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Stuffed pepper casserole being scooped out with a wooden spoon.
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4.54 from 88 votes

Stuffed Pepper Casserole (with variations)

Healthy stuffed pepper casserole with ground turkey, brown rice, and cheddar cheese is a go-to meal for weeknights. It’s easy to make, hearty, and tastes great!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 35 minutes
Cooling Time10 minutes
Total Time2 hours
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Rachel Gurk

Ingredients

  • 16 oz. ground turkey
  • ½ cup diced yellow onion (about 1 small onion)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 large bell peppers (any color), chopped into approx. 1-inch pieces
  • 1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cup long grain brown rice (long grain white rice may be substituted; see note)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (or another cheese of your choice)
  • Chopped flat leaf parsley for serving, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
  • In a large skillet, brown ground turkey and onions, seasoning with salt and pepper. (I use a nonstick skillet. If you don’t, you might want to add a teaspoon or two of olive oil.) Cook, breaking up ground turkey, until turkey is cooked through and onions are softened, about 10 minutes.
  • Put into baking dish. Add chopped peppers, tomatoes, rice, oregano, and garlic powder. Stir well to combine. Cover tightly with foil.
  • Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, remove from oven, uncover and stir. Replace foil, return to oven and bake 15 minutes more or until rice is tender. Remove foil, add cheese, and bake 5 minutes uncovered, or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

Video

Notes

Variations
  • Substitute long grain white rice: Prepare as directed. Bake covered for 45 minutes, stir, recover and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Top with cheese and bake uncovered for another 5 minutes.
  • Use lean ground beef or bulk sausage (pork or turkey) instead of ground turkey. After browning, drain off excess grease. 
  • Vegetarian/Vegan: Omit meat and substitute a can (15.5 oz.) of pinto or black beans, rinsed and drained. Use vegan cheese instead of cheddar cheese, or omit cheese.
  • Spicy: Replace the bell peppers with poblano peppers.

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 755mg | Potassium: 1157mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 3244IU | Vitamin C: 125mg | Calcium: 242mg | Iron: 4mg

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