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

ByTiffany McCauley

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Ever try 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 thought 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 half way 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

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HEALTHY 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.

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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

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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? ›

Nope! Some recipes will have you boil or roast the peppers before stuffing them, but that's not necessary here. They bake long enough, stuffed, that the peppers get cooked through. Pouring a small amount of water in the bottom of the baking dish and wrapping it tightly in foil creates steam to help them cook!

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.

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.

What ingredients are in stuffed peppers? ›

What do you eat with stuffed bell peppers? ›

32 Tasty Sides to Serve With Stuffed Peppers!
  1. Salads.
  2. Grains & Breads.
  3. Vegetables.
  4. Protein-rich sides.
  5. Potatoes.
  6. Legumes.
  7. Soups.
  8. Desserts.
Nov 16, 2023

Why do my stuffed peppers taste bland? ›

Seasoning. Peppers can be quite bland on their own so seasoning the inside of the cavity with salt is very important. Be sure to taste your stuffing prior to filling the peppers and make any adjustments there as well.

Why are my stuffed peppers bitter? ›

If your supposedly “sweet” peppers taste bitter, the most likely culprit is lack of water. Pepper plants need to be consistently moist. Drought-stressed peppers go into survival mode, hastily ripening fruits and seeds without putting much energy into flavor. The resulting peppers are thin-walled and bitter.

Why are my stuffed peppers tough? ›

If the peppers aren't tender when the cheese is melted, and the filling is hot, simply tent the pan with foil and continue baking until they are.

Can dogs eat bell peppers? ›

Are bell peppers safe for dogs to eat? Yes, dogs can eat bell peppers as they are safe, non-toxic, and have many health benefits. Both the bell pepper and its seeds are safe for your dog to consume. However, it's advised to remove the stem and any leaves before giving a piece to your furry friend.

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!

When should you not use a bell pepper? ›

The first sign of rotten or decaying bell peppers is brown, wrinkly spots on the skin. Peppers that are going bad (or that could be past their prime entirely) may also start to smell or show visible signs of mold.

Is bell pepper healthier cooked or raw? ›

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.

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.

Is it healthier to eat bell peppers raw? ›

Bell peppers contain carotenoids, which are a powerful type of antioxidant. Bell peppers gain nutritional value when you cook them. Cooking a pepper will break down its cell walls, making the carotenoids inside easier for your body to absorb.

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