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

Author: Tiffany McCauley

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Have you ever tried 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 though 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 halfway 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

  • Mexican 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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Author: Tiffany McCauley

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Food, cooking, travel

Bio:

Tiffany McCauley is a nationally syndicated journalist and an award-winning cookbook author. She is also a food blogger. She has been featured on MSN, Huffington Post, Country Living Magazine, HealthLine, Redbook, and many more. She has helped thousands of people learn to cook simple, clean, and healthy foods in their own home kitchens. She lives in Maine and loves Elvis, sunflowers, and a good seafood chowder, as well as travel writing.

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

FAQs

What is the most nutritious 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? ›

You can also pre-cook them in the oven before they're filled. Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended by the recipe, place them in the oven until they are tender, then fill and return the stuffed peppers to the oven for the remainder of the cooking time.

How do you keep stuffed bell peppers from getting soggy? ›

Pre-cook Peppers

When you bake peppers that are not pre-blanched or cooked, it is normal that they release their natural water – which can be easily avoided by pre-cooking beforehand.

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.

What part of your body are bell peppers good for? ›

Peppers are also a good source of vitamin A and fiber. Bell peppers also have antioxidant properties, which may help to protect against diseases such as cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Compounds in bell peppers may also help to protect against inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.

Why do you boil bell peppers before stuffing? ›

If you bake peppers this way, they will take longer to cook and will hold their shape better. If you blanch the peppers and stuff them with raw ingredients, they could become too soft and fall apart during baking. So it's easier to stuff blanched peppers with an already-cooked mixture.

What goes well with stuffed peppers? ›

Even though the stuffed peppers likely contain rice, a starch, they pair very well with mashed potatoes. I also recommend a simple salad with an acidic dressing such as balsamic vinaigrette.

Why do my stuffed peppers taste bland? ›

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. Marinara. We used our simple marinara sauce for this recipe.

Why are my stuffed peppers watery? ›

Bell peppers contain more than 90% water, much of which is released during the cooking process. If you cook your stuffed peppers in one fell swoop, that moisture will release and end up in the final dish. Give them a jump start and prevent them from falling apart by roasting them for a short time in a hot oven.

Why are my stuffed peppers so watery? ›

Following the logic of precooking your peppers to safeguard against sogginess, you should also avoid watery ingredients in your stuffing. Let's say your filling calls for tomato sauce. Rather than spooning it directly into your hollowed peppers, reduce it on the stove until it's thick.

Can dogs eat bell peppers? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bell peppers as a healthy, low-calorie snack on the odd occasion. They even pack a nutritional punch! As long as you clean them beforehand and remove the seeds and core, peppers can offer a series of health benefits to your dog.

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!

Can you eat bell peppers raw? ›

The fruit of the bell pepper (capsicum annuum) and a member of the nightshade family along with aubergine, tomatoes and potatoes, bell peppers are also referred to as sweet peppers. A non-hot relative to the chilli pepper, bell peppers can be eaten raw or cooked and make a nutritious addition to a meal.

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.

Do bell peppers have more nutrients cooked or raw? ›

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. However, try to avoid overcooking peppers. Cooking a pepper for too long will remove some of its vitamin C content.

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.

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