Turkey Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Here’s my confession: I love a good, cheap meal.

If you’re like me, you love a meal that satisfies the family, without breaking the bank. Shopping for quality, organic, healthy food items can get expensive and, because they are organic, these items often have a shorter shelf life as well. My recipe for Turkey Quinoa Stuffed Peppers is not only budget friendly, it freezes perfectly. Made in 30 minutes, this is a great weeknight option. So big batches, healthy eating, and lots of flavor are packed into this post, and at about $1.20 per serving you can’t go wrong.

Turkey Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Prep Time: 10-15 min Cook Time: 20-25 min

21-Day Fix Guide: 1-red, 1-green, 1-yellow,1/2 blue, 1/2 teaspoon

Ingredients: yields 8 servings

1-1.5lbs lean ground turkey

4 large bell peppers (any color), cut in half length wise and seeded

1 bag frozen quinoa

1 medium onion chopped

hot sauce, to taste (at least 4-5 dashes)

1 teaspoon salt free seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup, plus 1/3 cup for topping Shredded or crumble cheese to top (think: cheddar, cotija, queso fresca, asiago)

4 teaspoons EVOO

Preheat oven to 350

a large sauté pan heat EVOO over medium heat and add ground turkey, salt and pepper to season. When half way cooked, add chopped onions and finish cooking through. In the meantime, steam or cook your bag of frozen quinoa, if you prefer to cook your own, prepare about 10oz. In a large mixing bowl combine cooked ground turkey and onions, 1 cup cheese, cooked quinoa, hot sauce, and seasonings, mix to combine. In a casserole dish or cake pan, place the pepper halves so they fit and are touching for stability. Fill peppers generously with filling, it’s okay if they are over full, then sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 15-20, or until peppers become soft. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 min, or until cheese is slightly brown.

Pro-Tip: if you know you are freezing a batch, slightly undercook the peppers. Only leave them in oven for 10min. Remove and let cool completely, wrap in plastic wrap, and stays in freezer for up to 3 months.