Keto Instant Pot Italian Stuffed Peppers are a filling, satisfying, savory, Italian-inspired, low-carb, gluten-free dish. This flavorful, low-carb meal is easy to make in the Instant Pot®.
Keto Instant Pot Italian Stuffed Peppers-
Warm and smokey bell peppers filled with seasoned ground Italian sausage and spices topped with tomato sauce and bubbling melted cheese.
This low carb, gluten-free, keto meal was very quick and simple to make in the Instant Pot.
I used Johnsonville® all-natural, gluten-free, low carb ground mild Italian sausage, but you can also use the hot ground Italian sausage as well for an extra kick of spice.
My hubby is a big baby about spicy food, so I had to make this on the mild side, lol.
I also used the red and yellow bell peppers instead of the green peppers, but of course, the green can also be used. It is just that my kids don't like the green bell peppers very much.
These stuffed peppers are free of grains, rice, and bread crumbs that were in the traditional classic American version of stuffed peppers that my mom made in the '70s.
They, also have some fiber added to them by using flax meal to replace the bread crumbs and keep the carbs low.
A colorful, hearty recipe that will remind you of a saucy Italian cheesy sausage meatloaf stuffed inside a bell pepper. Just as simple to make as meatloaf and cooked much faster in the Instant Pot®!
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Keto Instant Pot Italian Stuffed Peppers
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 medium-sized bell peppers
- 1 lb Italian ground pork sausage, (get a natural, gluten free, low carb kind like Johnsonville)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon flax meal
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 ½ tablespoon tomato paste, no sugar added
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasonings
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅓ cup no sugar added tomato sauce
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:
DIRECTIONS:
- Slice the tops off of the bell peppers and remove the center and seeds. Pierce small holes in the bottoms of the peppers with a fork so that the grease from the meat can escape.
- In a large mixing bowl combine ground sausage, egg, minced garlic, flax meal tomato paste, salt, pepper, Italian seasonings, and onion powder. Mix thoroughly.
- Stuff each bell pepper with meat mixture and fill to almost the top.
- Pour one cup of water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot.
- Put the steamer rack (trivet) into the pot and place stuffed bell peppers on the rack. Pour equal amounts of the tomato sauce over the tops of each bell pepper.
- Close and lock the lid and turn the Pressure Release Handle to Sealing.
- Select Pressure Cook (Manual) on High Pressure and set the timer for 15 Minutes.
- Once cooking time is done use the Natural Release method (do nothing & just let the pot sit for 5 minutes) for 5 minutes, and then carefully Quick Release all the remaining pressure.
- Once the pin drops the lid will unlock. Open the lid and top each bell pepper with a slice of cheese, close the lid and set to Warm for 2 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Using tongs to carefully remove the stuffed bell peppers, plate and serve.
Nutritional Data: Yield: 4 servings, Serving size: one stuffed pepper, Cal: 370, Carbs: 12 g, Net Carbs: 8g, Fiber: 4g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Protein: 17g, Sugars: 5g, Sodium: 1114mg,
*all nutritional data are estimates based on the products I used*
PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW:
📖 Printable Recipe Card
Keto Instant Pot Italian Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 4 medium-sized bell peppers
- 1 lb Italian ground pork sausage (get a natural, gluten free, low carb kind like Johnsonville)
- 1 lg egg
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasonings
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅓ cup no sugar added tomato sauce
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon flax meal
Instructions
- Slice the tops off of the bell peppers and remove the center and seeds. Pierce small holes in the bottoms of the peppers with a fork so that the grease from the meat can escape.
- In a large mixing bowl combine ground sausage, flax meal, egg, minced garlic, tomato paste, salt, pepper, Italian seasonings, and onion powder. Mix thoroughly.
- Stuff each bell pepper with meat mixture and fill to almost the top.
- Pour one cup of water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot.
- Put the steamer rack (trivet) into the pot and place stuffed bell peppers on the rack. Pour equal amounts of the tomato sauce over the tops of each bell pepper.
- Close and lock the lid and turn the Pressure Release Handle to Sealing.
