Colorful Veggie-Packed Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Bell peppers convert into culinary canvas when stuffed with vibrant, nutrient-dense ingredients that dance across your plate.

These colorful vessels capture the essence of plant-based creativity, turning simple produce into a memorable meal.

Wholesome grains, aromatic herbs, and protein-rich legumes collaborate inside each pepper’s smooth walls, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Mediterranean and Latin American cuisines have long celebrated this delightful dish, proving vegetables can be both satisfying and exciting.

Nutritionists praise stuffed peppers for their balanced composition, offering a complete meal in one delectable package.

Assembling these peppers requires minimal kitchen skills but delivers maximum satisfaction, making them perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Each bite promises a symphony of tastes that will delight even the most skeptical vegetarian food enthusiasts.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers With Bold Flavors

• Flavor Explosion: Packed with zesty taco seasoning, sweet corn, black beans, and melted pepper jack cheese, these stuffed peppers deliver a mouthwatering taste adventure that dances across your palate.
• Super Simple Preparation: Despite looking impressive, this recipe requires minimal cooking skills and basic kitchen tools, making it perfect for beginner cooks wanting to create a stunning vegetarian meal in under an hour.
• Nutrient-Packed Powerhouse: Combining protein-rich beans, wholesome rice, vibrant bell peppers, and colorful vegetables, this dish offers a balanced, nutritious meal that satisfies hunger while providing essential vitamins and minerals.
• Customizable Comfort Food: Easily adaptable with different cheeses, spice levels, or additional vegetables, these stuffed peppers invite creativity and personalization to suit individual taste preferences and dietary needs.

Ingredients That Bring These Stuffed Peppers to Life

Main Ingredients:

Bell Peppers: Fresh, colorful peppers that serve as the base and edible vessel for the stuffing, with vibrant colors adding visual appeal.

• Bell Peppers, Green Onions: Crisp vegetables that provide fresh flavor and nutritional boost to the dish.

Stuffing Base Ingredients:

Rice: A hearty grain that forms the substantial core of the stuffing mixture, offering texture and filling quality.

• Black Beans, Corn: Protein-rich and sweet ingredients that add texture and southwestern character to the stuffing.
• Vegetable Broth: Flavorful liquid that helps cook and season the rice, creating a moist and tasty filling.

Seasoning and Topping Ingredients:

• Pepper Jack Cheese: Spicy and melty cheese that provides rich, creamy topping with a slight kick.
• Cilantro: Fresh herb that adds bright, zesty garnish and authentic southwestern flavor.

• Onion: Aromatic base that builds deep, savory foundation for the stuffing.
• Taco Seasoning: Blend of spices that introduces bold, southwestern flavor profile.
• Salt: Essential seasoning that enhances overall taste of the dish.
• Olive Oil: Cooking fat that helps sauté ingredients and prevent sticking.
• Diced Tomatoes: Juicy ingredient that adds moisture and slight tanginess to the stuffing.

How to Prepare Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers Step-by-Step

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to 400°F (200°C). Position a rack right in the center. Grab a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and coat it lightly with olive oil.

Step 2: Prepare Colorful Peppers

• Dice one bell pepper
• Slice remaining peppers in half lengthwise
• Keep stems attached
• Remove seeds and inner membranes carefully

Step 3: Create Flavorful Rice Base

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss in diced onions and cook until they turn soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add rice and salt, stirring gently for another 3 minutes.

Step 4: Build Tasty Rice Mixture

• Vegetable broth
• Diced tomatoes
• Green onions
• Taco seasoning
• Diced bell pepper

Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Cover and simmer until rice becomes tender, around 25 minutes. Fold in black beans and corn, warming everything through.

Step 5: Fill Pepper Boats

Arrange pepper halves in the prepared baking dish. Generously spoon rice mixture into each pepper. Sprinkle pepper jack cheese on top.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven. Bake uncovered until cheese melts and turns golden brown, approximately 40 minutes.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Shower with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve hot and enjoy your plant-powered meal!

Quick Fixes and Tricks for Stuffed Pepper Success

• Select Vibrant Peppers: Choose bell peppers that are firm, glossy, and deeply colored with no soft spots or blemishes for the best texture and flavor.
• Prep Rice Perfectly: Rinse rice before cooking to remove excess starch and ensure each grain remains separate and fluffy during the stuffing process.
• Balance Moisture Levels: Don't overfill peppers with rice mixture to prevent soggy bottoms and ensure even cooking throughout the stuffed peppers.
• Customize Cheese Topping: Experiment with different cheese varieties like cheddar or monterey jack for unique flavor profiles while maintaining the recipe's creamy texture.
• Make Ahead Strategy: Prepare the rice mixture and cut peppers in advance, then assemble and bake just before serving to save time and enhance meal preparation efficiency.

