Stuffed Bell Peppers With Ground Turkey are a hearty, colorful dinner made with tender bell peppers filled with seasoned turkey, rice, tomatoes, and cheese. They are warm, filling, and easy to make with simple ingredients.
This recipe is great for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or a family-style meal that feels comforting without being too heavy. The peppers bake until soft, the filling stays moist, and the melted cheese on top brings everything together.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Easy dinner idea: The filling is simple to cook, and the oven does the rest.
Balanced meal: You get protein, vegetables, rice, and sauce in one dish.
Great for meal prep: Stuffed peppers reheat well for lunch or dinner.
Family-friendly: The flavor is mild, savory, and easy to customize.
Equipment Needed
Large baking dish
Large skillet
Cutting board
Sharp knife
Mixing spoon
Measuring cups and spoons
Aluminum foil
Cheese grater, if shredding cheese by hand
Ingredients List
For the Stuffed Peppers
4 large bell peppers, any color
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cooked rice, white or brown
1 can 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional
For the Baking Dish
1/2 cup tomato sauce or marinara sauce
2 tablespoons water
Timing & Servings
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 4 stuffed peppers
How to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers With Ground Turkey Step by Step
Step 1: Prepare the Peppers
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Slice the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. If needed, trim a tiny bit from the bottom so they stand upright, but do not cut a hole through the pepper.
Step 2: Start the Baking Dish
Add 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 2 tablespoons water to the bottom of a baking dish.
Place the peppers upright in the dish.
Step 3: Cook the Turkey
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the ground turkey and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until mostly cooked through.
Step 4: Add Onion, Garlic, and Seasoning
Add the diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened.
Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 30 seconds so the garlic becomes fragrant.
Step 5: Make the Filling
Add the cooked rice, diced tomatoes, and 1/2 cup tomato sauce to the skillet.
Stir everything together and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
Step 6: Stuff the Peppers
Spoon the turkey and rice filling into each bell pepper.
Fill them generously, but do not pack the mixture too tightly.
Step 7: Bake Covered
Cover the baking dish with foil.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until the peppers begin to soften.
Step 8: Add Cheese and Finish Baking
Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese over the peppers.
Bake uncovered for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the peppers are tender.
Step 9: Serve
Let the stuffed peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Top with fresh parsley if you like.
Tips for the Best Stuffed Bell Peppers With Ground Turkey
- Use bell peppers that are about the same size so they cook evenly.
- Do not skip the sauce and water in the bottom of the baking dish. This adds moisture and helps the peppers soften while baking.
- Cook the rice before adding it to the filling. Uncooked rice will not soften properly in this recipe.
- Avoid overpacking the peppers. A loose filling heats better and stays more tender.
- If you like softer peppers, bake them covered for an extra 5 to 10 minutes before adding the cheese.
Variations to Try
Use quinoa instead of rice: This adds a little extra protein and a nutty taste.
Make it spicy: Add jalapeños, hot sauce, or extra red pepper flakes.
Try a Mexican-style version: Use taco seasoning, salsa, black beans, corn, and cheddar cheese.
Make it low-carb: Replace the rice with cauliflower rice.
Change the cheese: Use mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack.
Serving Suggestions
Serve stuffed bell peppers with a simple green salad, garlic bread, roasted vegetables, or steamed broccoli.
For a lighter meal, pair them with cucumber salad or a bowl of soup.
For a more filling dinner, serve them with mashed potatoes, extra rice, or a side of pasta with marinara sauce.
Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating
You can prepare the filling up to 2 days ahead and store it in the refrigerator.
You can also fully assemble the stuffed peppers a day ahead. Keep them covered in the fridge, then bake when ready. Add a few extra minutes to the baking time if they are cold from the refrigerator.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To freeze, let the cooked peppers cool completely. Wrap them well or place them in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat, warm stuffed peppers in a 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or microwave in short intervals until heated through.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories: 365
- Fat: 15g
- Carbs: 29g
- Protein: 30g
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 610mg
Stuffed Bell Peppers With Ground Turkey
Equipment
- Large baking dish
- Large skillet
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Mixing spoon
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Aluminum foil
- Cheese grater, if shredding cheese by hand
Ingredients
For the Stuffed Peppers
- 4 large bell peppers any color
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup cooked rice white or brown
- 1 can 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes drained
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional
For the Baking Dish
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce or marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Peppers
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Slice the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. If needed, trim a tiny bit from the bottom so they stand upright, but do not cut a hole through the pepper.
Step 2: Start the Baking Dish
- Add 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 2 tablespoons water to the bottom of a baking dish.
- Place the peppers upright in the dish.
Step 3: Cook the Turkey
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the ground turkey and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until mostly cooked through.
Step 4: Add Onion, Garlic, and Seasoning
- Add the diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened.
- Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 30 seconds so the garlic becomes fragrant.
Step 5: Make the Filling
- Add the cooked rice, diced tomatoes, and 1/2 cup tomato sauce to the skillet.
- Stir everything together and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
Step 6: Stuff the Peppers
- Spoon the turkey and rice filling into each bell pepper.
- Fill them generously, but do not pack the mixture too tightly.
Step 7: Bake Covered
- Cover the baking dish with foil.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until the peppers begin to soften.
Step 8: Add Cheese and Finish Baking
- Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese over the peppers.
- Bake uncovered for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the peppers are tender.
Step 9: Serve
- Let the stuffed peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Top with fresh parsley if you like.
FAQs
Can I use raw ground turkey in stuffed peppers?
It is better to cook the ground turkey first. This gives the filling better flavor and makes sure the meat is fully cooked.
Do I need to boil the peppers before stuffing them?
No. Baking them covered with a little sauce in the dish helps soften them. If you like very soft peppers, you can boil them for 3 minutes first.
Can I use leftover rice?
Yes. Leftover cooked rice works very well in this recipe and makes prep faster.
What color bell peppers are best?
Any color works. Red, yellow, and orange peppers are sweeter, while green peppers have a slightly stronger flavor.
Conclusion
Stuffed Bell Peppers With Ground Turkey are simple, filling, and easy to make with everyday ingredients. They are a great option for a balanced dinner, and the leftovers are just as useful for meal prep the next day.