Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe | The Gracious Pan (2024)

ByTiffany McCauley

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Ever try healthy stuffed bell peppers? Totally YUM!!

I made this recipe for the first time in Stuttgart Germany. I lived there as a nanny to 4 kids. When I got on the plane from San Francisco to Munich, I had no idea the kind of culinary adventure I was about to embark on.

Even thought the family I stayed with had no idea what clean eating was (and neither did I at the time), they embodied the spirit of it with every meal.

Thankfully, I took notes.

These clean eating stuffed bell peppers are a delicious addition to your clean eating meal rotation. They are filling, have tons of flavor and what you don’t eat at dinner, you can freeze for a later time. In fact, if you chop them up, they go wonderfully over brown rice (or riced cauliflower if you want fewer carbs).

The only tricky part is finding a pot that will fit your peppers so they can stand up. But after making this a few times, I realized that if I cut the smallest bit off the bottoms of the peppers (just enough to give them a solid base to stand on, but not enough to actually cut a hole in the bottom), they stand perfectly on their own so the size of the pot becomes a little less critical. That being said, you still want to be sure the sauce comes up the sides of the peppers at least half way for cooking purposes. Taller casserole dishes can work well here too.

These make great leftovers for lunch the next day too. In fact, Mini Chef and I ate off of these for several days the last time I made them. They are delicious, versatile and an all-around comfort food.

More Healthy Bell Pepper Recipes

  • Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

HEALTHY STUFFED BELL PEPPERS RECIPE:

Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe | The Gracious Pan (3)

Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers

This delicious dish is filling, versatile and you can either take the leftovers for lunch or pop them in the freezer for an easy dinner down the road.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6 stuffed peppers

Calories: 265kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 large bell peppers (any color works)
  • 1 ½ lb. ground turkey
  • 45 oz. tomato sauce (three, 15 oz. cans, low sodium, no sugar added)
  • ½ large red onion (chopped)
  • ½ lb. crimini mushrooms (white mushrooms will work too)
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • ½ cup chicken broth (veggie broth works too)

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Slice the tops off your peppers and remove the cores. Reserve the tops.

  • Place your peppers in a baking dish (preferably one with a lid – but don’t panic if you don’t have one). Make sure the dish is small enough to fit the peppers snugly so that they can stand upright.

  • Pour 2 of the 3 cans of tomato sauce into the bottom of the pot so your peppers have a nice little pool to swim in during baking.

  • Pop out the middles of your pepper tops and chop them, as well as the onion and mushrooms.

  • Put your veggies in a pan with the olive oil and sauté until they are nice and soft.

  • Put your cooked veggies into a large mixing bowl and set aside.

  • Using the same pan you cooked your veggies in, cook your turkey in the 1/2 cup of broth.

  • Add your spices.

  • In the last 3-5 minutes of cooking, return your veggies to the pan. Mix well.

  • Return the entire mixture to the mixing bowl. Add your remaining tomato sauce. Stir well.

  • Fill your peppers with the meat mixture.

  • Cover with a lid. If you don’t have one, cover tightly with aluminum foil.

  • Bake for approximately one hour, or until the peppers are very soft.

  • Cool and serve with a little sauce poured over the top.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 1253mg | Potassium: 1587mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 6085IU | Vitamin C: 225.9mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 4mg

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Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe | The Gracious Pan (2024)

FAQs

Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe | The Gracious Pan? ›

You can also pre-cook them in the oven before they're filled. Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended by the recipe, place them in the oven until they are tender, then fill and return the stuffed peppers to the oven for the remainder of the cooking time.

What's the ingredients for stuffed peppers? ›

Image of What's the ingredients for stuffed peppers?
The bell pepper is the fruit of plants in the Grossum Group of the species Capsicum annuum. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange, green, white, chocolate, candy cane striped, and purple.
Wikipedia

Should I cook my bell peppers before stuffing them? ›

You can also pre-cook them in the oven before they're filled. Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended by the recipe, place them in the oven until they are tender, then fill and return the stuffed peppers to the oven for the remainder of the cooking time.

