Vegetarian Stuffed Pepper Recipe: A Healthy Twist on the Classic.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

If you grew up in the United States, a stuffed pepper recipe — typically featuring a bell pepper filled with ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and cheese — is likely a familiar dish. It’s a basic recipe that goes way back, with two types of stuffed peppers even featured in Fannie Farmer’s 1896 Boston Cooking-School Cook Book.

baked colorful bell peppers – red, yellow and orange

Using a bell pepper as a vessel can yield an endless number of delicious and creative filling combinations. Plus, exploring beyond the basic beef and rice combo is a perfect way to try some strategies to reduce red meat and elevate your plate. Stuffed peppers are also perfect for meal prep, portable for lunchboxes, and generally freeze well too if you want to make a larger batch ahead of time.

The New Classic 

True to its name, this recipe sticks to the classic taste of the “basic” stuffed pepper recipe—but with a new approach to those favorite flavors. Hearty lentils, savory portabella mushrooms, umami-packed tomatoes, and sautéed onions combine with brown rice to deliver a surprisingly “meaty” filling—but without the red meat.

At 12 grams of fiber and virtually no saturated fat per serving, this new classic is a major health upgrade. (Lentils are also known for helping replace nitrogen in the soil—an upgrade for the planet’s health as well!)

Even better is that this recipe provides a solid base for further modification. For example:

  • If you want to increase the plant-based protein content from 14 grams to 21 grams per serving, mix a half-cup of hemp seeds or hemp hearts into the filling—boosting heart healthy unsaturated fats in the process.
  • If you want to incorporate a bit of your favorite animal-based protein, you can sprinkle over some flavorful cheese; or, try cracking an egg on top of the filling before baking.

“The New Classic” Stuffed Peppers Recipe

🧾Ingredients (serves 4)

  • 4 large bell peppers
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups of brown or green lentils (or 3 3/4 cups, cooked)
  • 2 ¼ cup low-sodium vegetable broth (omit if using pre-cooked lentils)
  • 1 cup roughly chopped portabella mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup minced white onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups fresh diced tomatoes (or 2 14.5-oz cans unsalted diced tomatoes, drained)
  • 3/4 cup brown rice (yields just over 2 cups cooked)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Dried herbs, to taste: basil, oregano, thyme
  • OPTIONAL: add 1/2 cup hemp seeds or hemp hearts for a heartier meal that boosts protein and heart-healthy fats

👩‍🍳Preparation:

  1. To prepare the lentils, cook according to package instructions, but use low- or no-sodium vegetable broth for extra flavor. 1 cup of dry lentils will yield around 2 ½ cups cooked lentils.
  2. To prepare the brown rice: rinse under cold water and drain thoroughly, and cook according to package instructions.
  3. Cut a thin slice from stem end of each pepper to remove the top. Scoop out the seeds and membrane.
  4. To prepare the peppers for baking, place them in a pot and fill the base with water (fill inside peppers with some water as well to avoid floating). Bring to a boil, then reduce temperature to medium-low and simmer 3 for minutes. Remove from pot and place in ice bath. Drain.
  5. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until softened, 2-3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, and herbs, and sauté until mushrooms soften.
  6. Stir in cooked rice and lentils, and simmer on low for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  7. Stuff Peppers with filling mixture and place in a baking dish.
  8. Bake for around 20 minutes. Peppers are ready if a toothpick or fork easily slides through the skin near the top of the pepper.

📊Nutrition facts: (per serving)

377 calories

14 grams of protein

66 grams of carbohydrates

12 grams of fiber

10 grams of sugar

Get the full stuffed pepper recipe here

Try this healthy vegetarian stuffed pepper recipe today and enjoy a delicious, fiber-rich meal that’s perfect for your lunchbox or dinner table!
Got questions? Email us at Eberlorie@fmail.com.