Description
Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers are a vibrant, budget-friendly, low-calorie dinner that proves nourishing can be delicious. Packed with quinoa, chickpeas, tomatoes, corn, and savory spices, each pepper delivers hearty flavor and veggie-forward goodness topped with melted low-fat cheese. Perfect for meal prep or quick weeknights, this colorful dish satisfies the soul without the guilt. It is naturally gluten-free when using certified ingredients and scales easily for six servings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large bell peppers, tops cut and seeds removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup corn kernels
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup shredded low-fat mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- Optional: chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
- Place bell peppers upright in the dish and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, then stir in garlic.
- Add cooked quinoa or rice, diced tomatoes, chickpeas, corn, paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes until well combined.
- Spoon the filling evenly into each bell pepper.
- Sprinkle cheese over the tops.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until peppers are tender and cheese is melted.
- Garnish if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Meal prep: refrigerate filled peppers before baking up to 1 day for easier weeknights.
- Make it vegan: skip cheese or use vegan cheese alternative.
- To freeze: bake, cool, then freeze individually for quick dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: approximately 162 per serving
- Sugar: approximately 6 g
- Sodium: approximately 350 mg
- Fat: approximately 7 g
- Saturated Fat: approximately 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: approximately 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: approximately 26 g
- Fiber: approximately 5 g
- Protein: approximately 8 g
- Cholesterol: approximately 10 mg
Keywords: Healthy Stuffed Bell Peppers, low calorie dinner, vegetarian dinner, quinoa recipes, chickpeas, stuffed peppers, meal prep, family-friendly