Turkey Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Turkey Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers are an easy weeknight dinner that is healthy and hearty. These stuffed bell peppers are great for any time of year. Made with turkey, quinoa, tomatoes, corn and beans, all stuffed in a bright bell pepper and topped with cheese!

Turkey Quinoa Stuffed Peppers Recipe

This Quinoa stuffed bell peppers recipe is a staple my whole family loves! This recipe became a favorite for us while we were living with my parents because it's easy to multiply and customize for people with very different taste palates.

At one point we had someone who didn't like beans, a vegetarian and someone who didn't like spicy food all under one roof. And this meal worked for all of them!

Quinoa is such a fun grain to work with because it is mild, but it is also really easy to combine other flavors with. Plus, it is pretty high in protein which make this a very filling meal.

Ground turkey is a great way to provide extra protein without the calories of beef. I use ground turkey in other easy weeknight dinners like ground turkey stir fry and turkey sloppy joe bowls.

You can also use leftover turkey from other meals, or even shred up some leftover chicken and use that in this quinoa stuffed peppers recipe.

Making a healthy dinner recipe doesn't have to lack great flavor! Skip the "healthy" meals that taste like cardboard and make this delicious and easy recipe.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

• This quinoa stuffed pepper recipe makes plenty for leftovers or snacks, making a great make ahead meal prep item!
• Stuffed peppers are a seemingly complicated and fancy dish, but they're actually really easy to make. The cook time and prep time are pretty minimal with a few easy tricks.
• You can easily adapt this meal to fit your needs. Make a few simple changes for a vegetarian meal, a vegan option, or to remove a few things a picky eater may not eat.

Ingredients

Grab these few ingredients on your next trip to the grocery store:

• bell peppers
• ground turkey meat
• canned corn
• can of Rotel tomatoes with chiles
• canned black beans
• cilantro
• quinoa
• shredded cheese

Substitutions and Variations

If you're not a fan of black beans, swap them out for kidney beans, pinto beans, white beans, or leave them out entirely if you prefer.

You can use any shredded cheese that you'd like. Cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, pepper jack, mozzarella cheese or a Mexican blend.

This recipe of course calls for cooked quinoa, but you could use white rice or brown rice instead. Use cauliflower rice for a grain-free option!

Feel free to add anything you want to the quinoa stuffing. Pico de gallo, minced garlic, taco seasoning, vegetables, sour cream, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Any type of bell peppers can be used in this great recipe! Use green bell peppers, red bell peppers, yellow, or orange. Each have a slightly different flavor, so you can make a couple of each to see which one you prefer.

How to Make Turkey and Quinoa Stuff Peppers

Cook quinoa according to package directions. You can make instant pot quinoa (or instant pot brown rice) to make things a little easier on yourself!

Brown the turkey meat in a large skillet, drain off any excess fat, and set aside once it's complete. While that's going, start a pot of boiling water.

Remove the core and seeds from all bell peppers, and cut in half down the center. Place each bell pepper into the boiling water for 5 minutes, or until the colors turn vibrant.

Using tongs, remove the bell peppers from the water and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the fluffy quinoa, corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, cilantro and half of the shredded cheese.

Stuff the bell pepper halves with the quinoa mixture, and top each one with a little cheese. Then, bake the quinoa stuffed peppers in a baking dish at 450°F for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey.

What to serve with Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Quinoa stuffed peppers are a complete meal all on their own, but you can of course serve your favorite side dishes too!

Whipped cream fruit salad or a green salad like a spinach salad are great healthy side dish options. Or make an easy vegetable like oven-roasted green beans or oven-roasted broccoli.

Tasty options like oven-baked potato skins or french fries would pair well with stuffed bell peppers too!

How to Store Leftover Stuffed Bell Peppers

You can store the quinoa stuffed bell peppers, or just the quinoa filing, in the fridge and freezer.

Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also store leftovers, in an airtight container, in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thaw leftovers completely before reheating! To reheat, place bell pepper halves in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through.

Tips for Success

• Grease the bottom of your baking dish with olive oil cooking spray or butter to keep the bell peppers from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• Need to speed up the cooking process even more? Use pre-cooked quinoa to make the delicious filling!
• If you'd like to make bigger servings, cut the top off of a bell pepper and core it. Then stand it up in a pan and fill it vertically!

FAQ

More Main Dish Recipes

• Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
• Creamy Chicken Risotto
• Pork Tenderloin with Apples
• Shrimp Risotto

If you make and love this recipe, please leave a ★★★★★ review below! It means so much to me when you try my recipes, and I'd love to know how it goes. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.