Ground Chicken Stuffed Peppers (Healthy and Easy)
If you need a quick and easy dinner, then this healthy ground chicken stuffed peppers recipe is it! Stuffed with brown rice, sugar-free marinara, ground chicken, and a simple Italian herb blend, you’re going to love how simple, healthy, and delicious this dish is. It’s the best stuffed peppers recipe I’ve made. (And the easiest, too!)
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Why This Recipe Is So Good
Recently, I put up an Instagram story poll asking if you preferred stuffed peppers with chicken and rice or stuffed peppers without rice.
I was so surprised. Over 90% of you liked it with rice!
Personally, I have only had it with the vegetables and meat (sometimes quinoa), so I knew I had to whip up a batch made with rice pronto.
And I’m so glad all of you convinced me to try it because they turned out so well! My own family agreed and said they preferred stuffed peppers with rice.
I have picky eaters (and a toddler who changes her mind on what she likes on the daily), so to have a delicious and healthy meal that we all can agree on was heaven sent.
I also made this into a soup: Chicken Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe.
Key Ingredients
- Bell Peppers: I like buying a multipack of different colored bell peppers so we can hav a variety of colors and flavors. Slice them in half and knock out the seeds before stuffing with the chicken and rice stuffed peppers filling.
- Ground Chicken: This is the protein I went with for this stuffed peppers recipe, but you could use any ground meat like beef, turkey, or pork.
- Jarred Marinara Sauce: Being that I’m a busy working mom, I’m not above finding healthy shortcuts to make preparing meals a little easier. And using jarred marinara sauce is one of my tricks! Just opt for tomato sauce that contains no sugar. This means you have to read the label! Sugar can be sneaky.
How To Make Stuffed Peppers with Ground Chicken
To make the healthy stuffed peppers with chicken easy to throw together I used pre-cooked brown rice.
I typically cook up a pot of rice or quinoa on a Sunday when I meal prep to have an as side that’s ready to go throughout the week. I also like to add it to salads, stir fries, soups, and now these peppers.
In addition to the rice, I also added cheese.
This is completely optional, so if you’re unable to eat dairy, it’s an easy ingredient to leave out.
The nutritional information at the bottom of the recipe card counts the calories and macros without the cheese. In the notes section, I have how much more the cheese would add for 1/4th of the recipe so you can add it to your trackers if needed.
Serving Suggestions
If you’re looking to stretch the recipe even further I recommend these simple side dishes:
- A simple side salad
- Raw veggies and dip
- Roasted Moroccan carrots
- Marinated 3 Pepper Kale Salad
- Roasted sweet potato salad
- Garlic green beans
Ground Chicken Stuffed Peppers Tips and Variations
- It’s important that you use a marinara sauce with no added sugar for these chicken stuffed bell peppers. You would think this is easy to find, but sugar is very common in store bought sauce. My favorite store bought marinara is the Kirkland Organics brand from Costco. At the time of writing this, there is no added sugar, which is fantastic. That being said, do remember to keep reading labels as brands change their ingredients list often (which can be such a bummer).
- Make these vegetarian stuffed peppers by omitting the meat and using protein-packed veggies like black bean, lentils or chickpeas!
- Spice it up with some sautéed diced jalapeno peppers, crushed red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper.
- If you don’t have ground chicken, you can also use ground turkey. I found that these two ingredients are interchangable without affecting the flavor.
Meal-Prep Tips
The best part about these easy stuffed peppers? They’re so simple to throw together, which makes them perfect for meal prep.
Here are some meal-prep tips:
- Follow the instructions below on the recipe card.
- Let the peppers cool completely to room temperature.
- Package them away in a clear resealable container (like these ones).
- Refrigerate for up to 4 days for an easy week of healthy dinners or lunch.
Another option is to cook up the filling ahead of time during your meal prep, stuff them, and then a day or two later bake them.
There is no right or wrong way to meal prep. Do what works best for you and your family!
FAQs
Do you cook the meat first for stuffed peppers?
For this recipe for chicken stuffed peppers, I cooked the ground chicken first in a cast iron skillet. This ensures that the chicken is cooked to temperature and cuts down on the amount of time being baked in the oven. I recommend cooking the ground meat first, it saves you time in the long run.
Do I have to use jarred marinara sauce?
If you’re gasping because I’m saving a step (busy mom here) and using a jarred sauce for these ground chicken stuffed peppers, you can totally make your own. You can use crushed tomatoes, garlic, and seasoning or try this hidden veggie tomato sauce.
How to make stuffed peppers vegetarian?
It’s easy to make this recipe plant based. Simply omit the meat and proceed as directed, or swap it out for vegetarian-friendly protein options like tofu, black beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas.
Are stuffed peppers gluten free?
This recipe for chicken and rice peppers is gluten free. You can also make them dairy free by omitting the cheese.
Do you have to pre cook the peppers?
You don’t have to pre cook peppers to make this dish. Especially since I slice them in half, I find it’s not necessary.
What kind of ground chicken should I use?
Use whatever ground chicken you have access to. Ground chicken breast is what was used but if you only have access to ground chicken thigh, try it. There will be a difference in fat percentage but it will be fine in the recipe.
More Healthy Chicken Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Coconut Curry Chicken Skillet
- Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Healthy Chicken Fajita Bake
- Romesco-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Curious about a side dish? Here’s what to serve with stuffed peppers.
Healthy Ground Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Video
Ingredients
- 6 bell peppers sliced in half and seeded
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 onion diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups broccoli chopped
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 2 cups marinara sauce with no added sugar
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 3/4 cup part skim mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Arrange the sliced bell peppers.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the ground chicken and cook. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add another tablespoon of oil and then add the onion and green pepper. Saute until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the additional veggies and stir for two minutes.
- Transfer the chicken and the cooked rice to the pan. Combine and add the marinara and Italian seasoning.
- Spoon the mixture into each pepper. Top with optional cheese.
- Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
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This post originally appeared July 2020, it’s been updated since.
Great recipe! I did not use the oil. I sautéd in pam. And I used no cheese. Turned out great!
I’m so happy you liked it Chris! Enjoy the rest of your week.
Is a serving size one half or two?
For this recipe, I believe it’s calculated with 1 1/2 peppers for a serving. However, a serving is what makes you feel satisfied. So do what makes you feel good 🙂 You can serve it with a salad too if you want to add more veggies and fiber to fill up up further.
Sounds so good. I am making this tomorrow. There is just my husband and I…are these a freezer friendly meal?
Hi April,
I haven’t froze them, but they should be good to do so! Let me know how it goes!
I enjoy stuffed peppers! These are so bright and colorful! I’d totally make mine with grilled tofu and mushrooms!
Thanks for sharing these at the Homestead Blog Hop
Laurie
Ridge Haven Homestead
I pinned this and printed it out for my menu for next month. They look delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe. #HomeMattersParty
Wow just wow , I have only ever had stuffed green peppers w beef. We r eating no red meat or pork these days and these were sooooo delish full of flavor and we just loved them
We will add these to our meal plan
I’m so happy you liked them! This made my day, so thank you for such a kind comment.
WOW! This is one of the best chicken recipes I tried so far Yum!
i tried the recipe exactly and the results was perfect, My partner loves this too.
I love this recipe I will try it at home.
I’m not able to eat curry. Would it be feasible to leave it out? Do you have a suggestion for any substitute?
Hey Jenny,
There isn’t curry in this recipe 🙂
It looks delicious I loved it Thanks for sharing