• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Moments
    • Pregnancy/Baby
      • Baby Registry List
      • Thriving Postpartum: What to Expect & Postpartum Essentials for Mom
  • Shop
    • Best Kitchen Gifts
    • Baby Registry List
    • Kitchen Tools (Must Haves)
    • Pantry Staples (Baking & Cooking)
    • Food Photography Essentials
  • Instagram
JoyFoodSunshine
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Laura
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Never Miss a Recipe

  • ×

    Home » Healthy Italian Stuffed Peppers

    Healthy Italian Stuffed Peppers

    Published: Jan 11, 2018 · Modified: Nov 1, 2022 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Italian stuffed peppers are an easy & healthy dinner recipe! Ready in 40 minutes, these healthy stuffed peppers are made with ground turkey and brown rice. It's a family favorite and a great meal prep recipe.

    Healthy Italian Stuffed Peppers on a baking pan with parsley on top

    These healthy Italian Stuffed Peppers are a major hit around here! They are an easy & healthy dinner recipe that's ready in 40 minutes.

    I don't know about you, but even though I love spending time in the kitchen, in this phase of life (with many young children that I homeschool), 40 minutes is about all the time I have to get dinner on the table.

    These healthy stuffed peppers are flavorful and healthy, using balsamic vinegar and brown rice in the filling. Plus the leftovers are great meal-prep lunches for the week that are gluten-free and could easily be made dairy-free by omitting the cheese on top.

    Up close side view of three healthy Stuffed Peppers on the baking sheet

    How to Make Healthy Stuffed Peppers

    Pre-cook the peppers. Roast the peppers for 10-15 minutes in the preheated oven before filling and baking again.

    You can also microwave or parboil the peppers to precook them. Whatever you choose, just be sure that they are slightly soft, but still firm enough to hold the filling.

    overhead view of peppers being cooked in this Italian Stuffed Peppers recipe

    Brown the turkey. For the best flavor and texture, be sure the turkey is completely browned before adding the liquid ingredients. You may need to add an extra tablespoon of olive oil to aid in the browning process!

    filling for Healthy Stuffed Peppers in a fry pan

    Don't over-fill. It's likely you will have a little extra filling leftover. You can either grab an extra pepper and stuff it too, or save the filling to snack on later. Just don't over-fill the peppers or you will end up with a mess!

    Overhead view of healthy Italian Stuffed Peppers arranged on a baking sheet with cheese sprinkled on top before baking

    Since the filling is already cooked, bake until the cheese is melted and the peppers are soft.

    Overhead view of healthy Stuffed Peppers arranged on a baking sheet after baking

    Serve

    Serve warm with your favorite sides. I like serving these with crusty bread like this no knead bread or homemade french bread.

    Store/freeze

    Store any leftover Italian stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Freeze in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then reheat in the microwave or oven.

    Italian stuffed peppers on a baking sheet

    Recipe FAQs


    Do you have to cook meat before stuffing peppers?

    Yes, I suggest cooking the filling before adding it to the peppers so the peppers don't become soggy.

    How do you make stuffed peppers not soggy?

    Slightly precook them and make sure the filling is cooked so you are just warming the peppers to melt the cheese on top. Also make sure the filling is thick.

    Why are my stuffed peppers so watery?

    If you choose to boil the peppers to pre-cook them instead of roasting them, it could cause watery stuffed peppers.

    How long does it take to soften peppers in the oven?

    About 10 to 15 minutes.

    Why is my rice hard in stuffed peppers?

    If your rice is hard it means it isn't fully cooked. Make sure to cook the brown rice according to the package instructions until it's light and fluffy before using it in this recipe.

    Overhead view of six Italian Stuffed Peppers on a baking sheet after baking

    Italian Stuffed Peppers: Ingredients & Substitutions

    • Ground turkey.Ground beef or chicken can be substituted for the turkey.
    • Olive Oil. Avocado oil or canola oil are substitute for olive oil.
    • Garlic/onion powder. Minced garlic and finely diced onion can be used in place of the powders. Just add them to the
    • Diced tomatoes. you can choose a variety with flavors like Italian diced tomatoes or fire roasted diced tomatoes.
    • Marinara sauce. Choose your favorite - mine is tomato basil.
    • Mozzarella cheese. You can substitute any cheese for mozzarella, I like adding parmesan cheese too.
    • Brown rice. this recipe calls for 2 cups cooked brown rice, which is 1 cup uncooked. You can use any rice variety you'd like, even quinoa is delicious in this recipe.
    Front view of one Italian Ground Turkey Italian Stuffed Peppers on a plate with parsley and a fork

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Healthy Italian Stuffed Peppers

    Laura
    Italian stuffed peppers are an easy & healthy dinner recipe! Ready in 40 minutes, these healthy stuffed peppers are made with ground turkey and brown rice. It's a family favorite and a great meal prep recipe.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 8 Servings
    Calories 231 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • non-stick fry pan
    • 9x13" baking dish

