Turkey-Stuffed Bell Peppers

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min.

Makes

5 servings

Updated: Oct. 10, 2023
These well-seasoned ground-turkey-stuffed peppers are so tasty, you won’t even miss having real cheddar cheese. Round out the meal with a salad or a side of rice. —Judy Hand-Truitt, Birmingham, Alabama

Ingredients

  • 5 medium green, red or yellow peppers
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1-1/4 pounds extra-lean ground turkey (99% lean)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1-3/4 cups shredded cheddar-flavored lactose-free or other cheese
  • 1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°. Cut peppers lengthwise in half; remove seeds. Place in a 15x10x1-in. pan coated with cooking spray.
  2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook and crumble turkey with onion, garlic and seasonings over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink, 6-8 minutes. Cool slightly. Stir in tomatoes, cheese and bread crumbs.
  3. Fill pepper halves with turkey mixture. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, until filling is heated through and peppers are tender, 20-25 minutes.

Turkey-Stuffed Bell Peppers Tips

Should you precook peppers for stuffed peppers?

You don't need to precook the peppers. Older recipes for stuffed peppers began with boiling the peppers, and while some may prefer this method, the peppers become extremely soft after baking. Stuffing the peppers without pre-cooking results in a beautifully tender, crisp pepper that retains its bright color.

How do you cut peppers for stuffed peppers?

When cutting peppers for a stuffed-pepper recipe, slice the peppers end-to-end and remove the seeds first, before stuffing.

Do you have to cook meat before stuffing peppers?

Yes! Precooking the ground meat is a must for stuffed peppers to ensure safe cooking temperatures.

What do you eat with stuffed peppers?

A colorful salad is always a good complement to stuffed peppers. You could make a Crisp & Spicy Cucumber Salad, or try one of these quick and easy side dishes.

How do you make bell peppers taste better?

Personal taste should dictate what goes in your pepper stuffing and seasonings. Feel free to skip the onion if it’s not your favorite. Like more veggies in your stuffing? Add some diced, sauteed seasonal vegetables.

Research contributed by Catherine Ward, Taste of Home Prep Kitchen Manager
Editor’s Note: Some breads/bread crumbs are made with milk. To ensure this recipe is lactose-free, read the label or ask your baker.

Nutrition Facts

2 stuffed pepper halves: 323 calories, 10g fat (0 saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 771mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 40g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1 starch, 1/2 fat.