Hearty Veggie-Filled Peppers: A Fresh Vegetarian Recipe

Bell peppers bursting with savory goodness and a hearty vegetarian stuffed peppers recipe that promises to tantalize your taste buds await.

These colorful vessels capture the essence of comfort food with a nutritious twist.

Packed with protein-rich ingredients and aromatic spices, each pepper becomes a canvas of culinary creativity.

The blend of quinoa, black beans, and melted cheese creates a symphony of flavors that dance on your palate.

Roasted to perfection, these stuffed peppers offer a delightful meal that satisfies both vegetarians and meat lovers alike.

Vibrant, wholesome, and incredibly delicious, this recipe turns a simple vegetable into a show-stopping dish that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Get ready to fall in love with a meal that’s as beautiful as it is delectable.

Instructions for Stuffing and Baking Peppers

• Pepper Preparation

Select vibrant bell peppers and carefully remove seeds while keeping their natural shape intact. Choose peppers that stand upright easily for perfect stuffing.

• Rice Blend Creation

Sauté aromatic onions in a skillet until they turn translucent and release their sweet fragrance. Introduce rice and allow it to toast gently, developing rich nutty undertones.

• Flavor Infusion

Combine vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and zesty seasonings into the rice mixture. Let the ingredients mingle and simmer, creating a harmonious medley of flavors that will tantalize taste buds.

• Bean and Corn Melody

Fold black beans and sweet corn kernels into the rice blend, ensuring each spoonful offers a delightful textural experience and bursting flavor profile.

• Pepper Stuffing

Nestle the peppers in a baking dish and lovingly fill each half with the colorful rice mixture. Sprinkle a generous layer of melty pepper jack cheese on top for a creamy finish.

• Oven Magic

Slide the stuffed peppers into a preheated oven and let them transform. Watch as the cheese bubbles and turns golden, creating a mouthwatering centerpiece.

• Final Flourish

Garnish with fresh cilantro just before serving, adding a bright, herbal note that elevates the entire dish to a culinary masterpiece.

Additions for Cheese or Rice Options

• Swap bell peppers with poblano or jalapeño peppers for a spicier kick and unique flavor profile.
• Replace black beans with quinoa, lentils, or tofu crumbles to increase protein content and create more nutritional variety.
• Prepare the rice mixture and stuffed peppers up to 24 hours in advance, storing them covered in the refrigerator for convenient meal planning.
• Experiment with different cheese varieties like monterey jack, cheddar, or dairy-free alternatives to personalize the melty topping according to your taste preferences.
• Use pre-cooked rice or instant rice to cut down cooking time and simplify the preparation process for busy home cooks.

Serving Stuffed Peppers Hot and Colorful

• Salsa and Sour Cream Companion: Top each stuffed pepper with a dollop of cool, tangy sour cream and zesty salsa for a burst of fresh flavor that complements the warm, cheesy filling.
• Refreshing Side Salad Pairing: Create a light green salad with crisp lettuce, cucumber, and a lime vinaigrette to balance the rich, hearty stuffed peppers and add a refreshing contrast to the meal.
• Warm Bread Basket Accent: Serve alongside warm, crusty bread or cornbread to soak up the delicious juices from the stuffed peppers and provide an extra comforting element to the dining experience.
• Margarita or Mocktail Match: Pair the peppers with a cool margarita or a fresh citrus mocktail to enhance the Mexican-inspired flavors and add a fun, festive touch to your meal.

Storage Tips for Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

• Batch Cooking Magic: Prepare multiple batches of stuffed peppers on weekends to enjoy quick, delicious meals throughout the busy workweek. Store extra portions in airtight containers for convenient grab-and-go lunches or dinners.
• Refrigerator Lifespan: Keep leftover stuffed peppers sealed in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stack containers carefully to maximize space and maintain the peppers' delicious texture and flavor profile.
• Freezer-Friendly Option: Wrap individual stuffed peppers tightly in aluminum foil or freezer-safe containers. These meal prep champions can stay frozen for 2-3 months, providing a quick and satisfying meal when you're short on time.
• Smart Reheating Strategy: Warm refrigerated or thawed stuffed peppers in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes to restore their crispy cheese topping and maintain the rice mixture's optimal moisture and taste.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 380 kcal

Servings: 5

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers Ingredient Guide

• Bell Peppers: Vibrant vessels for our delicious filling, choose firm peppers with glossy, unblemished skin for the best texture and presentation.
• Rice: Hearty and filling grain that provides a substantial base, opt for long-grain white rice for perfect fluffy consistency.
• Vegetable Broth: Liquid gold that infuses deep flavor and moisture into the rice mixture, select low-sodium versions for better control of saltiness.