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 large bell peppers
    • 1 lb. 16 oz ground turkey
    • 1 TBS olive oil
    • 3 TBS Italian seasoning
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp onion powder
    • ½ tsp sea salt (or more to taste)
    • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
    • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
    • ½ cup marinara sauce
    • 2 TBS high quality balsamic vinegar
    • 2 cups brown rice cooked
    • mozzarella cheese
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the brown rice according to the package instructions (this takes about 50 minutes). Set aside.
    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
    • Grease a baking dish and set aside.
    • Remove top, seeds and core from bell peppers.
    • Rinse, pat dry and cut in half lengthwise.
    • Place halves open side up on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper.
    • Bake 10-15 minutes in preheated oven until they just begin to become soft. Remove from oven and set aside.
    • In a small bowl, combine Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder salt and pepper.
    • In a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat, add ground turkey and olive oil.
    • Sautee 10-12 minutes until turkey just begins to brown.
    • Add seasoning and continue cooking until turkey is fully browned.
    • Stir in tomatoes, marinara sauce and balsamic vinegar.
    • Turn off heat and add cooked brown rice and stir until combined.
    • Taste filling and adjust salt/pepper/seasonings to your liking.
    • Add about ½ cup of filling to each bell pepper half (or as much as can fit without overflowing).
    • Top each filled bell pepper with a light sprinkling of mozzarella cheese.
    • Bake peppers in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until the cheese is slightly browned and melted, rotating baking pan once during cooking.
    • Remove from oven and serve!

    Video

    Notes

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Ground turkey. Ground chicken or beef can be substituted for the ground turkey.
    • Olive Oil. Avocado oil or canola oil are substitute for olive oil.
    • Garlic/onion powder. Minced garlic and finely diced onion can be used in place of the powders. Just add them to the
    • Diced tomatoes. you can choose a variety with flavors like Italian diced tomatoes or fire roasted diced tomatoes.
    • Marinara sauce. Choose your favorite - mine is tomato basil.
    • Mozzarella cheese. You can substitute any cheese for mozzarella, I like adding parmesan cheese too.
    • Brown rice. this recipe calls for 2 cups cooked brown rice, which is 1 cup uncooked. You can use any rice variety you'd like, even quinoa is delicious in this recipe.

    Store/freeze

    Store any leftover peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
    Freeze in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then reheat in the microwave or oven.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pepperCalories: 231kcalCarbohydrates: 20.9gProtein: 17.1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 48.2mgSodium: 245.5mgPotassium: 364.4mgFiber: 2.3gSugar: 1.9gVitamin A: 485IUVitamin C: 241.6mgCalcium: 112mgIron: 1.6mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More recipes

    • These Italian Healthy Turkey Meatballs are SO good served over pasta or zoodles!
    • This Thai Slow Cooker Ground turkey is a staple recipe in our house! 
    • And these Paleo Sweet and Sour Meatballs are kid and husband approved!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

    « Best Paleo Banana Bread Recipe
    Immune Boosting Tea »

    Did you make this recipe?

    Leave a comment and review below, then take a picture and tag @joyfoodsunshine #joyfoodsunshine on Instagram so I can see it! Sign up here to receive weekly e-mails!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. MADELINE

      August 02, 2021 at 8:44 am

      5 stars
      The meal was delicious and healthy. All the instructions were helpful and the dish looked exactly like the picture in the recipe, which is a never for me. My son wasn't too pleased when he saw the meal arrive at the table, but after trying it, asked for seconds!
      I will definitely serve it again. Thank you Laura!

      Reply
    2. Abby

      April 15, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      This recipe was so easy to make! I would add more salt and garlic next time but that's just a personal preference. The recipe has good flavor as is, I just want it a little more savory. I've been trying to think of what side would pair well with it besides fresh fruit. I'm thinking roasted broccoli for next time!

      Reply
    3. Michele Vallor

      April 02, 2020 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      Our family enjoyed this dish! I appreciated how easy it was to make. Will definitely be serving them again.

      Reply
    4. Katy Morton

      January 27, 2020 at 7:16 pm

      5 stars
      I followed the recipe exactly and it came out perfectly. Delicious!!

      Reply
    5. Lisa

      January 26, 2020 at 7:42 pm

      5 stars
      Good flavor! I changed it up and stuffed portabella mushrooms instead of peppers. Next time I will add red pepper flakes to spice it up!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

    Click here to read more >>

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Most Popular Recipes

    • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever
    • Best Cinnamon Rolls Recipe (Better than Cinnabon)
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
    • Easy Dutch Oven No Knead Bread
    • Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (5- Minutes)
    • Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
      Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Better than P.F. Chang's)!

    Trending now

    • Blueberry Baked Oatmeal Recipe
    • Healthy Pineapple Carrot Cake
    • The Best Banana Cake Recipe
    • Egg Casserole (Egg Bake)
    • Baked French Toast Casserole
    • Best Carrot Cake Recipe
      Best Carrot Cake Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Joy Food Sunshine Logo
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Never Miss a Recipe

    1856 shares
    • 328