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These ground turkey stuffed bell peppers are filled with tender ground turkey, fluffy rice, and veggies. Not only do they come together quickly, they are perfect for meal prepping.

If you love stuffed peppers, you should also try one of our most popular recipes – Mexican stuffed bell peppers!

Ground Turkey-Stuffed Bell Peppers in a dish

These ground turkey stuffed bell peppers are so juicy and flavorful. There’s nothing quite like slicing into one straight out of the oven. The combination of melted cheese, fluffy rice, and tender turkey truly never gets old.

This recipe is somewhat Italian-inspired, with a three-cheese pasta sauce used to bind the filling together. As the peppers bake, the juices of all the veggies and turkey are released, making for such a savory dish. I like to think these peppers are reminiscent of turkey bolognese or spaghetti.

Growing up, stuffed peppers were a regular at our dinner table. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve experimented with different flavors and fillings. I’ve grown to appreciate how many servings of veggies can pack into a stuffed bell pepper. More so, they are also perfect for meal prepping. We like to make a big batch and eat them throughout the week for a quick lunch. It helps that they reheat so wonderfully!

How to Make Ground Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers

Making ground turkey stuffed bell peppers requires minimal prep. Once the filling is prepared, all you have to do is stuff the peppers and bake them. Below, find a quick rundown of the recipe:

  • Prepare the Peppers: Cut the peppers at the top and remove the seeds and core.
  • Prepare the Filling: In a pan preheated with oil, saute the onions and mushrooms until golden brown. Add the ground turkey and brown, followed by the cooked rice. Pour in half of the sauce and season to taste.
  • Stuff the Peppers: Stuff each pepper with the turkey mixture. Mix the rest of the tomato sauce with a couple of cups of water and pour the mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. Sit peppers in the sauce and top each one with a generous handful of cheese.
  • Bake and Serve: Bake peppers at 375°F for 40 minutes. Enjoy!
Meat, rice and sauce stuffing getting prepared
Stuffed peppers with sauce and cheesy tops

Low-Carb Option

Looking for a low-carb option? Replace cooked rice with cauliflower rice in equal proportion. Of note, it’s best to use previously frozen riced cauliflower for this variation. It has less moisture when thawed and will prevent your peppers from turning out soggy.

Hot Tip: Trader Joe’s has an amazing frozen riced cauliflower that will work great in this recipe!

Ground Turkey-Stuffed Bell Peppers in a dish

Tips to Make the Best Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

  • Play around with the veggies you use. This recipe calls for mushrooms, but you can play around with the veggies you love most. Use one or a combination of a couple. Remember, this is such an easy way to up your veggie intake!
  • Use different colored bell peppers. If you want to uplevel your presentation, use several different colors of bell peppers. The variety of red, green, yellow, and orange will look wonderful on a serving platter.
  • Try to find bell peppers with flatter bottoms. Peppers with flatter bottoms will stand up better in your baking dish.
  • Use lean ground turkey. Lean ground turkey will produce the least amount of grease and prevent your peppers from turning out soggy.
  • Be generous with the cheese. Top each pepper with a hefty amount of cheese. Don’t be shy!
  • Use a Dutch oven to bake the peppers. If you have a Dutch oven, use it! The steaming effect cooks the peppers much more evenly and makes for a richer overall flavor.
Cooked stuffed peppers in a dish

FAQ

Can you freeze stuffed bell peppers?

Stuffed bell peppers can be easily frozen. Preferably, freeze them after they’ve cooked. If you freeze them raw, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before you place them in the oven. Whichever method you use, make sure to store them in an airtight container in the freezer.

Do you have to cook meat before stuffing peppers?

You do have to cook the ground meat before stuffing the peppers. The juices from the sauce and veggies will keep it from drying out in the oven.

How do you prevent peppers from turning out watery?

Prevent your peppers from turning out watery by not adding any additional liquid to the filling. The sauce you will pour into the bottom of the pan will be enough to soften the pepper as it bakes.

Why are my stuffed peppers tough?

If you find that your stuffed peppers are too tough, boil them for 5 minutes before stuffing them the next time you make the recipe.

Servings Ground Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers

You can serve ground turkey stuffed bell peppers for lunch or dinner. Pair them with a homemade caesar salad or some mashed potatoes for a well-rounded meal. You could also bake a baguette and use it to sop up the tomato sauce.

Other Stuffed Peppers to Try

Recipe

Ground Turkey-Stuffed Bell Peppers in a dish

Ground Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers

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Servings
6 servings
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
These ground turkey stuffed bell peppers are filled with tender ground turkey, fluffy rice, and veggies. They are perfect for meal prepping.

Ingredients

  • 6 bell peppers
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 1 lb mushrooms
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 25 oz Italian pasta sauce
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tsp oil for cooking
  • 1 tbsp salt adjust to taste
  • 1 tsp black pepper adjsut to taste
US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Trim the bell peppers by removing the seeds and core.
    Ingredients for stuffed bell peppers
  • In a pan, preheated with oil over medium-heat, saute the onion with mushrooms until they turn golden brown. Add the ground turkey, breaking up the meat with your spatula as you brown it.
    Pot with mushrooms, meat and onions cooking
  • Add in cooked rice and half of the sauce. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste.
    Meat, rice and sauce stuffing getting prepared
  • Stuff each pepper with the filling. Combine the rest of the sauce with two cups of water and pour it on the bottom of the baking dish. Place peppers into the baking dish and top each one with cheese. Bake at 375°F for 40 minutes.
    Stuffed peppers with sauce and cheesy tops
  • Serve warm and enjoy!
    Cooked stuffed peppers in a dish
Nutrition Facts
Ground Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers
Amount Per Serving
Calories 305 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 56mg19%
Sodium 1947mg81%
Potassium 1170mg33%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 6g24%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 4385IU88%
Vitamin C 163mg198%
Calcium 134mg13%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted August 4, 2021

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.