• Onion, Green Onions: Aromatic alliums that add layers of savory depth, select crisp and firm onions without soft spots.
• Taco Seasoning: Zesty spice blend that transforms the dish with southwestern flair, choose a blend with balanced heat and complexity.
• Diced Tomatoes: Juicy bursts of tanginess that enhance moisture and flavor, pick fire-roasted varieties for extra smokiness.
• Black Beans, Corn: Protein-packed companions that bring texture and nutritional punch, use canned or freshly cooked options.

• Olive Oil: Silky cooking medium that helps sauté ingredients and prevent sticking, choose extra virgin for richer flavor.
• Pepper Jack Cheese: Creamy, spicy topping that melts beautifully and adds a kick, select freshly shredded for optimal melting.
• Cilantro: Bright, herbaceous garnish that provides fresh contrast, choose leaves with vibrant green color and no wilting.

Tools to Prep and Bake Stuffed Peppers

• Large Skillet: Perfect for sautéing onions and cooking the rice mixture.
• 9 x 13-inch Baking Dish: Essential for arranging and baking the stuffed peppers.
• Chef's Knife: Needed for trimming, dicing, and preparing vegetables.
• Cutting Board: Provides a clean surface for chopping ingredients.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients in the skillet.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Helps accurately measure rice, broth, and seasonings.

Colorful Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

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4.6 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Mexican-inspired vegetarian stuffed peppers blend hearty quinoa, black beans, and zesty spices into colorful bell pepper vessels. Delicious textures and bold flavors invite global cuisine enthusiasts to savor this nutritious and satisfying meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 large red bell peppers
• 1 cup white rice (uncooked)
• 1 (13.5 oz / 380 g) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup pepper jack cheese (shredded)
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
• ½ medium yellow onion (diced)
• 3–4 green onions (chopped)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 ⅔ cups (395 ml) vegetable broth
• 1 (13.5 oz / 380 g) can diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
• Cilantro, fresh (minced, optional)

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), lightly oil a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, and center the rack for optimal cooking environment.
2. Pepper Transformation: Trim bell peppers, remove seeds, dice one pepper, and halve remaining peppers lengthwise to create edible vessels.
3. Flavor Foundation: Sauté diced onions in a skillet until translucent, then toast rice to develop a nutty essence, stirring to prevent sticking.
4. Flavor Integration: Combine vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, green onions, taco seasoning, and diced bell pepper into the skillet, creating a vibrant mixture that will infuse the rice with complex flavors.
5. Rice Development: Simmer the mixture covered, allowing rice to become tender and absorb all seasonings, transforming into a well-integrated base (approximately 25 minutes).
6. Ingredient Incorporation: Gently fold black beans and corn into the rice mixture, ensuring even distribution and complete warming.
7. Pepper Stuffing: Arrange pepper halves in prepared baking dish, generously fill with rice mixture, and top with shredded pepper jack cheese.
8. Final Baking: Bake uncovered until cheese melts into a golden-brown landscape and peppers reach desired tenderness (approximately 40 minutes).
9. Garnish: Optional cilantro sprinkle adds a fresh, herbaceous finish to the completed dish.

Notes

• Pepper Prep Pro Tip: Choose bell peppers with flat bottoms to ensure stable standing in the baking dish, preventing tipping and uneven cooking.
• Rice Mastery Technique: Toast rice before adding liquid to enhance its nutty flavor and prevent mushiness, creating a more textured and flavorful base.
• Cheese Melt Magic: Let peppers rest 5-10 minutes after baking to allow cheese to set and flavors to integrate, preventing immediate cheese run-off.
• Flavor Boost Hack: Customize taco seasoning intensity by adjusting amount or using homemade blend for a personalized spice profile that matches your taste preferences.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 640 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 58 g
• Fiber: 10 g
• Protein: 14 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg