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Turkey Stuffed Peppers (No Rice)

Turkey Stuffed Peppers are a low calorie, healthy dinner the entire family will love, no rice required! Packed with flavorful meat, spices and cheese and under 250 calories per serving and perfect for keto or low carb lifestyles! 

turkey stuffed red bell pepper topped with cheese

I love hearing from my readers and one recent request was for more healthy, easy recipes-and these keto and low carb friendly Turkey Stuffed Peppers made without rice can’t fit the bill better.

It can be hard to find a stuffed pepper recipe without rice, but this recipe is a winner because even without rice it is still filling and satisfying.

While traditional stuffed bell peppers usually contain ground beef, tomatoes, rice, seasoning, and cheese; this lower calorie version subs in ground turkey for the ground beef and uses tomato paste instead of chopped tomatoes to thicken the filling and make up for the lack of rice.

Why I love this recipe

This is one of my go-to meals lately, I’ve been having it about once a week! I love it because it’s flavorful, and filling.

This recipe is naturally gluten-free and you can easily make it dairy free by omitting the cheese or using vegan cheese, so it’s also a great option for people that have food intolerances!

ingredients for turkey stuffed peppers on marble countertop

Ingredients

Nothing fancy here, just the basics to make this delicious dinner!

  • ground turkey – you can also use ground chicken, low fat ground beef, or ground pork or sausage
  • tomato paste – if you prefer to use a tomato sauce it will still taste good but the stuffing will be runny
  • poultry seasoning – try Mrs Dash or your favorite spice blend to change it up
  • red bell peppers – yellow, orange, and green taste great too!
  • mozzarella cheese – this recipe is also delicious with Mexican blend or colby jack cheese

Step by step

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Use a sharp knife to remove the top of the bell peppers, scrape seeds out with a spoon and set aside in a baking dish.
  3. In a large skillet brown the turkey over medium-high heat until totally cooked.  Add water, tomato paste and poultry seasoning.  Stir and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until heated through.
  4. Spoon meat mixture into peppers and top with 1/4 cup of cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

Variations

  • add in riced cauliflower or broccoli
  • use taco seasoning and add in salsa
  • stir in grated zucchini to thicken the filling
  • add rice or black beans to the filling

FAQs

Do I have to cook meat before stuffing peppers?

Yes, the meat filling should be cooked before stuffing the pepper to ensure it is cooked through.

Do you need to boil the peppers before stuffing?

I don’t boil my peppers first but if you want a softer pepper you can follow these instructions for blanching your peppers before stuffing them.

How do you keep stuffed peppers from falling over?

If your peppers won’t stand up you have a few options. You can halve the peppers vertical and lay them down to stuff open-faced style, trim the bottom of the pepper to even it out, or nest them in crumpled aluminum foil to provide support.

How do you store leftovers?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until heated through.

Can you freeze stuffed peppers?

I prefer this recipe made fresh but it is possible to freeze them. Freeze stuffed peppers after cooking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat according to directions above. You can freeze them as a batch or individually wrapped so you can grab one at a time. Please note that freezing the bell pepper will change the texture and make it softer.

You  might also like these healthy recipes:

If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

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red bell pepper stuffed with ground turkey and topped with cheese

Skinny Turkey Stuffed Peppers

  • Author: Melissa Riker
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Entree
  • Method: 78147
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Turkey Stuffed Peppers are a low calorie, healthy dinner the entire family will love, no rice required! Packed with flavorful meat, spices and cheese and under 250 calories per serving and perfect for keto or low carb lifestyles!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 lb ground turkey, fat free
  • 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tbsp poultry seasoning
  • 4 red bell peppers
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Use a sharp knife to remove the top of the bell peppers, scrape seeds out with a spoon and set aside in a baking dish.
  3. In a large skillet brown the turkey over medium high heat until totally cooked.
  4. Add water, tomato paste and poultry seasoning.
  5. Stir and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until heated through.
  6. Spoon meat mixture into peppers and top with 1/4 cup of cheese.
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

Notes

Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until heated through.

Stuffed peppers can be frozen after baking. Wrap tightly and place in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat as listed above.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Pepper
  • Calories: 242
  • Sugar: 10.6 g
  • Sodium: 298.4 mg
  • Fat: 2.8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16.9 g
  • Fiber: 4.9 g
  • Protein: 38.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 67.4 mg

Keywords: turkey stuffed peppers

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