Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers: Colorful, Wholesome, and Delicious
Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers are a wholesome, colorful weeknight dinner packed with ground turkey, rice, and cheese. Complete, nutritious, and flavorful in one dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Healthy, Italian
Ingredients
- 6 large bell peppers (any color)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 lb lean ground turkey (or ground beef)
- 1 cup cooked brown rice or cauliflower rice
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz), drained
- 1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 0.25 cup fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut tops off peppers, remove seeds and membranes. Rub outside with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and stand upright in baking dish.
- Heat skillet over medium-high. Brown ground turkey or beef 5–7 minutes. Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes, then garlic 30 seconds.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cooked rice, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and fold in 1 cup mozzarella and basil. Adjust seasoning.
- Spoon filling into each pepper. Pour ~¼ cup water into baking dish bottom.
- Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle remaining ½ cup cheese, and bake 10 more minutes uncovered.
- Rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra basil.
Notes
- Store in airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze individually up to 3 months.
- Substitute brown rice with cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.