How to Keep Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers Fresh

• Refrigerate: Store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Wrap individual peppers tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months for best quality.
• Reheat: Warm refrigerated peppers in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes until heated through. Add a splash of vegetable broth to prevent drying out.

Best Matches for Stuffed Peppers at Mealtime

• Pair Zesty Salsa Verde: Complement the stuffed peppers with a bright, tangy salsa verde that cuts through the richness of the cheese and adds a fresh, herbal kick to each bite.
• Serve Cool Avocado Crema: Drizzle a creamy avocado sauce over the peppers to balance the spicy taco seasoning and provide a smooth, cooling contrast to the warm, cheesy filling.
• Match with Crisp Mexican Lager: Enjoy a light, refreshing Mexican beer like Modelo Especial or Corona that will cleanse the palate and enhance the vibrant flavors of the stuffed peppers.
• Add Citrus-Lime Quinoa Salad: Create a light side dish with quinoa, fresh lime juice, and herbs to complement the hearty stuffed peppers and add a zesty, nutritious element to the meal.

Variations That Give Stuffed Peppers New Life

• Quinoa Power Peppers: Swap rice with protein-packed quinoa for a nutrient-dense alternative that adds extra texture and complete amino acid profile.
• Mediterranean Fusion Peppers: Replace taco seasoning with oregano, add crumbled feta cheese, and incorporate diced kalamata olives for a Greek-inspired version.
• Southwest Spicy Peppers: Enhance heat by adding jalapeños to the rice mixture and topping with pepper jack cheese and a dollop of chipotle cream sauce.
• Vegan Protein Peppers: Substitute cheese with nutritional yeast, add plant-based protein like tempeh or lentils, and use dairy-free cheese alternative for a completely vegan option.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers Recipe

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4.5 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Mexican-inspired vegetarian stuffed peppers deliver a colorful fiesta of flavors with roasted bell peppers packed with black beans, quinoa, and zesty spices. Hearty and nutritious, this dish brings a delightful combination of textures that will transport your taste buds to culinary bliss.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 large red bell peppers
• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 (13.5-ounce / 380 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) extra-virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
• ½ medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 to 4 green onions, chopped
• Minced fresh cilantro (optional)

Seasonings and Liquids:

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ⅔ cups (395 milliliters) vegetable broth
• 1 (13.5-ounce / 380 grams) can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 400°F (200°C), positioning a rack centrally, and lightly coating a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with olive oil for optimal cooking surface.
2. Transform bell peppers by carefully trimming, removing seeds, and dicing one pepper while halving the remaining peppers lengthwise, preserving their natural stem structure and creating vessel-like containers.
3. Initiate the flavor foundation by warming oil in a large skillet, gently sautéing diced onions until they become translucent and fragrant, approximately 4 minutes.
4. Incorporate rice into the skillet, allowing it to toast and develop a nutty essence, stirring periodically to prevent sticking and ensure even heat distribution.
5. Enhance the mixture by introducing vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, green onions, taco seasoning, and the previously diced bell pepper, creating a complex and vibrant flavor profile.
6. Reduce heat, cover the skillet, and allow the ingredients to meld and simmer, transforming the rice into a tender, well-seasoned base, approximately 25 minutes.
7. Fold in black beans and corn, stirring gently to integrate the additional ingredients and warm them thoroughly within the rice mixture.
8. Arrange the halved peppers in the prepared baking dish, creating a stable foundation for the upcoming stuffing process.
9. Generously fill each pepper cavity with the rice mixture, ensuring an even distribution and maximum flavor potential.
10. Crown each stuffed pepper with a layer of shredded pepper jack cheese, adding a creamy, melted dimension to the dish.
11. Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven, allowing the peppers to bake uncovered until the cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden-brown landscape, approximately 40 minutes.
12. Optional final touch involves sprinkling fresh cilantro over the peppers, introducing a bright, herbaceous note to the completed dish.

Notes

• Pack these peppers with a vibrant mix of rice, beans, and corn for a protein-rich vegetarian meal that satisfies hunger and delights taste buds.
• Customize the spice level by adjusting the taco seasoning or choosing a mild or hot variety to match your preference.
• Prep peppers ahead of time and store the filling separately, making weeknight dinners quick and hassle-free.
• Swap pepper jack cheese with vegan cheese alternatives for a completely plant-based version of this delicious dish.
• Leftover stuffed peppers can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days, making them perfect for meal prepping and lunch planning.
• Fresh cilantro adds a bright, zesty finish that elevates the overall flavor profile of this comforting one-pan meal.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 365
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 660 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 51 g
• Fiber: 10 g
• Protein: 13 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg