Costco Stuffed Peppers - Air Fryer Cooking Instructions + Calories
Kirkland Signature Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers at Costco
Costco sells Kirkland Signature Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers for $5.49 a pound. You can find the stuffed peppers in Costco’s deli area near other prepared meals like the Street Taco Kit, Macaroni and Cheese, and the Asian Chicken Wraps.
Costco sells the stuffed peppers in a pack of six that contains approximately 3.75 to 4 pounds of food. The average price for a container of stuffed bell peppers is about $20.
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What is included in Costco Stuffed Bell Peppers?
Each package of Kirkland Signature stuffed bell peppers contains six bell peppers (2 each of orange, red, and yellow) and a ground beef and rice filling.
Costco seasons the ground beef filling with tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, salt, brown sugar, and garlic. The stuffed peppers also include mozzarella, provolone cheese, and parmesan.
Are the Costco Stuffed Bell Peppers Precooked?
Yes, Costco pre-cooks the stuffed peppers. They fully cook the ground beef and parboil (partially cook) the rice.
You will still have to heat and finish the meal in the oven or the air fryer.
How Many People Can These Stuffed Peppers from Costco Feed?
Each package has six stuffed peppers and can feed between 3-6 people, depending on how you serve them. If you serve them standalone, I recommend serving two peppers per person.
To stretch the servings, combine the bell peppers with sides such as salad, pasta, or green beans. The bell peppers can feed six people when combined with other food items.
How Long Do The Stuffed Peppers Take To Cook?
The packaging says you can cook Costco stuffed bell peppers in the oven at 400°F for 50-60 minutes. This is a long cook time, so be sure to prepare accordingly.
Though not officially recommended by Costco, you can also cook these stuffed peppers in the air fryer for about 15 minutes. This is my preferred method of cooking these stuffed peppers.
They Are Outstanding In The Air Fryer
I’m a big fan of these Costco Stuffed Peppers, and cooking them in the air fryer is absolutely amazing. I now only cook them in the air fryer, finding them much tastier than when oven-baked.
The air fryer cooks them in just 15 minutes, one-third the time needed for oven baking.
The bell pepper will also char up, and the meat and cheese develops a crust that keeps the insides incredibly moist. The time savings is great, and the texture and flavor difference is amazing.
Costco Cost Comparison
How Much Do Costco Stuffed Peppers Cost?
Costco sells its prepared stuffed peppers for $5.49 a pound. Each package costs approximately $20 for the six stuffed peppers. I snagged the bell peppers when Costco was running a $4 off promotion, bringing my price down to about $17.
At retail, each stuffed pepper cost about $3.33 and when discounted, they went for about $2.85.
The Costco Stuffed Peppers Are Well Worth It!
Yes, the stuffed peppers are worth their price tag. The meal is easy to make but unique and fun. The ingredients will cost about $1.50, but Costco has taken care of a lot of the time-consuming preparation.
Costco vs. The Competition
Costco isn’t the only retailer that sells premade stuffed bell peppers with ground beef. Sam’s Club sells their version at $4.98 per pound. This is $0.50 per pound, cheaper than Costco stuffed peppers.
Target sells a 2-pound frozen package of stuffed peppers for $10.39. This breaks down to $5.20 per pound, which is better than Costco’s price. These peppers are frozen, though, which brings the quality down.
Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers - Taste Test
Cook Them In The Air Fryer!
I cooked the Costco stuffed peppers using a few different methods, and they came out great every single time. I already mentioned this, but my favorite cooking method is with the air fryer for various reasons, including taste.
The Bell Peppers Are Fresh
The bell peppers are great. They are fresh and flavorful and do an excellent job holding in the filling.
They are tender and delicious, and when cooked in the air fryer they get charred a bit, bringing out the delicious bell pepper flavor.
The Filling Is A Little Sweet
The ground beef and rice filling is also very good. Sometimes, these prepared meals will load up on rice and skimp on the meat, but Costco doesn’t do that here. There is a hearty amount of ground beef in every bell pepper.
