This Costco Stuffed Peppers Review is NOT sponsored and was written based on my honest opinion as a busy mom who enjoys a night off from cooking every now and then!
This has to be one of our absolute favorite products at the deli.
Growing up, both my husband and I (from traditional Slovak and Croatian households) ate a lot of these but with the busy lives we lead today, it can sometimes be hard to find the time to enjoy meals with an enormous amount of prep time.
These peppers are great when you’re ready for a night off!
Keep reading to learn:
- are the stuffed peppers from Costco healthy
- what ingredients are used in Kirkland stuffed peppers
- cooking instructions
- nutrition facts and calories
- how to cook them in the air fryer
- how to freeze them and cook them from frozen
- a great copy cat recipe to make them at home yourself
Disclosure: Affiliate links are used throughout this post. You can read our full disclosure here.
Costco Stuffed Peppers Review: Why You Need to Try It!
I’ve wanted to write this Kirkland Signature stuffed peppers review for a while now and I’m glad to be back at it!
This is what we consider to be a unicorn product at the deli for a few reasons.
Stuffed Peppers Flavor
They’re delicious!
These peppers are tasty, filling, and even great to eat the next day.
Cooking them in either an air fryer or oven creates the perfect texture.
You can top them with extra parmesan cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and/or chilli flakes for even more flavor.
Potatoes are our favorite side choice with these – like other Eastern Europeans, mashed potatoes are our go-to choice but mini roasted potatoes would also be delicious.
Price
I paid $17.79 for six stuffed peppers.
While you can definitely make this dish at home for a lot less, the cost is for the convenience here.
How long to cook stuffed bell peppers from Costco
Depending on your method, you’ll need at least 45 to 55 minutes of cooking time for your Kirkland Signature Stuffed Peppers.
We’ve tried two different methods for cooking ours: conventional oven and air fryer.
Costco Stuffed Peppers Cooking Instructions
Here are the instructions from the package to make these stuffed peppers in your oven:
- preheat oven to 205 C (400 F)
- remove plastic lid and cover with aluminum foil
- cook for 50 to 55 minutes
- the produce is cooked when the internal temperature of the filling reaches 74 C (165 F)
I always use a thermometer to check our food – this is a great one!
Costco Stuffed Peppers in Air Fryer
To make your Costco stuffed peppers in the air fryer, follow these instructions:
- if using a basket style air fryer, line it with parchment paper and add the number of peppers you wish to serve
- if using french doors style air fryer, plate the number of peppers you want to serve on an air fryer safe dish (we use this one)
- set your air fryer to 375
- set your cooking timer for 45 minutes checking your peppers every 15 minutes
- your peppers are ready once the internal temperature has reached 74 C (165 F)
What to Serve with Costco Stuffed Peppers
Growing up in a traditional Croatian household, we used to eat A LOT of punjena paprika – stuffed peppers!
Here are a few of the side dishes that go well with them:
- mashed potatoes
- cucumber salad
Some other less traditional options are:
- sautéed mushrooms
- brocolli
- roasted potatoes
- sautéed green beans
- garlic bread
- sweet potato fries
More delicious recipes to make at home:
Now here’s a topic I’m really excited to get into about this one.
What does Costco put in their stuffed peppers?
Like traditional stuffed peppers, this dish from Kirkland Signature is made with red, orange, and yellow bell peppers – every package contains two of each color pepper.
The peppers themselves are filled with a mixture made with tomato paste, white rice, beef/veal, onions, and garlic.
The rest is as follows.
Costco Stuffed Peppers Ingredients
Anyone who’s been reading our reviews for long enough knows that this is usually the deal breaker for us – we hate nasty additives and artificial ingredients in our food!
But guess what?
Costco stuffed peppers are our FAVORITE pre-made meal available at the warehouse.
Here’s the incredibly short list of ingredients used to make this delicious meal:
- Bell peppers
- Filling
- water
- tomato paste
- rice
- bell peppers
- vinegar
- onion
- sugar
- salt
- canola oil
- garlic
- spices
- citric acid
- Cooked ground beef and/or veal
- Mozarella
- Parmesan cheese
Contains: Milk
May Contain: Egg, Wheat, Soy, Tree Nuts, Peanut, Sesame, Mustard, Fish, Shellfish, Crustaceans
We’re not crazy about canola oil, mystery “spices”, or citric acid, but this is so minimal compared to what we’ve seen in other Costco deli dishes and bakery goods!
If you’re looking for a night off of cooking and want to pick up a simple but healthy pre-made meal at Costco, we’d suggest this one every time.
Check out our Tuxedo Cake review to see pre-made Costco foods at their worst.
Costco Stuffed Peppers Nutrition
Here are the nutrition facts per one pepper:
- Calories (kcal): 345
- Fat (g): 9
- Saturated fat (g): 2
- Cholesterol (mg): 230
- Sodium (mg): 735
- Carbohydrates (g): 26
- Fiber (g): 1
- Protein (g): 19
- Sugar (g): 2
Are the stuffed peppers from Costco healthy?
While not perfect (what is?), they are a healthier option than many other products in the deli and warehouse!
Expiry Date
The best before date on these isn’t very long and for good reason – it’s made with fairly natural real food ingredients!
You have a window of three days from the packaged on date of your peppers until the best before date.
Tossed the package?
Check your receipt or log in to your Costco account online to determine when you purchased them.
The turn over rate on these is very fast, so chances are you bought them at the warehouse on the same day they were packaged.
Can you freeze Costco stuffed peppers?
Yes, you can freeze the entire package or wrap them up individually.
More Costco reviews:
- Honest Costco Tiramisu Cups Review: The Surprising Reasons We Love It
- How to Shop the Costco Garden Center (Must-Haves + Best Tips)
How do you bake Costco stuffed peppers from frozen?
To bake your stuffed peppers from frozen, it’s best to let them thaw in your refrigerator overnight.
But if that’s not an option, you could always use the defrost setting on your air fryer in a pinch.
I found that cooking them from frozen results in a softer less enjoyable pepper.
Costco Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Once Upon a Chef has a fantastic recipe for stuffed peppers – the ingredients are nearly identical to Kirkland Signature:
- ground beef
- salt
- baking soda
- red, yellow, and orange peppers
- extra-virgin olive oil
- onion
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- drier oregano
- tomato sauce (substitute with tomato paste for a different texture)
- rice
- Monterey Jack or Cheddar Jack cheese (just substitute with Mozzarella and Parmesan)
Costco Stuffed Peppers Review: Final Thoughts
We love this Kirkland Signature pre-made meal.
It’s actually our top choice from Costco!
The ingredients are fairly simple, especially compared to other ready to cook dishes at the deli and even from the freezer section.
Have you tried these stuffed peppers? What do you like to serve them with?
Happy cooking, friend!