- Select Pressure Cook (Manual) on High Pressure and set the timer for 15 Minutes.
- Once cooking time is done use the Natural Release method (do nothing & just let the pot sit for 5 minutes) for 5 minutes, and then carefully Quick Release all the remaining pressure.
- Once the pin drops the lid will unlock. Open the lid and top each bell pepper with a slice of cheese, close the lid and set to Warm for 2 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Using tongs to carefully remove the stuffed bell peppers, plate and serve.
Amy says
Love this recipe! Just made it tonight. Didn’t have a substitution for flax meal. Added 1 tbsp of GF Panko. 🤷🏼♀️ Can’t use dairy so substituted for bio life shredded mozz. I’m so happy! Thank you!!!!
Cheryl says
My IP burned with just the one cup of water. Other than that it was good. Microwaved to finish it off.
Stacey says
Hi Cheryl, My IP will occasionally have that happen too but most of the time it doesn't do that if I have enough water (at least one cup). Not sure if it is a glitch or if it has to do with the size of peppers or the temperature of the water I used when I poured it in. Sometimes I will use just a little more water than the IP suggests.
Carrie Webb says
We followed this recipe to the T and our peppers were very mushy and fell apart at the end. Anyone know why this would've happened???
Stacey says
Carrie, it depends on the size of your peppers and your IP size. If they are medium to smaller sized peppers then less cook time would be the remedy and xl size would take a little longer.
Shauna says
Any suggestions for a flax meal substitute?
Stacey says
You could use crushed pork rinds.
Julieacreasman@gmail.com says
Almond flour
Stacey says
I'm not exactly sure what the question about almond flour is, as it is not in the recipe??
Jan Grandini says
This is one of my favorite recipes! I have made this about 6 times. I do not use the flax or any replacements. I chop up the pepper tops and put them in the sausage before stuffing. Sometimes I use some drained canned tomatoes instead of the tomato paste. I also release the pressure as soon as the 15 min are up so they have some firmness. DELICIOUS!
Stacey says
Thank you, Jan, for trying the recipe and for sharing your tips. o happy you're enjoying the recipe.
Catherine Denney says
Will have to sub out the pork sausage as hubby has gout so no pork for us alas. I will Google Italian sausage ingredients and then use turkey instead.
Love my IP and glad for lo carb recipes
Carol Little R.H. @studiobotanica says
Love using my IPot for meals like this one. I've made stuffed peppers with beef or turkey but not with sausage..
Will need to try this one! Thanks so much!
Anne Lawton says
This is such an easy and delicious recipe perfect for busy weeknights!
chihyu says
I love this recipe. So easy to make and delicious! I can have this every day!
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday! says
You always have the best comfort food recipes and this one is no exception, I love that it's made in the Instant Pot as well!
Stacey says
Awe, thank you so much, Kari! I'm waiting for you to teach a photography class. That would be epic!
Kelly says
Always happy to fire up the IP for a great new recipe like this. Can't wait!
paleoglutenfreeguy says
This looks so great. Roasted peppers are like the perfect vessel for all that goodness. Adding this to my weeknight dinners!
Irena Macri says
I love stuffed peppers, they remind me of my childhood as it's a dish my grandma used to make. She used rice and meat stuffing but they work just as well with the lower-carb grain-free stuffing and cheese <3 Can't wait to try this recipe!
Hope says
Love how simple these are to make yet packed full of so much flavour! Such a great way to enjoy peppers 🙂
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
these sound great! I have an instant pot, but have yet to "catch the bug"! I'd try these the old fashioned way for sure!
Jean says
Stuffed peppers are the best, and this sound fantastic! Drooling at that melted cheese on top.
Raia Todd says
I've never tried stuffed peppers before, but they always make me drool!
Megan Stevens says
Uncomplicated and so yummy! We loved these and plan to make them again. Thank you!
heather@easyketodishes.com says
I love the bright peppers! Need to try this!
Renee D Kohley says
On my menu for next week! How FUN! Thank you!
Tessa Simpson says
Totally simple, a completely flavorful, thank you!!