When you want to make a weekend dinner the whole family will love or impress guests, there’s few dishes better than this classic stuffed peppers recipe! This classic stuffed bell peppers dish uses lean ground turkey for a healthier profile plus features an easier way to prep the peppers so you’ll stress less too!
Best Stuffed Peppers Recipe
I used to think stuffed bell peppers were a chore. That is, until I discovered a way to make them easier without compromising the flavors. Everyone loves this stuffed bell pepper recipe when I serve it, even the kids. Plus, it looks lovely when you present it on your table. Try it tonight!
Ingredients in Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Bell peppers – Choose large ones so you’ll have more room to stuff them.
- Yellow onion – Give it a fine chop.
- Garlic – Mince it yourself for the best taste.
- Lean ground turkey – You can use ground beef and make ground beef stuffed peppers, but the ground turkey upholds a great flavor and makes this stuffed bell pepper recipe a healthier dish. Healthy stuffed peppers are just as delicious with all the spices and toppings.
- Petite diced tomatoes – You’ll need a 14-ounce can of these.
- Tomato sauce – And a 4-ounce can of this.
- Rice – Use Basmati and have it cooked and ready before you begin.
- Fresh parsley – This will go in the stuffing mixture.
- Mozzarella – To finish off the stuffed peppers.
- Seasonings – You’ll need onion powder, Italian seasoning, thyme, and salt and pepper, to taste.
You ring my bell.
Megan
Easy Stuffed Peppers Recipe
This easy stuffed pepper recipe is more simple than ever to make because of a step I’ve included below that will save you time and hassle. It’s only 25 minutes of prep time plus an hour of cook time, making it a simple dish though one you might not have time for on a weeknight. Still, it’s easy enough and is perfect for guests!
How do you Make Stuffed Peppers from Scratch
When making stuffed peppers, you’ll heat your oven to 385F while the rice cooks. Prepare the bell peppers and place them upside down in a baking dish with about a half inch to an inch of water, then cover with foil. You’ll bake them for 20 minutes, avoiding the boiling step stuffed bell peppers usually require. As they bake, sauté the onion, then the ground turkey until it’s light brown. Add the garlic, tomatoes, half the tomato sauce, the rice, half of the parsley, and Italian seasoning. Now that the peppers are ready, set the oven to 350F. Drain the water and turn the peppers right-side up to fill with the turkey and rice mixture. Top with the rest of the tomato sauce and cover with foil. After baking for 20 to 22 minutes, add the cheese and bake uncovered for 10 to 15 more minutes.
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Stuffed Bell Peppers Every Time
- Bake the peppers first. This step will save you time and is easy-peasy. Besides, you can prep everything else while this happens.
- Yes, you can use ground beef. Or even ground pork, or ground chicken!
- Have the rice ready. When you go to make the stuffing mixture, you won’t have any wait time and can just roll with it.
- Pepper color is up to you. You can mix and match them or keep them all the same color.
Do you have to boil peppers before stuffing them?
Many recipes will have you boil the peppers before stuffing them though an easier way is to cook them in the oven first in a baking dish with a little water and cover it with foil.
How do you steam peppers for stuffed peppers?
It’s so easy! Just use the same baking dish you plan to bake the stuffed peppers in and fill it with about an inch of water. Put the trimmed peppers in there face-down and cover at a temp of 385F. Bake it for 20 minutes and they’ll be ready!
How long does it take to soften peppers in the oven?
It will take 20 minutes at 385F to soften up your bell peppers in the oven to prep them for making stuffed peppers.
How to Cook Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are cooked in the oven though the filling is prepared on the stovetop. If you have a rice cooker, you can make the rice there and free up your stove.
What temperature do you cook bell peppers at?
The magic number for cooking bell peppers in the oven is 350F.
How Long to Bake Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers will need to bake for about an hour total at 350F.
How long do you have to cook stuffed green peppers?
All told, you’ll be baking them for about an hour total. That includes the time cooking the peppers alone in the oven to soften them up plus the baking time after they are stuffed.
How do I know when my stuffed peppers are done?
With this recipe, it’s easy. The peppers will be soft on the outside. You can also check with a meat thermometer to see if the inside is 160F.
How do you keep stuffed peppers from falling over?
Use a baking dish that has taller sides and fit the peppers close together. They’ll support each other and be less likely to fall over.
How do you make stuffed peppers not watery?
To avoid a watery situation, we cook the rice first. Also, you can try poking the bottom of the peppers with a fork to let excess water out while it cooks.
How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting soggy?
Following this stuffed bell pepper recipe will keep you from having soggy stuffed peppers. Also, using a baking dish that has sides that are taller and fitting the peppers in together will create a support system that makes them less likely to get all soggy.
What goes well with Stuffed Peppers?
Stuffed peppers are very filling because of the rice and meat mixture stuffed inside. But you need to serve something else with it. When it comes to a side dish for stuffed peppers, salads are a great and healthy option or you can roast some veggies too. Potatoes are another divine option you can bake alongside your peppers in another dish.
What do you eat with stuffed peppers?
Salads, sauteed veggies, roasted potatoes, and garlic bread are all divine sides you can serve up with your stuffed peppers.
How to Store Stuffed Peppers?
Stuffed peppers should cool first before being covered well and placed in the fridge.
How Long Do Stuffed Peppers Last?
You can keep stuffed peppers for up to 4 days in your fridge, though with rice in them, it is best to eat them within a day or put them in your freezer.
Can You Freeze Stuffed Peppers?
Stuffed peppers have a longer life in the freezer for sure! Take those extras and make them a ready-to-heat meal for you and the family. They’ll keep for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Stuffed Peppers?
You’ll heat your oven to 350 and put the stuffed peppers in a baking dish. Cover them and bake for 15 minutes. If you have frozen stuffed peppers, it will take 45 minutes to bake at this temperature.
Watch How To Make Stuffed Peppers (Video)
Classic Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 large bell peppers
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/4 cup yellow onion (finely chopped)
- 2 tbsp garlic (minced)
- 1 1/4 lbs lean ground turkey
- salt (to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
- 14 oz can petite diced tomatoes
- 4 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup Basmati rice (cooked)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 3 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp thyme
- 1 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 385F and cook the Basmati rice according to instructions.
- Prepare the bell peppers. Trim the tops off of the peppers and remove the ribs and seeds from sides. Place the trimmed peppers upside down in a baking dish and fill it with about 1/2 inch to 1 inch of water and cover with foil. Bake the peppers for about 20 minutes—this eliminates the additional step of boiling the peppers separately.
- While the peppers bake, heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Once heated, add the olive oil and heat that up as well. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and saute until slightly softened. Once softened, move to one edge of the skillet. Add the ground turkey to the skillet and season with salt and pepper and lightly brown. Toss the ground turkey and onion together and add in the garlic, tomatoes, half of the tomato sauce, rice, ½ of the parsley, and Italian seasoning. Season with additional salt and pepper.
- Once the peppers have finished baking, remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 350F. Drain the water from the baking dish. Turn the peppers right side up and fill with the ground turkey and rice filling. Pour the remaining ½ of the tomato sauce over the peppers and cover again with foil. Bake for 20-22 minutes.
- Once the peppers have finished baking, remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the peppers with mozzarella cheese. Return the dish to the oven uncovered and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the peppers are fork tender and the cheese is bubbly. Sprinkle the peppers with the remaining parsley and serve hot.
Nutrition
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