Stuffed Bell Peppers with Turkey & Rice

Stuffed Bell Peppers with Turkey & Rice

Julia

These vibrant stuffed bell peppers are a classic comfort food dish that transforms simple ingredients into a spectacular dinner presentation. Naturally gluten-free and packed with wholesome nutrition, each pepper becomes an edible bowl filled with a savory mixture of seasoned ground turkey, fluffy rice, aromatic vegetables, and Italian herbs, all topped with melted cheese that creates a golden, bubbly crown.

The beauty of stuffed peppers lies in their versatility and visual appeal. While variations exist across many cultures—from the Greek gemista to the Mexican chile relleno—this American-style version featuring lean ground turkey offers a lighter, protein-rich alternative to traditional beef versions. The sweet, tender roasted pepper walls provide the perfect contrast to the savory, herb-infused filling, creating a complete meal in one beautiful package.

This recipe is ideal for meal prep enthusiasts and busy families alike. The peppers can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake, making weeknight dinners effortless. Each serving delivers a balanced combination of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables, all naturally gluten-free without any special substitutions required. The result is a dish that's as nutritious as it is delicious, proving that healthy eating never has to be boring.

Whether you're feeding a crowd or looking for leftovers that reheat beautifully, these stuffed peppers deliver on flavor, nutrition, and presentation. The combination of textures—from the tender pepper to the hearty filling—and the aromatic blend of garlic, herbs, and tomatoes creates a satisfying meal that feels special enough for guests yet simple enough for any night of the week.

Nutrition

1 hour 10 minutes
None servings
385 calories
Fat 16.00g
Carbs 32.00g
Protein 31.00g

Ingredients

6 Nonelarge bell peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
1.5 lbsground turkey
1 cupwhite or brown rice, cooked
1 mediumyellow onion, diced
3 Nonegarlic cloves, minced
14.5 ozdiced tomatoes, canned, drained
1 cuptomato sauce
2 tspItalian seasoning
1 tsppaprika
1 tspsalt
1/2 tspblack pepper
1.5 cupsshredded mozzarella cheese
2 tbspolive oil
2 tbspfresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
wooden spoon or spatula
paper towels
aluminum foil
measuring cups and spoons
9x13-inch baking dish
large skillet
sharp knife

16:8 Diet

Ideal for the 16:8 eating window, these stuffed peppers provide a complete, nutrient-dense meal with lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables that deliver sustained energy and satiety to help meet daily nutritional needs within the compressed timeframe.

80/20 Diet

These stuffed peppers perfectly embody the 80/20 principle with the majority of ingredients being nutrient-dense whole foods—lean turkey, fresh vegetables, whole grain rice option, and olive oil—while the modest amount of cheese adds flavor without compromising the overall nutritional quality.

Clean Eating

These stuffed peppers exemplify clean eating with their use of whole, minimally processed ingredients including fresh bell peppers, lean ground turkey, whole grain rice, fresh vegetables, and simple seasonings—all recognizable in their natural form without artificial additives or preservatives.

Diabetic Diet

These stuffed peppers are diabetic-friendly with their balanced combination of lean protein, controlled portions of complex carbohydrates from rice, abundant non-starchy vegetables, and no added sugars, supporting stable blood sugar levels while providing complete nutrition.

Flexible Dieting

This recipe fits flexible dieting perfectly by providing a balanced, nutrient-dense meal with clearly portioned ingredients that can be easily tracked and adjusted to fit individual macro targets, while demonstrating that wholesome, satisfying foods are the foundation of flexible eating.

Gluten-Free Diet

As noted in the recipe description, these stuffed peppers are naturally gluten-free without any special substitutions required, using whole ingredients like turkey, rice, vegetables, and cheese that contain no wheat, barley, rye, or gluten-containing grains.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This recipe supports heart health by using lean ground turkey instead of red meat, heart-healthy olive oil, abundant vegetables rich in antioxidants and fiber, and moderate cheese portions, while avoiding trans fats and excessive saturated fats.

High-Protein Diet

With 1.5 pounds of lean ground turkey serving 6 portions, each stuffed pepper delivers approximately 25-30 grams of high-quality protein, making this recipe excellent for high-protein diets while also providing balanced nutrition from vegetables and whole grains.

IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros)

This recipe is excellent for IIFYM tracking with clearly portioned servings that provide a balanced combination of lean protein from turkey, complex carbohydrates from rice, and moderate fats from cheese and olive oil, making it easy to calculate and fit into daily macro targets.

Intermittent Fasting

These stuffed peppers are ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing a nutrient-dense, balanced meal with lean turkey protein, complex carbohydrates from rice, and abundant vegetables that promote satiety and stable blood sugar levels throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

These stuffed peppers are ideal for intuitive eating, offering a naturally satisfying and balanced meal that honors both nutrition and pleasure without restriction, featuring wholesome ingredients in appropriate portions that provide variety in textures, colors, and flavors to support mindful enjoyment.

Macro Diet

Perfect for macro tracking, these stuffed peppers deliver a well-balanced macronutrient profile with substantial lean protein from ground turkey, controlled carbohydrates from rice, and moderate healthy fats from olive oil and cheese, all in clearly defined portions for accurate logging.

Mayo Clinic Diet

This recipe follows Mayo Clinic Diet principles by emphasizing lean ground turkey protein, whole grain rice option, abundant vegetables (bell peppers, onions, tomatoes), and olive oil as a healthy fat source, while avoiding processed ingredients and providing a nutritionally balanced, satisfying meal.

Mindful Eating

This recipe supports mindful eating practices with its vibrant colors, varied textures from tender peppers to hearty filling, and aromatic blend of herbs and garlic that engage multiple senses, encouraging slow, conscious consumption and appreciation of each component.

Weight Watchers

This recipe aligns perfectly with Weight Watchers principles by using lean ground turkey instead of beef, incorporating plenty of non-starchy vegetables, and providing a satisfying, portion-controlled meal that's naturally lower in points while remaining flavorful and filling.

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

1 min
2

Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove all seeds and membranes from inside. Rinse the peppers under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.

5 min
3

Arrange the hollowed peppers upright in a 9x13-inch baking dish. If peppers don't stand upright, trim a thin slice from the bottom to create a flat base, being careful not to cut through to the cavity.

2 min
4

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.

2 min
5
5 min

Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent.

6
1 min

Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.

7
8 min

Add the ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking up any large chunks, until the turkey is no longer pink and is cooked through, about 7-8 minutes.

8
1 min

Drain any excess liquid from the skillet if necessary. Add the Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper to the turkey mixture. Stir well to combine and cook for 1 minute to toast the spices.

9

Add the cooked rice, drained diced tomatoes, and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce to the skillet. Stir everything together until well combined and heated through, about 2-3 minutes.

3 min
10

Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and incorporated into the filling.

1 min
11

Carefully spoon the turkey and rice mixture into each prepared bell pepper, packing it down gently and filling each pepper to the top. Divide the filling evenly among all 6 peppers.

4 min
12

Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of tomato sauce over the tops of the stuffed peppers, allowing it to drizzle down the sides.

1 min
13

Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 35 minutes until the peppers are tender.

35 min
14

Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the tops of the peppers.

1 min
15

Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.

12 min
16

Remove from the oven and let the stuffed peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.

5 min

Frequently Asked Questions