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

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on X (Twitter)Share on Reddit <use href="#<svg width="1em" height="1em" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="scriptlesssocialsharing__icon flipboard" fill="currentcolor" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" role="img"><title>flipboard</title><path d="M24.997 13.001h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v-17.995h17.995zM1.004 1.004v29.991h29.991v-29.991z"></path></svg>" xlink:href="#flipboard"> Share on Flip it

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Have you ever tried 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.

Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe | The Gracious Pan (1)

Even though 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 halfway 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 | 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.

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate Add to Collection

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

Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on X (Twitter)Share on Reddit <use href="#<svg width="1em" height="1em" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="scriptlesssocialsharing__icon flipboard" fill="currentcolor" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" role="img"><title>flipboard</title><path d="M24.997 13.001h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v5.998h-5.998v-17.995h17.995zM1.004 1.004v29.991h29.991v-29.991z"></path></svg>" xlink:href="#flipboard"> Share on Flip it

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Food, cooking, travel

Bio:

Tiffany McCauley is a nationally syndicated journalist and an award-winning cookbook author. She is also a food blogger. She has been featured on MSN, Huffington Post, Country Living Magazine, HealthLine, Redbook, and many more. She has helped thousands of people learn to cook simple, clean, and healthy foods in their own home kitchens. She lives in Maine and loves Elvis, sunflowers, and a good seafood chowder, as well as travel writing.

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

FAQs

What is the healthiest 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.

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.

How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting soggy? ›

To prevent it from happening, you should try to avoid or reduce excess moisture – here are three of the things you can do:
  1. Pre-cook Peppers. ...
  2. Use Leftover Rice. ...
  3. Save Cheese for the Topping.

Are stuffed bell peppers good for you? ›

These days, I like to bake them early on in the week, then reheat them in the oven for fast, healthy dinners. Stuffed peppers are healthy. Lean protein, veggies, and whole grains: the gang's all here!

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.

Which bell pepper is healthiest for weight loss? ›

Red pepper is both satiating and vitamin-rich. Red peppers are thicker and sweeter, with a crunchy pulp; they are high in vitamins C and A, and they have a high satiating power due to the association of aspartic acid and vegetable fiber, making them ideal as an appetizer in diets.

Why do you boil bell peppers before stuffing? ›

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 well with stuffed peppers? ›

Stuffed green peppers are a meal in itself so I prepare a fresh tossed salad with French bread. Or dinner rolls. What are some good side dishes to serve with stuffed green peppers? Scalloped potatoes, buttered noodles, a small sweet potato, sliced and fried squash, a salad, cole slaw —- just to name a few.

Why didn't my rice cook in my stuffed peppers? ›

If you find your rice didn't cook in your stuffed peppers, it's likely one of two reasons: It didn't have enough time to cook through. There wasn't enough moisture for the grains to absorb.

Should you soften peppers before stuffing them? ›

The peppers need to be par-cooked before filling so that they cook through. Many recipes call for boiling the peppers first, but I prefer to roast them – more flavor and less cleanup!

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 are my stuffed peppers bitter? ›

To prevent stuffed green peppers from turning out bitter, consider these tips: Choose fresh peppers: Select ripe, green peppers with smooth skin and no signs of wrinkling or blemishes. Remove the pith and seeds: Cut out the white pith and seeds, as they can contribute to bitterness.

Do bell peppers detox your body? ›

Bell peppers enhance natural detoxification, according to Minchen, and they provide fiber, iron, and folate to support a healthy gut and cardiovascular system: Though bell peppers contain small amounts of fiber—2% by fresh weight—calorie for calorie, they're considered rich in fiber.

Can dogs eat bell peppers? ›

Bell peppers are also high-fiber vegetables that support your dog's digestive system. Red, green, orange, and yellow bell peppers are all safe for dogs to eat, though red bell peppers offer the most health benefits for dogs.

Is Bell Pepper healthier than tomato? ›

“Red capsicum has almost 50 per cent more calories than tomato because of its natural sweetness. Although it has more sugar, it also has 50 per cent more fibre, over eight times the vitamin C and beta carotene and over 15 times the vitamin E. Winner: It's a tie!

Are bell peppers healthier raw or cooked? ›

Bell Peppers.

Bell peppers, whether raw or cooked, are packed with vitamin C and various antioxidants. Eating them raw provides maximum vitamin C content, but cooking bell peppers can increase the availability of other nutrients.

Is it healthier to eat bell peppers raw? ›

Raw bell peppers can best preserve their nutritional value, and these nutritional active ingredients are easily absorbed by the body. Raw bell peppers have high water content (80% to 90%) and low calories. Raw bell peppers are rich in vitamin C and vitamin A. The amount of vitamin C is 3 to 4 times that of tomatoes.

Are red bell peppers more nutritious raw or cooked? ›

Red peppers are a great source of vitamin C, carotenoids, polyphenols, and other phytochemicals, Allidina says. “One cup of red peppers provides three times more vitamin C than an orange. It's best to eat red peppers raw – the heat in the cooking process depletes the vitamin C content.”

Does cooking bell peppers destroy nutrients? ›

Bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. One raw pepper provides more vitamin C than one cup of orange juice. Because cooking can destroy some vitamin C, you will get the most benefit from peppers if you eat them raw.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Last Updated:

Views: 6330

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Birthday: 1994-06-25

Address: Suite 153 582 Lubowitz Walks, Port Alfredoborough, IN 72879-2838

Phone: +128413562823324

Job: IT Strategist

Hobby: Video gaming, Basketball, Web surfing, Book restoration, Jogging, Shooting, Fishing

Introduction: My name is Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner, I am a zany, graceful, talented, witty, determined, shiny, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.