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These turkey stuffed bell peppers are packed with savory turkey, fluffy rice, and melty cheese! A lighter take on beef-stuffed peppers without losing flavor.
Who says you need a whole turkey to impress at Thanksgiving?
These colorful ground turkey stuffed peppers are just as worthy of the spotlight.
Complete with savory ground meat, hearty rice, rich tomato sauce, and cheese, they’re proof that comfort food makes a perfect meal on its own.
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All this turkey talk has me craving traditional stuffing!
And if you want another turkey dish for the holidays that doesn’t involve cooking a whole bird, our turkey bacon ranch sliders are easy to serve and enjoy.
Why You’ll Love This Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe
- These stuffed peppers with ground turkey and rice are a complete meal in one!
- Ground turkey bell peppers look and taste impressive, but they’re actually really easy to make.
- Colorful, meaty, and cheesy, these stuffed turkey peppers are definitely kid-approved!
Ingredients
Bell peppers – Feel free to mix and match colorful bell peppers for these turkey meat stuffed bell peppers!
Ground turkey – No ground beef here! Use 93/7 ground turkey to keep your filling flavorful.
White onion and garlic – To give our filling a fragrant and savory base.
Salt and ground black pepper – We’re keeping the seasonings for these turkey stuffed peppers simple, but feel free to customize the rice filling with your favorite spices! Try Italian seasoning!
White rice – These ground turkey stuffed peppers are hearty enough to be a meal, especially with rice in the filling. You can also use quinoa.
Tomato sauce – It keeps the filling from drying out, and of course, you can’t go wrong with the combo of tender ground meat and tomato sauce.
Mozzarella cheese – These turkey stuffed bell peppers are kid-approved, especially with the melty cheese on top! Feel free to add extra cheddar cheese or switch it up with Monterey Jack.
Avocado oil – You can use any cooking oil, such as olive oil.
Parsley – For a pop of color and fresh, herby flavor.
Ingredient Substitutions For Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Ground chicken
No turkey? No problem! You can make ground chicken stuffed peppers instead.
Brown rice
For a heartier, fiber-packed version of stuffed bell peppers with turkey, try swapping white rice for brown rice.
Mexican cheese blend
For a taco-inspired twist, sprinkle a Mexican-style four-cheese blend over your ground turkey-stuffed bell peppers!
Tips For Making This Recipe
Keep the Peppers From Tipping Over
Choose bell peppers with flat bottoms, or slice a small piece off the bottom to keep them upright in the baking dish. Alternatively, use a dish that’s small enough to keep them snugly together!
Cut the Peppers the Way You Like
We sliced off the tops of the bell peppers, but depending on their size, you can just slice them in half lengthwise. Halved bell peppers won’t fall over after being stuffed!
Healthy and Delicious Add-Ins To Try
Load up your ground turkey-stuffed peppers with delicious, yet wholesome, add-ins like tempeh, black beans, cauliflower rice, and vegan pepper jack cheese.
Turkey Stuffed Peppers Recipe FAQs
Should I boil peppers before stuffing them?
Yes, I recommend boiling the bell peppers to make sure they cook all the way through. If you skip this pre-cooking process, the turkey stuffed bell peppers will end up tough!
How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting watery?
To prevent your stuffed peppers with ground turkey from becoming watery, avoid adding too much liquid to the filling. Boiling the peppers before baking also helps release some of the water so they don’t turn soggy.
Do you need to cook the meat before stuffing the peppers?
Definitely! Cooking the meat before stuffing the peppers ensures food safety and gives the best texture.
What is a good side for stuffed peppers?
Since these ground turkey stuffed peppers are already quite hearty with rice, you can simply serve them with a light salad or perhaps some homemade bread, such as these pumpkin dinner rolls!
How to store stuffed peppers with ground turkey?
Store your stuffed bell peppers with ground turkey in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, wrap them in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. To reheat, cover with foil and warm in a 350℉ preheated oven for 10 minutes if stored in the fridge, or 25 minutes if frozen.
More Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes
- Thanksgiving Veggie Tray
- Turkey Charcuterie Board
- Turkey Gravy without Drippings
- Bourbon Cranberry Sauce
- Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
I found this recipe for Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below.
Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients
- 2 bell peppers (we used red and green)
- 1/2 lb ground turkey
- 1 tbsp white onion, diced
- 1/2 garlic clove, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup white rice, cooked
- 1/2 can tomato sauce
- 3/8 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Avocado oil
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Add oil to the skillet and heat it over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add the ground turkey, breaking up any clumps with a spatula as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper.
- Fill a saucepan about 1/4 full with water and bring it to a boil.
- Cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds and core.
- Boil the bell peppers for about 5 minutes, then drain and set them aside.
- Once the ground turkey is no longer pink, reduce the heat and stir in the cooked rice. Mix until well combined.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and season again with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Arrange the bell peppers upright in a glass baking dish. Fill each one with the turkey and rice mixture, then top with cheese.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish the stuffed bell peppers with chopped parsley. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Choose bell peppers with flat bottoms, or slice a small piece off the bottom to keep them upright in the baking dish. Alternatively, use a dish that’s small enough to keep them snugly together!
- We sliced off the tops of the bell peppers, but depending on their size, you can just slice them in half lengthwise. Halved bell peppers won’t fall over after being stuffed!
- Load up your ground turkey-stuffed peppers with delicious, yet wholesome, add-ins like tempeh, black beans, cauliflower rice, and vegan pepper jack cheese.
Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER!
