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    Home ยป Healthy Recipes ยป Dairy and Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes

    Gluten Free Stuffed Bell Peppers (Spicy)

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    Pinterest image with text: red and yellow quinoa vegan stuffed peppers in a glass baking tray
    Pinterest image with text: two images of vegan stuffed peppers. Peppers are red and yellow, stuffed with quinoa and in a glass baking tray
    Pinterest image with text: red and yellow quinoa vegan stuffed peppers in a glass baking tray

    Fire up your taste buds with these easy gluten-free stuffed bell peppers! A tasty side dish or mean course for Meatless Monday these peppers are stuffed with a spicy quinoa zucchini mixture that's a great way to add some flavor to the table.

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    red and yellow quinoa vegan stuffed peppers in a glass baking tray.

    As a Certified Nutrition Coach, I appreciate that this spicy quinoa mixture can be meal prepped in advance making the peppers simple to whip up.

    These gluten-free stuffed peppers are a delicious side dish loaded with plant-based protein- as are these air fryer stuffed peppers!

    They make a fiery addition to any main course and can even be used for a tasty, comforting lunch too.

    Ingredients And Substitutions

    Though traditional stuffed peppers are a mix of cooked rice and ground beef (or ground turkey), these gluten-free ones have a bit of a twist.

    Cooked quinoa: having quinoa cooked in the fridge is a sure-fire way to make meal prep easier and is actually one of my favorite tips for gluten-free meal prep. Save yourself the time and have it ready.

    Bell peppers: any color will work but try to get peppers that are larger, this way you can fill them right up.

    Veggies: mixed into the gluten-free stuffed peppers are mushrooms, zucchini, and asparagus. However, any of your favorite vegetables will work here. Chop them all finely so that they cook evenly and don't take up too much room.

    Garlic: the perfect addition whenever you sautee something.

    Olive oil: used to sautee the seasonings and you don't use much. Any neutral flavored oil will work.

    Red pepper flakes: responsible for the spicy kick on these stuffed peppers! Adjust this to your personal preference.

    But What About The Protein?

    Quinoa is one of the few plant-based foods that contain all essential amino acids. Meaning, you don't need to add anything to the stuffed peppers if you don't want to.

    That said, if you feel the need to step up your protein, you can easily serve the peppers on the side of something larger, make something like salmon stuffed peppers, or mix in any of the following:

    • Leftover Dutch oven chicken
    • Leftover spiced ground beef
    • Dairy-free scrambled eggs
    • Chopped Italian sausage

    How To Make Them

    Garlic and chili flakes sauteing in oil in a large pan.
    Quinoa, zucchini, mushrooms and garlic cooking in a pan.

    Step 1: Saute the garlic and red pepper flakes in oil until crackling.

    Step 2: Mix in the veggies and cook until soft before adding in the cooked quinoa.

    Three bell peppers, two red peppers and one orange pepper standing up de-seeded.
    Three large bell peppers stuffed with quinoa and vegetables standing up on tin foil.

    Step 3:Prepare your peppers by removing the seeds and stem and placing them in a baking dish.

    Step 4: Stuff the peppers and bake in the oven.

    Expert Tips

    Serve the bell peppers either as whole peppers stuffed standing up (in which case flatten the bottom as much as possible, or sliced in half and stuffed on their sides (thus doubling the servings).

    Top the gluten-free stuffed peppers with sliced green onions, kimchi, avocado, or salsa for additional flavor.

    To make the stuffed peppers paleo or whole30 approved, use cauliflower rice in place of quinoa. Of course, you can also make bell peppers stuffed with rice also.

    red and yellow quinoa vegan stuffed peppers in a glass baking tray.

    How To Meal Prep Stuffed Peppers

    If you're a meal prepper, first learn more about how to make meal prepping easier.

    Next, know that there are two ways you can go about this:

    1. Fully make the gluten-free peppers and store in air-tight containers in the fridge. They tend to last 3-4 days in the fridge and still taste great when reheated in the microwave or oven.
    2. Whip up the quinoa mixture so it's ready in the fridge. Then, when you need to assemble the vegan stuffed peppers all you have to do is cut and stuff the peppers and bake. Thus, this makes for a crazy simple weeknight dinner!

    Regardless, this stuffed pepper recipe is a great way to use up the peppers in your garden! And if you need help growing your own, learn about germinating pepper seeds to get them started!

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    Other Gluten-Free Side Dishes

    • Gluten-free quinoa salad
    • Citrus spinach salad
    • Roasted root vegetables
    • Candied Brussels sprouts
    • Zucchini carrot salad
    red and yellow quinoa vegan stuffed peppers in a glass baking tray.

    Featured image: red and yellow quinoa vegan stuffed peppers in a glass baking tray

    Spicy Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

    Fit as a Mama Bear
    These gluten-free stuffed bell peppers are the perfect blend of crunchy, hearty flavor with a kick of spice! An easy side dish or even a hearty meatless lunch idea.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    5 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Course dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 164 kcal

    Video

    Equipment

    • Baking tray

    Ingredients
      

    • 1.5 cups quinoa cooked
    • 3 bell peppers large
    • 3 button mushrooms chopped
    • 1 zucchini quartered
    • 7 stalks asparagus diced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ยผ cup olive oil
    • ยฝ teaspoon red pepper flakes

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a pan with tinfoil.
    • In a large pan, heat the olive oil slightly over medium heat.
    • Once oil is heated, add the garlic and pepper flakes
    • Let the mixture begin to sizzle (about two minutes) then add the vegetables.
    • Cover with a lid and let cook for four to five minutes.
    • Add in the quinoa and mix well making sure everything is coated.
    • Cover with a lid and cook for two more minutes or until vegetables are almost tender. If using any additional protein, add it in here.
    • Remove lid and cook an additional three minutes for everything to thicken up.
    • Prep the peppers by cutting them in half, removing the seeds, and any extra skin.
    • Carefully divide the vegetable mixture into the peppers and place on the baking tray.
    • Bake for 25 minutes and let cool slightly before eating. Top with any additional fixings.

    Notes

    Serve the bell peppers either as whole peppers stuffed standing up (in which case flatten the bottom as much as possible, or sliced in half and stuffed on their sides (thus doubling the servings).
    Top the gluten-free stuffed bell peppers with sliced green onions, kimchi, avocado, or salsa for additional flavor.
    To make the stuffed peppers paleo or whole30 approved, use cauliflower rice in place of quinoa.
    Disclaimer:

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"

    Nutrition

    Calories: 164kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 367mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2121IUVitamin C: 84mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword peppers, quinoa,, spicy,
    Have You Tried This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below. Mention @fitasamamabear or tag #fitasamamabear!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anna

      March 06, 2018 at 10:12 pm

      These look incredible! I love stuffed peppers.... And love spicy food even more! Can't wait to try these!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        March 07, 2018 at 2:34 am

        Stuffed peppers are such a win- they're so tasty and look fancy ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply

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