better for you stuffed peppers

(3 ratings)
Recipe by
Dee Stillwell
Citrus Heights, CA

On Superbowl Sunday we ran out of propane for the grill so dinner plans changed. I had planned to make ground beef and turkey burgers. I changed it to stuffed bell peppers instead so I could use the ground meat. I only had 1 cup of white rice so I added lentils to stretch it. It was so good I think I will use them from now on. They got rave reviews. This ingredient list looks long, but it includes 3 components to the dish and is a complete meal when done. **I have made these since using quinoa in place of the rice. They are not only good but good for you made this way.

(3 ratings)
yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 15 Min
cook time 1 Hr 15 Min

Ingredients For better for you stuffed peppers

  • RICE & LENTILS
  • 1 Tbsp
    olive oil
  • 1 c
    white rice, if using brown rice, cook 25 minutes longer.
  • 1/2 c
    lentils, dry
  • 4 c
    chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 tsp
    seasoned salt
  • 1/4 tsp
    black pepper
  • ITALIAN CRUSHED TOMATO SAUCE
  • 1 - 28 oz can
    crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tsp
    dry basil
  • 1 tsp
    dry oregano
  • 1 tsp
    italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp
    garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp
    black pepper
  • MEATLOAF BELL PEPPER FILLING
  • 1 lb
    lean ground beef
  • 1 lb
    lean ground turkey
  • 1/2 md
    onion, grated on lg blade of box grater
  • 3 clove
    garlic, grated on sm grater
  • 1/2
    sleeve of whole wheat saltine crackers, crushed
  • 1 lg
    egg, slightly beaten
  • 1 1/2 c
    of the cooked rice & lentils
  • 1 1/2 c
    of prepared tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp
    seasoned salt
  • 1/2 tsp
    black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp
    garlic powder
  • 3 lg
    green bell peppers (i sometimes add a cpl pablano peppers since i like some spice)
  • 1 - 8 oz
    bag of shreaded cheddar or mozzarella cheese

How To Make better for you stuffed peppers

  • 1
    Heat olive oil in 3 qt saucepan with tight fitting lid, Add rice & lentils and cook stirring frequently till rice becomes opaque, about 5 min. Carefully pour in the broth and seasonings. Reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Fluff with fork and set aside 1 1/2 cups for filling. Cover rice to keep warm. Set aside.
  • 2
    Make sauce by mixing crushed tomatoes and seasonings together. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of sauce for the filling.
  • 3
    Cut green bell peppers in half from stem end to bottom and remove veins and seeds. Place peppers in microwave and cook for 5 minutes.
  • 4
    Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare 9"x13" pan with cooking spray and pour remaining sauce in the bottom of pan. Place pepper halves on top, open side up and set aside.
  • 5
    In a large bowl mix the 2 meats together and stir in crushed crackers, egg, onion, garlic, spices, and sauce. Mix well and fold in rice & lentils.
  • 6
    Stuff peppers with meat mixture amd cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and put shreaded cheese on top of each pepper. Return to oven uncovered for 15 more minutes or until cheese is melted and looks good.
  • 7
    We served ours in a bowl with rice & lentils in the bottom, a pepper on top and about 4 big spoons of sauce from the pan over top...OMG! These were sooo good! Everyone loved them.

Categories & Tags for Better For You Stuffed Peppers:

ADVERTISEMENT