Stuffed Peppers
They say that “good things come in small packages” – and I think that they must have been referring to these filling, savory, meaty, cheesy stuffed peppers!! Weighing in at only 211 calories, these Stuffed Peppers are so comforting, satisfying and delicious that you will feel as though you are indulging in something “naughty”. It’s hard to believe that something that tastes so decadent can actually be good for you!
Equipment
- oven
- 1 9 x 13 inch baking dish
- 1 large bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or ground chicken
- 4 large green or red bell peppers, cut in half lengthwise
- 1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained very well
- 2 medium zucchini, finely chopped (or even grated)
- 1 large red onion, minced
- ½ cup brown rice, quinoa, or bulgur
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 cans low-sodium stewed tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup low fat shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, feta – whichever you prefer)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly mist a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl combine the ground meat, spinach, zucchini, onion, rice, egg, oregano, salt and pepper and mix until everything is well combined. Arrange the cut pepper halves in the dish and fill each pepper half with the filling mixture, then pour the tomatoes over the top and sprinkle with the cheese.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover the dish and bake until completely cooked (the peppers should be tender – this usually takes about 25 minutes longer once you uncover the dish.
Video
Notes
Customizable Fillings: Feel free to experiment with different fillings based on your preferences. From ground meat to vegetarian options like quinoa or lentils, the choice is yours to create a masterpiece that suits your palate.