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5.0 from 12 votes

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers are a healthy, satisfying, and easy dinner that the whole family can agree on!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 4 - 8 people
Calories: 269 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 4 sweet bell peppers, any color
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • ½ cup finely diced onion
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese, divided
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or basil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cut bell peppers in half lengthwise, discarding seeds and membranes. Place peppers, cut side up, in a microwave-safe 13x9-inch baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the dish. Lightly cover with parchment paper. Microwave until peppers begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Drain any excess liquid.*
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the turkey and onion; cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off fat. Stir in cooked rice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Add ½ cup of cheddar and ½ cup of Monterey Jack.
  5. Season the inside of each pepper with salt and pepper. Stuff peppers with turkey mixture and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cover with foil.
  6. Bake until tender and heated through, about 35 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining ½ cup of cheddar and remaining ½ cup of Monterey Jack. Bake until cheese is melted, about 10 more minutes. Serve warm. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil.

Notes

  • *Alternatively, you can pre-bake the peppers in the oven instead of in the microwave. To do so, fill a baking dish large enough to fit peppers with about ½ -inch of water. Place peppers upside down in water, cover with foil and bake for about 20 minutes.
  • Swap out the ground turkey and use ground beef, ground chicken, ground pork or ground sausage.
  • Choose red, yellow or orange peppers for a sweeter taste; grab green bell peppers for a less-sweet, more zesty taste.
  • Any variety of rice will work. I like to use cooked long-grain white rice, but cooked wild rice or cooked brown rice will both be delicious, too. For a shortcut, try microwaveable packets of rice like Uncle Ben's Ready Rice. You can even try this recipe with cauliflower rice for more veggies!
  • Instead of rice, use cooked quinoa or cooked couscous.
  • For a shortcut, use leftover rice from the night before or a packet of microwaveable rice (like Uncle Ben's Ready Rice).
  • Garnish the finished dish with fresh herbs just before serving. They add a nice colorful, fresh touch!
  • Use red, orange or yellow peppers if you prefer a sweeter taste. Try green bell peppers for a zestier bite.
  • For the Slow Cooker: To make these stuffed peppers in a Crock Pot, skip the step of pre-cooking the peppers in the microwave. Stuff the peppers with the rice and ground turkey filling, cover, and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours. Top with the cheese and continue cooking until the cheese melts (about 10-15 more minutes).

Nutrition Information

Serving 1stuffed pepper half Calories 269kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 14g (5%) Protein 22g (44%) Fat 14g (22%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 59mg (20%) Sodium 474mg (20%) Potassium 533mg (15%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 2362IU (47%) Vitamin C 80mg (89%) Calcium 229mg (23%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4- 8 people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 269

% Daily Value*

Serving 1stuffed pepper half
Calories 269kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 14g 5%
Protein 22g 44%
Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 59mg 20%
Sodium 474mg 20%
Potassium 533mg 11%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 2362IU 47%
Vitamin C 80mg 89%
Calcium 229mg 23%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.