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Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

This Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers recipe makes bell peppers that are stuffed with a delicious and cheesy quinoa mixture. These easy stuffed peppers are flavorful, filling and perfect for dinner!

If you love stuffed peppers as much as I do, be sure to also check out my Crockpot Stuffed Peppers recipe and these Jambalaya Stuffed Peppers.

A Recipe For Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I went to the mall the other day. It felt awkward because I couldn’t shop; I was there to entertain my little ones. They wanted to jump and roll in the play area that they have at the mall.

Smart people those playpen-installers and marketers. They put that thing smack dab in the middle of the mall so that kids can throw tantrums because all they want to do now is play, making it all that more difficult for Moms to shop. We can’t even catch a break and buy a new Kate Spade Bag on a whim. Boooo! American Express is probably wondering where I’ve been.

Later that day, because I was dying for a taste of my Southwestern Quinoa Salad, I made a meal out of it by stuffing it into a few colorful bell peppers.

 

Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Stuffed Peppers Is One Of My Favorite Recipes To Make For Dinner

Stuffed Peppers is what I grew up on. They were on my mom’s weekly dinner menu. Stuffed with a delicious, mildly-spiced meat mixture, my Mom’s stuffed peppers are nothing short of awesome. However, and because my head starts to spin a month or two before bikini season, I like to enjoy a lightened up version, made with our favorite grain, quinoa!

Quinoa, on its own, is kinda, umm, bland. BUT, when you mix it up with a few spices, corn, grape tomatoes, cheese and black beans??? Quinoa goes from bland to GRAND! From tame to WILD! From flavorless to DISTINCTIVE!

Okay… I’ll stop.

These Quinoa Stuffed Peppers Are Healthy And Filling 

Now the good news is that these stuffed peppers are some severe comfort food. And healthy! I mean, take away the cheese, if you want, and these babes are 400 calories per 1 whole stuffed pepper. That’s a whole lotta dinner. Trust me! One half of these is more than enough to fill me up, but if you want to go for seconds, don’t hesitate and go for it!

Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I think that’s the most I’ve ever talked about nutritional value, but, you know, just in case you’re also OHMYGODDING about the extra wings on your arms, I thought it would be nice to let you know that I know how you feel!

ENJOY!

A quinoa stuffed pepper on a plate with a fork.

Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Katerina | Diethood
This Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers recipe makes bell peppers that are stuffed with a delicious and cheesy quinoa mixture. These easy stuffed peppers are flavorful, filling and perfect for dinner!
5 from 2 votes
Servings : 4 people
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients
  

  • butter, for baking dish
  • 4 bell peppers, halved, lengthwise
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup canned sweet corn, rinsed
  • 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley (you can also use cilantro)
  • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups shredded 4-Cheese Mexican Blend, divided
  • plain yogurt or light sour cream, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Grease a baking dish with butter; arrange halved bell peppers in baking dish and set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, combine vegetable broth and quinoa and bring to a boil; lower to a simmer, cover, and continue to cook for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat, gently fluff with a fork and set aside.
  • Heat olive oil over medium heat.
  • Add diced onions and season with salt; cook for 1 minute, or until translucent.
  • Stir in sweet corn and beans; continue to cook for 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
  • Stir in grape tomatoes and cooked quinoa; season with chili powder, cayenne pepper, dried parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Add 1 cup cheese; mix well and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until everything is heated through and cheese is melted.
  • Remove from heat. 
  • Divide mixture evenly between peppers, packing the quinoa mixture tightly into the hollow pepper shells.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and top each pepper with remaining cheese.
  • Put back in the oven and continue to bake for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
  • Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes.
  • Serve with a dollop of plain yogurt or light sour cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 541 kcal | Carbohydrates: 56 g | Protein: 25 g | Fat: 25 g | Saturated Fat: 8 g | Cholesterol: 34 mg | Sodium: 1157 mg | Potassium: 872 mg | Fiber: 10 g | Sugar: 9 g | Vitamin A: 4840 IU | Vitamin C: 161.9 mg | Calcium: 696 mg | Iron: 3.7 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American/Southwest
Keyword: quinoa stuffed bell peppers, quinoa stuffed peppers, stuffed peppers with quinoa
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More Healthy Quinoa Recipes You Might Like:

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Quinoa Quiche Muffins

Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Feta

Quinoa with Sundried Tomatoes and Feta

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20 comments on “Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers”

    1. Katerina - Diethood
      Katerina Petrovska

      Thanks so much for letting me know! It disappeared, but it’s there now. It was hiding behind a code. 🙂

  1. Made this tonight and doubled the recipe. It was absolutely fantastic, my 3-20something year olds lived it too. I will be putting this in my favorite revolving recipes! Only changes/additions I made was adding 2 cloves of garlic, some smoked paprika, a little less cheese on top, and adding avocado and chives to top! Delish!!!

      1. Avatar photo
        Carolynn Regan

        Do you have any additional nutritional information such as fat and fiber. This sounds so good, and would like to incorporate in my Weight Watchers program.

  2. Avatar photo
    steph@stephsbitebybite

    Oh yum!!! I love stuffed peppers. Super easy to make and taste so good. I haven’t done southwestern flavors before though, need to try these!

  3. That reminds me, it’s been too long since I’ve been to the mall. Thanks! 😀

    Love your blithe, colourful stuffed peppers!

  4. Avatar photo
    Laura Dembowski

    These stuffed pepperstwhile look awesome! Love that they are healthy too.

    At least you watch your kids while they play at the mall. Most parents these days just let their kids go without even knowing where they are. Neighborhood kids are always playing in our yard and their parents don’t know where they are and don’t seem to care. It’s kinda scary.

    1. Katerina - Diethood
      Katerina Petrovska

      Are you serious??? OH my gosh, I would LOSE it if I couldn’t see my kids in front of me. I am way too scared to leave the kids like that. :-/

  5. Avatar photo
    Matt Robinson

    These look insanely good! Loved that they are stuffed into bell peppers. How perfect for a summer evening in the backyard!

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