Admit it: even your favorite foods can grow tiresome if you’re eating them on the reg. But the truth is that the best way to stay on track and resist unhealthy food cravings is to mix your meals up. So we’ve got another tasty but easy dish to add to your dinner repertoire: stuffed peppers. Thanks to its low-carb, high-fiber shell and an endless slew of creative filling combinations, stuffed peppers can satisfy almost any craving.
Bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which will come handy during cold and flu season. The bonus is that it also has a bit of metabolism-revving capsaicin. Not to mention, they make a colorful dinner presentation that kids and adults alike can appreciate. Check out all the ways you can make stuffed peppers this winter.
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10 Stuffed Pepper Recipes for Easy Winter Meals
1. Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers
Our Meatless Monday dinners just got an upgrade with this vegetarian taco bowl-inspired recipe. Protein-rich quinoa and black beans make this dish a complete meal, and classic Southwestern spices infuse it with the bold, savory flavor we crave. You can make batches of quinoa a few days ahead to help cut down on cook time. Photo and recipe: Chungah Rhee / Damn Delicious
2. Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers
Hosting a holiday party or get-together with friends? Your guests are sure to devour these addicting poppers. This recipe calls for mini sweet peppers instead of regular bell peppers. For the filling, you can swap out cream cheese for plain Greek yogurt if you want to lighten things up. Use turkey bacon instead of pork bacon and season with your favorite spices. Photo and recipe: Kristin Porter / Iowa Girl Eats
3. Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Peppers
Come Thanksgiving, you’ll have plenty of leftover turkey meat and sweet potatoes. This recipe will help you make good use of them without you feeling like you’ve overdosed on comfort food. A little goes a long way with garlic and onions, and a sprinkling of feta cheese rounds out the simple but rich flavors of this dish. Photo and recipe: Olivia / Primavera Kitchen
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4. Healthy Fiesta Stuffed Peppers
Tasty poblano peppers step in here as the shell, and diced bell peppers, corn, tomatoes, onions and protein-packed black beans make a hearty filling. Cotija cheese, red onions and fresh cilantro add a zesty, refreshing flavor. Photo and recipe: Renee Blair/ Life by Daily Burn
5. Cajun Shrimp Stuffed Poblano Peppers
If you can’t get a flight to NoLa, bring the party and cuisine to your kitchen. Cajun seasoning adds heat to the protein-packed shrimp, but the spice spectrum doesn’t stop there. The recipe also calls for your favorite hot sauce. Feel free to go as hot as you can handle. Manchego and goat cheese melt beautifully for a gooey filling you want to stick your fork into. Photo and recipe: Mike and Patty Hultquist / Chili Pepper Madness
6. Mac and Cheese Stuffed Peppers
Thanks to bell peppers, practicing portion control with mac and cheese gets a little easier (if you don’t overstuff your peppers, that is). The bright red, green and yellow shells also infuse the sea of white cheddar, sharp cheddar and Gruyere with color. Photo and recipe: Tiffany / Le Creme de la Crumb
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7. Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
Slow cooking stuffed peppers deepens their flavor, and the zero pre-cook time makes it easier for you to step away from the kitchen. Filled with beans, tomatoes and rice, this recipe makes a hearty, comforting meal and packs a spiceful punch. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours. Photo and recipe: Jennifer Draper / Slow Cooker Gourmet
8. Vegan Lentil Stuffed Peppers
This recipe is smoldering with flavorful spices, including smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and chili powder. The dish is so flavorful that you don’t need a whole lot of other ingredients to make it a satisfying dish. Lentils, zucchini, onion and diced peppers make a hearty, fiber-rich filling. Photo and recipe: Courtney O’Dell / Sweet C’s Designs
9. Chicken Pesto Stuffed Peppers
With only five ingredients (including the pepper shell!), this meal delivers hearty, delicious flavor — fast. Chicken and quinoa team up to deliver you a hit of protein and fiber, while pesto and melted mozzarella cheese add comfort-food appeal without adding major calories. Photo and recipe: Emily / Layers of Happiness
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10. Baked Eggs with Butternut Squash Hash Stuffed Peppers
Opt for this colorful breakfast meal next time you’re hosting brunch! You’ll wow your guests with little effort. Instead of using white potatoes to prepare the hash, cubes of butternut squash provide a delicious dose of fiber and beta carotene. Ricotta and crumbled feta add cheesy goodness to the baked eggs. Photo and recipe: Heidi / Foodie Crush