Italian Stuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey

Looking for lower-carb stuffed peppers without rice? You came to the right spot. This baked stuffed peppers recipe is a family favorite that starts with lean ground turkey and a bevy of fresh vegetables. These simple stuffed peppers are easy to make and ready in about an hour. Top your Healthy Italian Stuffed Peppers with marinara and mozzarella cheese for a delicious meal.

red, yellow and orange bell peppers with an onion.

This post has been updated for photos and content since the original publish date in 2014.

We make this baked stuffed pepper recipe at least once a month because it’s healthy, filling and tastes great. I use lean turkey in this recipe, which can tend to be dry on its own, however, blending the turkey with sautéed vegetables and an “oatmeal brandade” keeps them moist and flavorful. 

Are Bell Peppers Good For You?  

Duh. Of COURSE they are! Sweet bell peppers are primarily made of of water and carbohydrates (they’re sweet, after all).  A medium pepper has about 6 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber and only 31 calories. Aside from being lightly sweet and very flavorful, bell peppers are loaded with these essential nutrients:

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  • Bell Peppers are rich in Vitamin C (providing up to 169% of the RDI in one medium red bell pepper) .
  • Vitamin B6 (important for the formation of red blood cells).
  • Vitamin K1 (contributes to blood clotting and bone health)
  • Potassium (for heart health), Folate (very important for development of the fetus for pregnant women). 
  • Vitamin E (essential for healthy nerves and muscles.
  • Vitamin A 
chopping kale finely on a board.

Ingredients For Italian Stuffed Peppers with Turkey

  • Bell Peppers (we like a combination of red, yellow and orange)
  • Zucchini (helps add moisture).
  • Onion
  • Kale (finely chopped)
  • Garlic
  • Dried Basil
  • Dried Oregano
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Egg
  • Oatmeal (just a little to act as a binder)
  • Chicken Stock from Rotisserie Chicken or low sodium canned broth
  • Marinara Sauce – homemade or store-bought
  • Mozzarella Cheese – we use low-sodium, part-skim.
For stuffed peppers without rice, use oatmeal instead.

How To Make Stuffed Peppers Without Rice

I don’t use rice in this baked stuffed peppers recipe. To lighten them up, I’ve skipped the 2 cups of rice normally called for and substituted with a mere 1/2 cup of oatmeal. This approach is more akin to meatloaf than a loose filling, but it’s delicious. Follow these guidelines and you’ll have tender, moist Italian Stuffed Peppers.

  1. Add oatmeal and chicken broth to a small bowl and set aside. 
  2. Use a box grater to shred the zucchini and onion.
  3. Saute the vegetables in a little olive oil with crushed red pepper, garlic, basil oregano salt and pepper until slightly softened and fragrant. 
  4. Stir in the chopped kale, cover and reduce heat to cook for 1-2 minutes until the kale has wilted. Remove the lid and set aside to cool a few minutes before mixing with the other ingredients.
  5. In a large bowl, combine the oatmeal, egg, kale mixture, shredded cheese and ground turkey. Use your hands to mix until the ingredients are well incorporated.
  6. Slice the bell peppers in half, vertically and remove the ribs and seeds.
  7. Generously fill the peppers with the turkey filling. PRO TIP: wetting your fingers with water allows you to smooth the top of the peppers before baking without sticking to the meat mixture..
  8. Transfer the simple stuffed peppers to the baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the turkey mixture is cooked through.
  9. You can serve the peppers with marinara sauce and cheese on the side, but for a more “casserole effect”, top the turkey filling with a spoonful of marinara sauce and mozzarella and set under a broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melty.
filling peppers with turkey and vegetable blend.

How Many Calories Are In Stuffed Peppers?

Italian Stuffed Peppers with Turkey have just a little over 300 calories per half pepper. Not too shabby. One of these is usually plenty for me with a green salad on the side, but my husband has been known to eat 1 1/2 to 2 depending on his appetite. Invariably there’s enough for lunch the next day.

Stuffed Peppers without rice on a sheet pan after baking.

Can I Freeze Simple Stuffed Peppers?

Yes. You can freeze the peppers after they’ve been baked. Just cool them to room temperature after they come out of the oven.  Just wrap and freeze them individually (so they don’t stick together while they’re freezing). To reheat, thaw the bell pepper completely and warm in a 325° oven for 10-15 minutes.

How Do You Eat Stuffed Bell Peppers?

With a knife and fork. LOL! I like to eat these Italian stuffed peppers with extra marinara and parmesan and/or mozzarella cheese.

marinara sauce for garnishing.

 

What Is Good With Stuffed Peppers?

If you’re not carb averse, the easy answer is bread.  Here’s my favorite bread recipes and some other lower carb options.  

Bread Sides: 

Low Carb Sides:

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4.67 from 12 votes

Healthy Italian Stuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey

The savory turkey stuffing in these peppers is really moist and flavorful.  Top with your favorite marinara sauce or try the recipe on this site.
Author: Lisa Lotts
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword bell peppers, ground turkey
Dietary Restrictions Low-Carb
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups kale tough stems removed, finely chopped
  • 3 bell peppers sliced vertically through the stem, seeds and ribs removed
  • 1 medium zucchini grated on large holes of a box grater
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or marjoram
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup old fashioned oats
  • ½ cup part skim mozzarella cheese grated, plus additional for serving
  • 1 ¼ pounds lean ground turkey breast
  • cup chicken stock from rotisserie chicken or low-sodium canned broth
  • 3 cups marinara sauce for serving
  • 1 cup mozzarella for serving optional
  • parmesan cheese for serving grated, optional

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the zucchini and onion and cook until tender, about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the crushed red pepper, garlic, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and cook for one minute more. Add the finely chopped kale, toss well and cover for 1-2 minutes or until the kale is wilted to still vibrant in color. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the oatmeal, egg, onion mixture, turkey and shredded cheese. Mix with your hands. Add the chicken broth and mix again so that the broth is incorporated into the meat mixture.
  • Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place bell peppers, cut side up onto the baking sheet. Liberally fill peppers with turkey stuffing, making sure to tuck the stuffing into the crevices of the pepper. There should be enough stuffing to mound it atop the peppers. Wet your hands with water and even out the turkey mixture with your fingers — the water prevents your hands from sticking to the turkey mixture.
  • Place the stuffed peppers into the oven and roast the peppers for 30-35 minutes, until the turkey is cooked through.
  • Serve peppers with marinara sauce and additional mozzarella and/or parmesan cheese or for a bubbly baked “casserole” pepper — spread 1/3 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. Place the peppers in the dish and spoon marinara on top of each pepper. Top with a sprinkle of mozzarella and parmesan cheese and heat under the broiler for 3-5 minutes until lightly browned and bubbly. Serve.

NOTES:

You could use a spatula or spoon to mix this, but I find that my hands are the best tools for mixing raw meat into other ingredients.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 1389mg | Potassium: 1092mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 4920IU | Vitamin C: 119.5mg | Calcium: 284mg | Iron: 3.2mg

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39 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I’m glad I doubled the recipe so we have leftovers and also I froze some for a later date . These were delicious . I baked en casserole as one alternative you suggested .

    1. Fantastic, Paula. I love your advance planning with making a double batch. Perfect for a night you don’t feel like cooking!

  2. 5 stars
    Hi Lisa,

    Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t see kale in the instructions , only in the ingredient list . Please advise . I’m looking forward to making these.

    1. Thanks for the catch, I’ve fixed it in the instructions.