Costco uses a tomato paste that adds a nice flavor, but I found the taste slightly sweet.
The stuffed peppers contain sugar, and combined with the tomato paste, it gives the filling almost a slight ketchup-type flavor. There is also a noticeable sweetness from the brown sugar.
All Around Fantastic
As a whole, I found these Costco stuffed peppers to be delicious. The freshness and flavor from the bell pepper were fantastic, and the meat and rice filling was extremely tasty. I really enjoyed the stuffed peppers, and they make a great light and flavorful dinner option.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to eat the stuffed bell peppers as is; you can spruce them up more. Try adding in some chopped jalapenos or sprinkling on some additional cheese.
How to Cook Costco Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed Peppers Cooking Directions
Costco only recommends one cooking option with these stuffed bell peppers, and that is to bake them in the oven. It’s a suitable option, but some negatives include a long cooking time (60 Minutes).
I prefer to cook these ground beef bell peppers in the air fryer. The bell peppers roast and char a bit, and the beef and cheese develop a nice crust.
If you have an air fryer, I highly recommend using it.
Oven Bake:
- Preheat Oven to 400°F.
- Remove Clear Lid.
- Cover with Foil.
- Place on the Center Rack of the Oven.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Pro Tip: Cook for 10-15 minutes longer for a softer, sweeter bell pepper.
Air Fryer:
- Preheat Air Fryer to 350°F
- Place Costco Stuffed Peppers in the air fryer for 12-14 minutes.
- Let cool for 2 minutes. They will be hot!
Can you Freeze Costco Stuffed Peppers?
Yes, you can freeze the Costco stuffed peppers. Make sure to defrost them before cooking them in the air fryer or in the oven.
Freezing Directions:
- Place the stuffed pepper tray in the freezer for 1 hour to harden the stuffed peppers and filling.
- Remove the bell peppers and wrap them tightly with plastic wrap.
- Place plastic-wrapped bell peppers in a Ziploc bag and freeze.
To Defrost:
Either leave them in the refrigerator overnight, or if you are in a hurry, microwave them at 30% power for 90 seconds. Continue to microwave until fully defrosted.
Costco Stuffed Peppers Calories and Nutrition
How Many Calories in Costco Stuffed Peppers
Costco makes it hard to find the nutritional information for their prepared meals. I’ve gathered this nutritional label directly from Costco’s website. One serving of Costco’s stuffed peppers will be one pepper and weigh approximately 9.3 ounces. Each stuffed bell pepper contains 310 calories, with 13g fat, 24g carbs, and 20g protein. The full nutritional label is as follows:
- Calories: 310
- Total Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
- Sodium: 950mg
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Total Sugar: 8g
- Protein: 20g
Are the Costco Stuffed Peppers Healthy?
Yes, the stuffed peppers are healthy for you. Ground beef and rice are great healthy options, and when combined with the bell pepper, there are immense benefits. Bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Fiber.
Each bell pepper is quite filling and only contains 310 calories. These are a great diet option for those who want to lose weight or keep calories down.
Costco's Stuffed Peppers Are High In Sodium
Each ground beef stuffed bell pepper will have 950 mg of sodium or 41% of the daily recommended value. This is quite a bit of sodium, considering how small the stuffed peppers are.
I need to eat at least two peppers to make a full meal, which means I will take in nearly 2000mg of sodium or 80% of my daily recommended value, in just one meal.
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Air Fryer Costco Stuffed Peppers (Crispy Cook)
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 Pack Kirkland Signature Stuffed Peppers
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 350°F
- Place Costco Stuffed Peppers in the air fryer for 12-14 minutes.
Nutrition
Greg Larkin is the founder and managing editor of Costco Food Database, the premiere site for honest takes on all things Costco food. A self-proclaimed Costco super-fan since childhood, Greg turned his obsession in a mission to properly rate and review all of Costco’s delicious buys. When he’s not busy navigating Costco aisles, you can find Greg smoking Kirkland Signature meats, meal prepping, or perfecting his homemade jerky recipes.