Instant Pot Vegan Stuffed Pepper Soup

This Instant Pot vegan stuffed pepper soup is hearty, thick and full of flavor. It's also ready in just 30 minutes for a speedy yet cozy weeknight meal everyone will love.

If you're craving a warming and comforting soup that's also super flavorful, this Instant Pot vegan stuffed pepper soup definitely hits the spot.

I love this stuffed pepper soup made with rice and lentil because it's wonderfully hearty and requires minimal prep.

You can have a bowl of delicious meatless stuffed pepper soup in your hands in just 30 minutes, and that's with cooking green lentils from scratch!

The Instant Pot is the perfect way to make flavorful soups quickly, and this vegan bell pepper soup is one of the recipes where it truly shines.

Why you'll love this vegan stuffed pepper soup

• Extra healthy - this vegan bell pepper soup is high in fibers and full of nutrients.
• Very easy to make - the soup requires minimal prep, and it's mostly hands-off cooking.
• Made in one pot - since it's all made in the Instant Pot, clean-up is a breeze!

Ingredients and substitutions

Olive oil - You only need a tablespoon of olive oil to sauté the onions in. If you want to make this stuffed pepper soup oil-free, saute the onion in some veggie stock instead.

Onion - You can sub yellow onion with shallots or leeks if that's what you have on hand.

Garlic - Freshly chopped garlic adds wonderful flavor to this soup If you don't have any, you can sub one teaspoon of garlic powder.

Green chili pepper - This gives the soup a bit of a kick. Feel free to leave it out or increase the quantity to suit your taste.

Bell peppers - I used two red and two green bell peppers, but any color combination would do.

Spices - Paprika and dried oregano add delicious flavors to the soup. You can use smoked paprika, too.

Diced tomatoes - I used plain diced tomatoes but fire-roasted diced tomatoes would also work.

Green lentils - You don't need to pre-soak the lentils before adding them to the soup.

Brown rice - I don't recommend using basmati or long-grain white rice in this recipe because it cooks too quickly in the Instant Pot. Brown rice takes longer, so it's much better to use with dried lentils.

Vegetable stock - Use low-sodium vegetable stock if needed.

How to make vegan stuffed pepper soup in the Instant Pot

Set the Instant Pot to "Saute" and add the olive oil when you see "Hot" on display. Add the onion and saute for 1-2 minutes until slightly softened.

Add the garlic and green chili pepper and cook for another 30 seconds. Next, add the bell peppers and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the "Saute" function.

Stir in the paprika, oregano, salt, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, green lentils, brown rice and vegetable stock.

Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to "High Pressure" for 10 minutes.

When the time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then flip the release valve to "venting" for a quick release.

Stir in the parsley, adjust the seasoning and serve immediately, with some extra fresh parsley on top if you like.

Make it on the stovetop

If you want to make this vegan bell pepper soup on the stovetop, simply use a large, heavy-bottomed pot and follow the directions up to step 4.

Once you've added the vegetable stock, bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.

Leftovers and storage

• Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
• Reheat the soup in the microwave or on the stovetop. You may need to add more water or veggie stock because the rice will continue to absorb liquid.
• Freeze this vegan bell pepper soup for up to 3 months and thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Recipe notes and tips

• I tested this recipe in a 6-quart Instant Pot (5.7 L).
• If you want the soup to be spicier, ass some cayenne pepper or red chili flakes.
• You can add other veggies like carrots, celery and mushrooms to this soup.
• The soup is hearty enough to enjoy on its own, but you can serve it with tortilla strips or sliced avocado.

If you liked this vegan stuffed pepper soup, you might also like some of my other easy vegan soup recipes:

• Vegan Avgolemono Soup (Greek Lemon Orzo Soup)
• Creamy Oyster Mushroom Soup
• Easy Vegan Potato Soup
• Easy Pinto Bean Soup
• Instant Pot Chickpea Orzo Soup

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