Description

A budget-friendly, weeknight dinner featuring bell peppers stuffed with a savory mixture of ground turkey, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese. This recipe is kid-approved, requires minimal cleanup, and can be customized with optional add-ins like rice or vegetables.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 lbs ground turkey (93% lean)
6 large bell peppers (any color)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3–4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups marinara sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Salt and black pepper to taste
Olive oil (for cooking)
Optional: 1 cup cooked rice or quinoa
Optional: 1 cup chopped spinach or zucchini
Optional: ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Wash peppers and slice about an inch off the top. Scoop out seeds and white membranes with a spoon or knife. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink. Drain excess liquid if necessary.
Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in marinara sauce and stir to combine. If using, stir in cooked rice or quinoa. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Fill the hollowed peppers generously with the turkey mixture. Place them in a baking dish or on a baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes until peppers are tender.
Remove from oven and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the tops.
Return to oven and bake for another 5 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Optionally broil for 1-2 minutes for a darker crust.
Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For easier cleanup, bake peppers on a flat baking sheet rather than a deep dish to prevent sauce leakage. You can prep the filling ahead of time and freeze it, but do not freeze the assembled cooked peppers as the texture suffers. If peppers look dry while baking, add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the dish to create steam. Leftovers can be chopped and scrambled with eggs for breakfast.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
Calories: 280
Fat: 16
Carbohydrates: 12
Fiber: 3
Protein: 22

Keywords: ground turkey, stuffed peppers, budget dinner, weeknight meals, healthy dinner, family friendly, meal prep, gluten-free option