a lot of different types of added sugar (white sugar, brown sugar, molasses). There isn’t a lot of added sugar per pepper, but IMO sugar isn’t necessary in stuffed peppers at all.
To cook Costco peppers, all you need is the package of peppers and some cooking spray.
🍽 Equipment
To oven bake Costco stuffed peppers, you need foil, an oven, and a meat thermometer. To air fry Costco stuffed peppers, you need foil, an air fryer, a meat thermometer, and a metal pan that fits in the air fryer.
I prefer using an air fryer oven for this recipe, as you can fit more peppers! I use a 10-Quart Kalorik Digital Air Fryer Oven. The Ninja Foodi, Philips, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Nuwave, Breville, or whatever brand you have should cook stuffed peppers.
Keep in mind that cooking times may vary depending on the air fryer you use. If you have a small air fryer basket, you may have trouble finding a pan to fit.
🔪 Costco Stuffed Peppers Cooking Instructions
How do you heat up Costco stuffed peppers? Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Remove the plastic lid from the stuffed peppers, and cover the tray with foil.
I recommend spraying the underside of the foil with cooking oil spray. This helps keep the cheese topping the peppers from sticking.
Bake the peppers on the center rack in the oven for 50-60 minutes. Check with an instant-read thermometer to ensure the peppers reached a safe internal temp of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74C). That’s it!
⏲️ Costco Stuffed Peppers in Air Fryer
How long to cook Costco stuffed peppers? It takes a total of 45 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit to air fry Costco stuffed peppers.
Preheat the air fryer to 375F (190C) for 5 minutes. Place peppers in a single layer in a small metal baking tray that fits your air fryer. I am able to fit 2-3 peppers in an 8-inch by 8-inch by 1.5-inch aluminum pan (20cm by 20cm by 3.8cm).
Cover the metal pan with foil. Don’t forget to mist the underside of the foil with cooking spray so the peppers don’t stick.
Air fry the peppers in the middle of the air fryer for 45 minutes. They need to cook this long to come to a safe temp, and to fully cook the rice.
Check the peppers with a thermometer to ensure they’ve reached 165F (74C) after air frying. You can add additional air frying time if needed.
🌡️ How long do Costco stuffed peppers last?
Both cooked and uncooked Costco stuffed peppers last up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Keep them in a covered food-safe container, such as the metal tray they come in. I don’t recommend freezing Kirkland Signature stuffed peppers (more on this in the FAQs below).
👪 What to Serve with Stuffed Peppers
What goes with stuffed peppers? Stuffed peppers have a balance of macros that can serve as an all-in-one meal. If you want some sides for stuffed peppers, try one of these:
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). Stuffed peppers are a pretty good bet for a food that supports weight loss goals. You get plenty of filling protein, plus high-volume and low-calorie veggies.
Counting the tomato or pepper as a fruit, Costco stuffed peppers give you all the food groups. These peppers are BIG, and I think one piece could serve as a light meal by itself. Teens, athletes, and others with higher energy needs may need an additional helping or two.
If you’d like to keep things low cal but want more food, I’d add a side salad with low-oil dressing.
Like many ready-made foods, Costco’s stuffed peppers are rather high in sodium. They also contain a little added sugar that isn’t necessary for flavor, IMVHO. If you’re on a low sodium diet, homemade stuffed peppers without salt added are a healthier option for you.
These peppers are also not the best choice if you want to lower the saturated fat in your diet. You could make homemade heart healthy stuffed peppers with lean ground beef or ground turkey instead. (Of course, that will be quite a bit more work.)
Sometimes a nutritionally-imperfect ready-made option can serve in a pinch if you don’t have time to cook. Unlike most fast-food options, Costco stuffed peppers provide a decent amount of veggies, and will likely save money compared to takeout.
FAQs
At the time of writing, Costco stuffed peppers cost $4.29 per pound, or about $15-20 per package. Costs are subject to change, and may vary depending upon your location.
The rice in Costco stuffed peppers has been parboiled, which means it was partially cooked. The beef in Costco stuffed peppers is fully cooked. Costco stuffed peppers have a fairly long cooking time because they have not been completely precooked.
The ingredients list of Costco stuffed peppers is technically gluten free. However, there is a risk of cross-contact with gluten-containing foods since they’re manufactured in a facility that processed wheat. Thus, Costco stuffed peppers may not be safe for those with celiac disease.
Since the rice in Costco stuffed peppers isn’t fully cooked, I don’t recommend microwaving them. If you must, put them on a microwave safe plate (NOT metal!) and microwave on high, checking every 5 minutes or so. The peppers are done when they’ve reached an internal temp of 165F (74C).
Costco stuffed peppers contain a respectable amount of high-quality protein, as well as phytochemical-rich veggies. That said, they are likely much higher in sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar than stuffed peppers from scratch. For this reason, I don’t think Costco stuffed peppers are the most nutritious option out there.
You can technically freeze Costco stuffed peppers, but they get watery and the texture isn’t the best when defrosted. If you'd like to cook Costco stuffed peppers from frozen, this stuffed bell peppers air fryer recipe has reheating info.
👩🏻🍳 Best Stuffed Peppers Recipes
Are you looking for more easy recipes for stuffed peppers? You may enjoy these:
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Costco Stuffed Peppers (Air Fryer or Oven Kirkland Signature Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 package Costco stuffed peppers
- cooking spray of choice
Instructions
- To air fry: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes. Place peppers in a single layer in a small metal baking tray that fits your air fryer. I am able to fit 2-3 peppers in an 8-inch by 8-inch by 1.5-inch aluminum pan (20cm by 20cm by 3.8cm). Cover the metal pan with foil. Don’t forget to mist the underside of the foil with cooking spray so the peppers don’t stick. Air fry the peppers in the middle of the air fryer for 45 minutes. Check the peppers with a thermometer to ensure they’ve reached 165°F (74°C).
- To oven bake:Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Remove the plastic lid from the stuffed peppers, and cover the tray with foil. Make sure the underside of the foil has been sprayed with cooking oil spray.Bake the peppers on the center rack in the oven for 50-60 minutes. Check with an instant-read thermometer to ensure the peppers reached a safe internal temp of 165°F (74°C).
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