Description
Delicious and hearty Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers baked to perfection with seasoned turkey filling and melted cheddar cheese, making a wholesome and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Peppers
- 6 medium Bell peppers
- 1/4 tsp Sea salt
- 3 tbsp Olive oil (divided: 2 tbsp and 1 tbsp)
Filling
- 1/2 large Red onion (diced, about 1 cup)
- 1 1/2 lb Ground turkey
- 3 tbsp Taco seasoning
- 3/4 cup Water
- 1 14.5-oz can Diced tomatoes (drained)
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese (shredded)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) to prepare for baking the peppers.
- Prepare peppers: Chop off the tops of the peppers and scoop out the seeds and ribs from inside. Slice a tiny layer off the bottoms to help them stand upright without making a hole.
- Season peppers: Place the peppers upright in a stoneware baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt to enhance flavor.
- Bake peppers: Bake the peppers for about 15 minutes until they become soft and the edges puckered. Blot any excess liquid inside them using paper towels.
- Cook onions: Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the diced red onions and sauté for 5-10 minutes until translucent and slightly golden.
- Cook turkey: Push onions to the sides of the pan, add the ground turkey in the center, and cook while breaking it apart with a spatula for 8-10 minutes until fully cooked through.
- Season filling: Add taco seasoning and water to the pan. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes until extra liquid evaporates, intensifying the flavor.
- Add tomatoes: Stir in the drained diced tomatoes to the turkey mixture, combining evenly.
- Fill peppers: Remove baked peppers from the oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). If any liquid remains inside the peppers, blot dry with paper towels. Spoon the turkey mixture into each pepper, filling halfway.
- Add cheese and finish filling: Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese over the filling in each pepper. Top with the remaining meat filling and then the rest of the cheese for a cheesy finish.
- Bake stuffed peppers: Return the stuffed peppers to the oven and bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Use a sharp knife to carefully slice the tops off the peppers for easy hollowing.
- Blotting the peppers helps prevent a soggy texture by removing excess moisture.
- Taco seasoning can be adjusted to taste or substituted with your favorite spice blend.
- Cheddar cheese can be swapped with Monterey Jack or a Mexican cheese blend if preferred.
- Leftover stuffed peppers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make this recipe gluten free, ensure the taco seasoning is gluten free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ground turkey stuffed peppers, baked stuffed peppers, healthy stuffed peppers, turkey recipes, low fat dinner
