Mexican Stuffed Peppers filled with ground beef, chicken or turkey and seasoned with an easy taco seasoning perfect for weeknight meals!
Stuffed peppers have always been a family favorite, but you might be surprised to learn that the version I grew up eating wasn’t really healthy at all. While I still love them so much and make them for special occasions (they’re stuffed with cheese and fried in a light batter. yum!), I knew I wanted to make a healthier tex-mex version that’s perfect for everyday weeknight meals.
That’s how this recipe was born!
Filled with your choice of ground meat, some rice, corn and seasoned with Mexican spices, these easy stuffed peppers are ready in only 30 minutes. They can be made ahead of time and are great leftovers for lunch!
How to make stuffed peppers
Slice the bell peppers in half and remove the veins and seeds. Place them in a 9×13 3-quart baking dish cut side down and bake them for 10 minutes at 375°F. This will help soften them up a little before you add the filling.
While the peppers are baking, make the filling by browning some ground meat (either beef, chicken, turkey or vegetarian) in a skillet over medium high heat, and season it with cumin, oregano, salt, chipotle powder and chili powder. Remove the meat from the heat and mix in some cooked rice, corn, diced tomatoes and chopped cilantro.
Remove the peppers from the oven and turn them over cut side up. Fill each pepper with the meat mixture and top with shredded cheese. Bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
My favorite ways to serve these are by topping them with a dollop of sour cream or avocado crema, some extra chopped cilantro and a little dash of hot sauce.
Tips and tricks for making stuffed peppers
- Make it lower carb – use cilantro lime cauliflower rice or Mexican cauliflower rice instead of regular white or brown rice.
- Make it vegetarian – use your favorite store-bought ground meat substitute or add in extra rice, beans, quinoa or sweet potatoes to the mixture instead of ground meat.
- Prepare them ahead of time by filling the cooked bell peppers with the meat mixture and cheese. Then cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours ahead of time. When ready to make, bake in 375°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until peppers and filling are warmed through and cheese has melted.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 or 5 days. Reheat in a microwave on high for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
More recipes you’ll love
- Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
- Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Healthy Avocado Salad
- 30 Minute Chicken Fajitas
- Chipotle Turkey Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- 3 bell peppers, halved and deveined
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
- 1 pound lean ground meat (beef, chicken, turkey or vegetarian)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup cooked rice (white, brown or cauliflower rice)
- 1/2 cup whole kernel corn, canned or frozen
- 1 plum tomato, diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus more for serving
- 6 tablespoons shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Place bell peppers cut side down in a large 3-quart baking dish and bake in oven for 10 minutes.
- While peppers are baking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and garlic. Saute for about 30 seconds until garlic is fragrant.
- Add ground meat, cumin, oregano, salt, chipotle powder and chili powder. Mix in, breaking up the meat with a spatula, and cook for about 8-10 minutes until meat is browned and fully cooked.
- Remove skillet from heat. Mix in rice, corn, diced tomatoes and chopped cilantro.
- Remove peppers from the oven and turn them over, cut side up. Spoon meat mixture evenly into peppers and top each with 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese. and bake in oven for 15 minutes.
- Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and serve with chopped cilantro and sour cream, if desired.
Suzanne says
Delicious!! Made a few in zucchini as one of the kids doesn’t enjoy peppers and they devoured them all!! Definitely going to be in the regular rotation!
Erin says
Delicious and kid-approved!! Made with cauliflower rice!
Pam says
Excellent!! I used ground turkey and followed the recipe as written. These were delicious. I will definitely make them again.
Marina says
Can u add black beans with the corn and if u can when do I put it in am latina and the spices r on thx
Isabel says
Absolutely. I would add them when you add the cumin and other spices.
Devin says
How many calories?
Nicole says
How many calories in this meal?
joAnn says
This looks sooo good & I can’t wait to try! I have a question on the cheese, you say Mexican cheese but that’s like saying Italian cheese..so many cheeses so little time! Any specific kind you would use? I’m thinking Oaxaca, but that’s just my spin on it 🙂
Isabel says
Great question! I think Qaxaca cheese would be good – any cheese that melts well would work in this dish.
Karly Campbell says
Turning into your mother can be an amazing thing! Especially when it means whipping up recipes this amazing. Seriously, I’m drooling!
Isabel says
Karly, you’re so right. Not a bad thing at all 🙂
Beth @ Being Beth says
These look so good! I may have to make them next week. I love stuffed peppers AND mexican. I bet a margarita would be the perfect side to it too…