Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Turkey (Printable)
Bell peppers stuffed with seasoned ground turkey, rice, and melted cheese. A comforting, gluten-free main dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 4 large bell peppers (any color), tops cut off and seeds removed
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
→ Proteins
05 - 1 lb ground turkey
→ Grains
06 - 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
→ Dairy
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese, divided
→ Pantry
08 - 2 tbsp olive oil
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1 tsp dried basil
11 - 1/2 tsp paprika
12 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Garnish
13 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a baking dish sized to accommodate peppers standing upright.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch peppers for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly softened. Drain thoroughly and arrange cut side up.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 3 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add ground turkey to the skillet. Cook while breaking apart with a spoon for 6 to 8 minutes until thoroughly browned and cooked through.
05 - Stir in drained diced tomatoes, cooked rice, oregano, basil, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes to meld flavors. Remove from heat and fold in half the shredded cheese.
06 - Distribute turkey and rice mixture evenly among prepared bell peppers. Arrange peppers upright in the baking dish.
07 - Crown each stuffed pepper with remaining shredded cheese.
08 - Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden brown.
09 - Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast between the sweet, tender pepper shells and the savory filling creates this perfect balance that even my picky nephew requested seconds.
- You can prepare everything ahead of time and just pop them in the oven when guests arrive, making you look effortlessly organized even when youre not.
02 -
- Dont skip blanching the peppers, as I once did thinking it unnecessary, resulting in uncomfortably crunchy peppers with perfectly cooked filling.
- Standing the peppers in a smaller baking dish than you might initially choose keeps them upright throughout baking, preventing the filling from spilling out.
03 -
- If your peppers wobble and wont stand upright, slice a tiny bit off the bottom to create a flat surface, being careful not to cut through to the hollow center.
- Save the pepper tops and chop them finely to add to the filling, eliminating waste and adding extra pepper flavor throughout.