Description
A simple, foolproof dinner made with just five ingredients: bell peppers, ground turkey, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasoning. This lean, flavorful meal is perfect for busy weeknights and yields delicious leftovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large bell peppers (any color)
- 1 pound (450g) ground turkey (93% lean)
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1.5 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Optional: ½ cup diced onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Slice off the top inch of each bell pepper and remove seeds and white membranes. Trim the bottom slightly if needed so they stand upright in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat if necessary. Alternatively, microwave in a bowl for 3-5 minutes, stirring halfway.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked turkey, half of the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Stir until moist and cohesive.
- Spoon the turkey mixture into each pepper, filling them about ¾ full.
- Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the stuffed peppers.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Return to oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly and peppers are tender.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Ensure peppers are stable in the dish. Do not overstuff peppers as the turkey expands. Pre-cooking the turkey is recommended for food safety and texture. Can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. Leftovers store in the fridge for 4 days or freeze for 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 10
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 25
Keywords: ground turkey, stuffed peppers, bell peppers, marinara sauce, mozzarella, easy dinner, healthy meal, gluten-free, weeknight dinner, 5-ingredient recipe