These quinoa stuffed peppers are loaded with plant-based protein, lean ground turkey and flavorful seasonings! It’s a healthy and delicious way to eat more veggies that your family will love.
Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers
I absolutely love when I find easy and healthy dinner ideas that my whole family will eat. Quinoa stuffed peppers are a favorite, as well as unstuffed pepper casserole and chicken stuffed peppers. We love them!
I have seen several recipes for stuffed bell peppers with cooked quinoa online and never found one I’ve liked. I finally came up with my own version and love how they turned out. The kids even ate these easy stuffed bell peppers…everyone loved them!
How to Make Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
- Cook filling. Saute onion until translucent, then add meat and cook until browned. Drain any excess grease. Add in beans, tomatoes, green chiles, water, quinoa, cumin, taco seasoning, and S&P. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until quinoa is done about 10-15 minutes.
- Stuff. Line the sliced pepper halves in the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish. Then evenly spoon the filling into the peppers and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake. Cover pan with foil, then bake at 375°F for about 40 minutes, or until quinoa stuffed bell peppers are soft (but not mushy).
Favorite Toppings
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Sliced avocado
- Sliced olives
- Cilantro
- Red or green onions
- Lime juice
- Hot sauce
- Cilantro lime dressing
Tips and Variations
- Instead of slicing off tops, I like to cut my bell peppers in half to stuff. It’s more of an “open-faced” approach and easier. Remember to remove the stem, seeds and ribs.
- Make these a vegetarian dish by omitting the meat. You still get plenty of protein and fiber from the quinoa and beans!
- Feel free to swap the ground turkey with ground chicken.
- Make stuffed peppers with quinoa and beef by using lean ground beef.
- Don’t drain the canned tomatoes or chiles. The liquid helps to cook the quinoa.
- You could swap the quinoa for rice if preferred.
- Don’t forget to cover the pan with foil! This helps steam the peppers so they’re nice and tender.
More Healthy Dinner Ideas
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Quinoa Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 4 bell peppers , halved length wise, ribs removed
- ½ Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion
- ½ pound ground turkey (or ground beef)
- 1 (14-ounce) can black beans , drained and rinsed
- 1 (14-ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes , with liquids (plain is fine too)
- 1 (7-ounce) can diced green chiles , with liquids
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup quinoa
- ½ Tablespoon cumin
- 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
- Salt , to taste
- Ground black pepper , to taste
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
For serving: Sour cream or Salsa
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place 8 pepper halves in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes.
- In a large saucepan, heat 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook 3 minutes, or until translucent. Stir 1/2 pound ground meat and cook until browned. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in 1 can drained black beans, 1 can fire roasted tomatoes, 1 can diced green chiles, 3/4 cup water, 1/2 cup quinoa, 1/2 Tablespoon cumin, and 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 to 15 minutes, or until quinoa is cooked.
- Spoon in filling and top with 1/2 cup cheese. Cover pan with foil and cook 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and peppers are wilting.
- Remove from oven and serve with sour cream or salsa, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make it a vegetarian dish by omitting the meat. You still get plenty of protein and fiber from the quinoa and beans!
- Feel free to swap the ground turkey with ground beef or even chicken.
- You could swap the quinoa for rice if preferred.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Beef, Cinco De Mayo, Dinner, Mexican
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I am not a stuffed peppers person but these were so good! They tasted like taco soup but in a pepper. So good!
Glad this recipe could convert you! :) Thanks for your comment and review, Jamie!
best dinner ever!
We love making these for dinner! So simple and delicious!
This turned out DELICIOUS. Love the quinoa!