What is the most nutritious way to eat bell peppers? ›

We saved the best (and easiest) for last – eating raw Sweet Peppers is by far the most nutritious way to enjoy this fresh fruit. Eat them as an on-the-go snack, toss them into a light salad, or slice them up and dip them in hummus – it's hard to beat the crispy, sweet crunch of a raw Sweet Pepper.

How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting soggy? ›

No Moisture In, No Moisture Out. Following the logic of precooking your peppers to safeguard against sogginess, you should also avoid watery ingredients in your stuffing. Let's say your filling calls for tomato sauce. Rather than spooning it directly into your hollowed peppers, reduce it on the stove until it's thick.

What can I add to bell peppers for flavor? ›

14 Unique Ways To Flavor Red Bell Peppers
  1. Maple syrup and cheese offer added sweetness and umami. ...
  2. Add texture with herbed breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Marinate in salad dressing. ...
  4. Layer with pesto and cheese. ...
  5. Use your favorite chicken marinade. ...
  6. Dip raw strips into spicy peanut sauce. ...
  7. Pair with tzatziki for a Greek spin.
Jun 17, 2023

What seasonings are good on peppers? ›

Try adding basil, chives, cilantro, coriander, cumin, curry, garlic, marjoram, or rosemary to you bell peppers when cooking for more amazing flavor combinations. Top them with cheese. Sautéed bell peppers are amazing with a little added cheese and can really elevate their flavor and presentation.

Should you soften peppers before stuffing them? ›

I definitely suggest par-cooking the bell peppers first, just a little bit before stuffing them. Not only does this help to soften the bell peppers, but it also cuts down on your cook time. As the bell peppers are cooking you can make the filling, shaving off about 20 minutes from your total cook time.

What goes good with stuffed peppers? ›

1. Salads
  • Green Salad. When you're wondering what to have with stuffed peppers, you can never go wrong with a simple green salad! ...
  • Cucumber Yogurt Salad. ...
  • Artichoke. ...
  • Watermelon and Feta Salad. ...
  • Rice. ...
  • Garlic Bread. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Sauteed Broccoli.
Nov 16, 2023

Which color bell pepper is the healthiest? ›

You've seen bell peppers -- green, orange, yellow, and red -- in the grocery store or in a salad bar. Red peppers pack the most nutrition, because they've been on the vine longest.

What part of your body are bell peppers good for? ›

Bell peppers are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber. They also possess antioxidant properties, which may help to protect against diseases such as cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Bell peppers, or sweet peppers, come in different colors, depending on how ripe they are.

What is the healthiest way to cook peppers? ›

Cooking a pepper will break down its cell walls, making the carotenoids inside easier for your body to absorb. However, try to avoid overcooking peppers. Cooking a pepper for too long will remove some of its vitamin C content. To get the maximum possible nutrition from peppers, try lightly cooking them in a stir fry.

Why do my stuffed peppers taste bland? ›

The problem stems from the common practice of boiling the peppers to start. The goal is to tenderize them before they're stuffed and baked, but generally the poor fellas are over-boiled, which results in their tendency to fall apart and, as noted, be flavorless.

Why do my stuffed peppers fall apart? ›

I think the key to stuffed peppers is the cooking of the pepper itself. If you pre-cook it, then once you fill it, it tends to be soggy and fall apart. I like my stuffed peppers to hold their shape and be hot all the way through but retain a little bit of crunch.

Why are my stuffed peppers bitter? ›

In addition to not getting enough water, some other possible causes of bitter peppers are: Ripening: Peppers grow sweeter as they ripen and turn from green to red, orange, yellow, or purple. For the sweetest peppers, be sure they're fully ripe before picking.

What are the ingredients in 7 pepper seasoning? ›

Ingredients: SPICES, SALT, GARLIC, ONION, RED AND GREEN BELL PEPPERS, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM STEARATE, SILICON DIOXIDE, AND TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE (TO PREVENT CAKING), EXTRACTIVES OF CAPSICUM AND BLACK PEPPER, JALAPEÑO PEPPER, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA, SPICE EXTRACTIVES.

How do you're cook stuffed peppers? ›

Oven reheating: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the frozen stuffed bell peppers in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for 60-75 minutes or until heated through. For a crispy topping, remove the foil during the last few minutes of baking and top with cheese.

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