Pinterest graphic of overhead of six stuffed peppers in a baking dish - 1 Pinterest graphic of close up of a quinoa stuffed pepper in a baking dish - 2 Pinterest graphic of close up of a quinoa stuffed pepper in a baking dish - 3

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers are the healthy dinner recipe you’ve been looking for! This delicious recipe is going to win over even your picky eaters.

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This Quinoa Stuffed Pepper recipe is our latest twist, and I’m so happy with how they turned out. Not only are they just as delicious as the other recipes, they are a little healthier because they are made with turkey and quinoa.

How to Make Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

For the full recipe with all of the instructions and measurements see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  1. Prepare the peppers. First cut off the tops of all six peppers. Then pull out the seeds and the ribbing. Next put them in a microwave safe bowl with a little oil and microwave them for 6 minutes. This will soften them for the recipe. (See more on this below.)
  2. Making the filling. Sauté the diced pepper tops with garlic and onion. Add in some ground turkey and cook it. Next add in the quinoa, tomato sauce, and some cheese.
  3. Fill the peppers with the quinoa mixture. Then top the stuffed peppers with the remaining cheese and bake for 25 minutes.
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Cooking Quinoa

These turkey quinoa stuffed peppers call for cooked quinoa. There are a few ways you can do this. However you make the quinoa, the most important thing is that you rinse it first. This will eliminate the slightly bitter taste that quinoa can have.

  • Stove top Quinoa: Place 1 cup rinsed quinoa in a small sauce pan. Add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the water is fully absorbed and the quinoa is soft. Fluff it with a fork.
  • Instant Pot Quinoa: Add 1 cup of rinsed quinoa and 2 cups of water to the instant pot. Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Use the rice setting and cook for 12 minutes. At the end of the cook time, allow the pressure release valve to drop on it’s own. Open the top and fluff the quinoa with a fork.
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Softening Bell Peppers

The bell peppers in this recipe get softened in the microwave to cut down on their time in the oven. It is a way of making this a 40 minute meal instead of an hour and a half meal.

With that being said, you can just increase the baking time by about 30 minutes or you can figure out what level of crunchy peppers your family is okay with. As written, the peppers are very soft, which we love.

Making Ahead

These are a great meal to make ahead of time. Make these up to the point of baking them and then put them in the refrigerator for 24 hours. When you are ready to bake them take them out of the refrigerator and pop them in the oven.

Freezing

These are also a great freezer meal. Make these but before you top them with mozzarella, put them in the freezer. Freeze in an airtight container for up to three months. When you are ready to bake them, bake them from frozen, uncovered for 40 minutes. Then top them with shredded cheese and bake for 25 more minutes at 20 degrees.

Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. To reheat, place the peppers in a covered baking dish and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

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What to Serve with Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

  • Mediteranean Salad
  • Asparagus Soup
  • Orzo Salad Recipe

If you make these Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers or any of my other recipes, please let me know what you think by leaving a comment!

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Ingredients

  • 6 bell peppers
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 pound ground turkey 93% lean (see note 2)
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa (see note 1)
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Cut the tops off of the peppers, remove the ribs and seeds, and then dice the tops of the peppers. 6 bell peppers
  • Place the hallowed out peppers in a large bowl and drizzle with a little olive oil. Cover with a plate and microwave for 7 to 10 minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plate as there will be a lot of steam.
  • While the peppers cook, heat a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Add the chopped bell pepper tops, diced onion, and garlic. Sauté until soft, about five to seven minutes. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
  • Add the ground turkey and break up as you cook it. Season with parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. 1 pound ground turkey, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 tablespoon dried basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Stir in the cooked quinoa, pasta sauce, and one cup of the mozzarella cheese . Taste the mixture and add more salt and pepper to taste. Divide the mixture between the hollowed out bell peppers. Top with the remaining cheese. 2 cups cooked quinoa, 15 ounces tomato sauce, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. If your family prefers ground beef, that would work well as a substitute. Simply omit the olive oil in step four.
  2. There are two great ways to cook quinoa. Most importantly, rinse it first. This eliminates the bitter taste of it. Stove top Quinoa: Place 1 cup rinsed quinoa in a small sauce pan. Add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the water is fully absorbed and the quinoa is soft. Fluff it with a fork. Instant Pot Quinoa: Add 1 cup of rinsed quinoa and 2 cups of water to the instant pot. Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Use the rice setting and cook for 12 minutes. At the end of the cook time, allow the pressure release valve to drop on its own. Open the top and fluff the quinoa with a fork.
close up of a quinoa stuffed pepper in a baking dish - 8

did you make this

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

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close up of a quinoa stuffed pepper in a baking dish - 9

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

  • 6 bell peppers
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 pound ground turkey 93% lean (see note 2)
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa (see note 1)
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Cut the tops off of the peppers, remove the ribs and seeds, and then dice the tops of the peppers. 6 bell peppers
  • Place the hallowed out peppers in a large bowl and drizzle with a little olive oil. Cover with a plate and microwave for 7 to 10 minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plate as there will be a lot of steam.
  • While the peppers cook, heat a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Add the chopped bell pepper tops, diced onion, and garlic. Sauté until soft, about five to seven minutes. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
  • Add the ground turkey and break up as you cook it. Season with parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. 1 pound ground turkey, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 tablespoon dried basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Stir in the cooked quinoa, pasta sauce, and one cup of the mozzarella cheese . Taste the mixture and add more salt and pepper to taste. Divide the mixture between the hollowed out bell peppers. Top with the remaining cheese. 2 cups cooked quinoa, 15 ounces tomato sauce, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

  1. If your family prefers ground beef, that would work well as a substitute. Simply omit the olive oil in step four.
  2. There are two great ways to cook quinoa. Most importantly, rinse it first. This eliminates the bitter taste of it. Stove top Quinoa: Place 1 cup rinsed quinoa in a small sauce pan. Add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the water is fully absorbed and the quinoa is soft. Fluff it with a fork. Instant Pot Quinoa: Add 1 cup of rinsed quinoa and 2 cups of water to the instant pot. Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Use the rice setting and cook for 12 minutes. At the end of the cook time, allow the pressure release valve to drop on its own. Open the top and fluff the quinoa with a fork.

Nutrition

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