Ground turkey stuffed peppers are a fun twist on a classic recipe. Stuffed peppers are traditionally made with ground beef and rice, but we’re not always in the mood for rice-stuffed peppers. This ground turkey version is just as comforting as the original, and it feels a little bit lighter.
Ground turkey is a great option for anyone avoiding red meat, but this lean protein has a reputation for being boring and bland. Sure, it’s true that turkey has a mild flavor, but we don’t see that as a negative. It’s an opportunity to let the spices shine!
Cumin lends a taco-inspired vibe to turkey stuffed bell peppers, and juicy tomatoes round out the filling with their sweet and tangy character. Mix in some cheddar cheese and bread crumbs, and this filling creates robust turkey stuffed bell peppers that the whole family will love.
Ground Turkey Stuffed Pepper Ingredients
- Bell peppers: Use a combination of bell pepper colors for variety. Red, orange and yellow peppers are sweet, and green bell peppers have a grassier, more bitter character.
- Ground turkey: If you’re watching your macros, choose extra-lean (99% lean) ground turkey. It’s ground from turkey breasts and has less fat than dark ground turkey. To give the peppers a deeper, richer flavor, opt for dark ground turkey made from turkey thighs or drumsticks.
- Onions: Chopped onions add a subtle sweetness and a light crunch.
- Tomatoes: Look for the ripest, juiciest-looking tomatoes at the store or farmers market for this recipe. You want the tomatoes to have enough moisture to keep the filling from drying out as it bakes. If tomatoes are out of season, use canned tomatoes (San Marzano tomatoes are particularly delicious).
- Cheddar cheese: Cheese adds an interesting texture to the ground turkey filling. This recipe tastes great with lactose-free or vegan shredded cheese.
- Bread crumbs: Make sure to use soft bread crumbs in this recipe. These fluffy crumbs contain more moisture than dry bread crumbs to keep the stuffed pepper filling from drying out. You can use any bread to make your own bread crumbs.
- Seasonings: It’s easy to customize turkey stuffed bell peppers by changing the seasonings. We use garlic, ground cumin, Italian seasoning and paprika to give the peppers a savory, lightly smoky character that’s reminiscent of taco seasoning.
- Parsley: Just 1 tablespoon fresh parsley will help enhance all the flavors of the filling.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the peppers
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Cut the peppers lengthwise in half, and remove the seeds. Place them in a 15x10x1-inch pan coated with cooking spray.
Editor’s Tip: It might look strange to leave the stems in, but intact stems help the peppers retain their structure so the filling doesn’t fall out. Cut off the stems just before serving (you won’t want to eat them!).
Step 2: Make the ground turkey filling
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Cook and crumble the turkey with the onion, garlic, cumin, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink, six to eight minutes.
Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Stir in the tomatoes, cheese, bread crumbs and parsley.
Step 3: Stuff the peppers
Fill the prepared pepper halves with the turkey filling. Sprinkle with paprika.
Step 4: Bake the turkey stuffed peppers
Bake the peppers, uncovered, until the filling is heated through and the peppers are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. If desired, sprinkle the peppers with additional parsley just before serving.
Ground Turkey Stuffed Pepper Variations
- Use another protein: Feel free to swap in ground chicken or lean ground beef for the ground turkey. For a vegetarian version, make the filling with tofu or tempeh.
- Skip the bread crumbs: Instead of bread crumbs, add cooked grains or pasta to the filling. Try hearty grains like orzo or couscous. For gluten-free options, look to rice, quinoa or even cauliflower rice.
- Make it saucy: Stir some tomato sauce into the turkey mixture to make a saucy filling, as in this stuffed bell peppers recipe.
- Add vegetables: For a veggie-rich filling, add seasonal vegetables like shredded carrots, baby spinach or sauteed zucchini to the mix.
- Turn it into a casserole: Chop the peppers and transfer the whole mixture to a casserole dish to make unstuffed peppers.
Can you make ground turkey stuffed peppers ahead of time?
This is a wonderful make-ahead recipe. Store the unbaked peppers, covered, in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, take the peppers out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to take off the chill. Bake as directed, adjusting the cooking time as needed for the dish to warm through.
How to Store Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat the peppers in a 350° oven until warmed through and the filing reaches an internal temperature of 165°.
Can you freeze ground turkey stuffed peppers?
Yes, you can freeze stuffed peppers before or after baking them. For baked peppers, let the peppers cool fully. Then, wrap them tightly or transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw the peppers in the refrigerator overnight, and reheat as directed.
For unbaked frozen stuffed peppers with ground turkey, wrap the peppers tightly and freeze them for up to three months. Bake the stuffed peppers from frozen using the recipe directions but adjusting the cooking time as needed for the filling to reach an internal temperature of 165°.
Ground Turkey Stuffed Pepper Tips
Should you precook the peppers for turkey stuffed peppers?
You don’t need to precook the peppers for this recipe. Some stuffed pepper recipes begin with boiling the peppers for a few minutes, and you can use this method if you prefer a very soft pepper. However, we find that precooking the peppers makes them mushy. Stuffing raw peppers results in beautifully tender, crisp peppers that retain their bright color.
How do you cut the peppers for turkey stuffed bell peppers?
There are two different ways to cut the bell peppers for stuffed peppers with ground turkey. You can remove the top and leave the peppers whole. Or, slice the peppers in half lengthwise, leaving the stems intact. Either way, you’ll want to remove the seeds and membranes before adding the filling. We find it’s easier to work with halved peppers, and they’re less likely to fall over after being stuffed.
Do you have to cook the meat before stuffing peppers?
Yes, precooking the ground meat is a must for stuffed peppers. Cooking the ground turkey ahead of time ensures it reaches a food-safe cooking temperature.
What do you eat with stuffed peppers?
A colorful salad is always a good complement to turkey stuffed bell peppers. Try our favorite cucumber salad or a fresh heirloom tomato salad. If you’re not in the mood for a salad, look to one of these quick and easy side dishes.
