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Healthy Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

These ground turkey stuffed peppers are a lightened-up version of the classic Italian-style dish! With lean turkey, mushrooms, rice, and melty mozzarella, this wholesome and flavorful dinner is gluten-free and family-friendly.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 439

Ingredients
  

  • 4 green bell peppers
  • 1/2 cup white or brown rice, dry
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lb. ground turkey meat, preferably extra lean
  • 25 ounce jar tomato sauce or marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (plus extra for topping)
  • fresh basil leaves, optional for garnish

Equipment

  • Large Skillet
  • Wooden spatula
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Knife

Method
 

  1. Prepare the green bell peppers by rinsing them, slicing in half horizontally, and removing pith and seeds. Set aside.
  2. Cook the rice in boiling salted water according to package directions, about 20 minutes.
  3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, mushrooms, and onion, then cook until softened. Add ground turkey and cook for 10 minutes, breaking it up into fine pieces.
  4. Stir in tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, cooked rice, and shredded mozzarella. Mix well and remove from heat.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange peppers upright in a 9x13 baking dish and stuff with turkey mixture. Add extra filling around peppers if needed. Top with more cheese.
  6. Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes until peppers are tender and filling is cooked through. Garnish with fresh basil and extra cheese.

Notes

⭐ Quick Tip: Cook the rice ahead of time for convenience.
⭐ Reheating: Cover and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes until warmed through.
⭐ Freezing: Uncooked stuffed peppers freeze well for up to 3 months—just thaw before baking.
⭐ Variation: Peppers can also be prepared whole by slicing off the tops instead of halving.
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