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Best Mexican Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

Best Mexican Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers


  • Author: Lorenzo Devereaux
  • Total Time: 50
  • Yield: 4

Description

Craving a cheesy, Tex-Mex style dinner that still feels light and wholesome? These Best Mexican Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers pack all the flavors of your favorite taco night into tender roasted bell peppers, with lean ground turkey, black beans, corn, and melty cheese. They’re an easy dinner that doubles as healthy meal prep, perfect when you need quick weeknight dinner ideas, a family-friendly easy recipe, or new food ideas for balanced, high-protein meals. Serve them for a cozy weeknight, a casual date night, or weekend meal prep and you’ve got a satisfying, veggie-loaded main that tastes like comfort food but eats like a smart, healthy snack or dinner idea.


Ingredients

4 large bell peppers halved lengthwise and seeded

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound lean ground turkey

1 small yellow onion finely chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup cooked rice brown or white

1 cup canned black beans drained and rinsed

3/4 cup corn kernels fresh frozen or canned and drained

1 cup diced tomatoes with green chilies drained

1/2 cup tomato sauce or mild salsa

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro plus more for serving

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend divided

2 tablespoons water for the baking dish


Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

2. Slice the bell peppers in half from top to bottom and remove seeds and membranes. Arrange them cut side up in the baking dish and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.

3. Pour the water into the bottom of the dish, cover tightly with foil, and bake the peppers for 12–15 minutes, until they just begin to soften. Remove from the oven and set aside, keeping the oven on.

4. While the peppers par-bake, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened.

5. Stir in the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

6. Add the ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until no longer pink, about 5–7 minutes.

7. Sprinkle the taco seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper over the turkey and stir to coat evenly.

8. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the cooked rice, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and tomato sauce.

9. Let the mixture simmer for 3–5 minutes, stirring often, until thickened and most of the excess liquid has reduced.

10. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the chopped cilantro, lime juice, and 1 cup of the shredded Mexican cheese blend until the cheese is melted and the filling is creamy.

11. Spoon the turkey mixture into each par-baked pepper half, mounding the filling slightly.

12. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese evenly over the tops of the stuffed peppers.

13. Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.

14. Garnish with extra cilantro and an extra squeeze of lime juice before serving, if desired.

Notes

For extra moisture and richness, you can swap half of the tomato sauce for your favorite salsa or stir in a splash of chicken broth while the filling simmers.

To make these peppers spicier, use hot diced tomatoes with chilies, add chopped jalapeños to the filling, or finish with a drizzle of hot sauce before serving.

  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
  • Calories: 410
  • Sugar: 7
  • Sodium: 780
  • Fat: 16
  • Saturated Fat: 6
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 36
  • Fiber: 7
  • Protein: 31
  • Cholesterol: 95

Keywords: ground turkey stuffed peppers, mexican stuffed peppers, healthy dinner, easy dinner, quick weeknight dinner, stuffed peppers recipe, gluten free dinner, food ideas