If you’re craving the comforting flavors of stuffed peppers but don’t feel like making an elaborate meal, these deconstructed stuffed peppers are perfect! This recipe delivers all the deliciousness in a single pan, cooked in less time than traditional stuffed peppers. It’s a healthy twist on a classic, featuring rice and ground meat but with a low-carb and whole30-friendly option. Plus, it’s gluten free and dairy free!
With easy prep and fewer steps than stuffing peppers, this recipe is a lifesaver on busy nights. It’s ready in under 30 minutes, making it a quick and convenient weeknight dinner solution. Enjoy fresh ingredients with less mess for a meal that’s loaded with goodness. This versatile dish is perfect for customizing with your favorite flavors and it’s sure to become a family-friendly favorite. Leftovers are a breeze, and cleanup is a snap! It’s the perfect no-fuss weekday dinner that’s ready in record time. It’s not the prettiest meal of all time, but I promise it is delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Meal
It’s so easy to throw together!
This dish is perfect for busy weeknights.
This recipe calls for simple and wholesome ingredients.
It is kid-friendly and your whole family will love it.
This dinner comes together in less than 30 minutes.
It is a one pan meal which means easier clean up!
This recipe is bursting with delicious flavor.
Equipment Needed
All you need to make these deconstructed stuffed peppers is a skillet, knife and cutting board. I used my favorite Staub cast iron skillet.
Ingredients Needed
Peppers: I used red and yellow bell peppers, but you can use any color!
Onions: I love using sweet onion in my recipes!
Spices: I used garlic powder, oregano, thyme and salt in these deconstructed stuffed peppers. My favorite is Redmond’s Real Salt because it is high-quality and made with zero fillers. If you use my discount code LESSWITHLAUR you can get 15% off Redmond’s website.
Ground Meat: I used ground turkey in this recipe. I try to use high quality meat whenever possible. I love ordering from ButcherBox for this reason! If you use my code LAUREN20 you get $20 off your first box.
Cooked Rice: I used cooked rice in this recipe to make it quicker!
Sauce: You can use traditional marinara sauce in this recipe. If you are sensitive or allergic to tomatoes, try out my nomato sauce. I used a double batch of it for this recipe.
Coconut Aminos: Coconut aminos add delicious flavor to this dish!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Gather your ingredients.
Step 2: Chop vegetables and add them to an oiled skillet. Stir in spices.
Step 3: Add in ground meat and cook until lightly browned.
Step 4: Pour in rice, sauce and coconut aminos and cook for 5-7 more minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Storage
Store these deconstructed stuffed peppers in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
How to Serve
Deconstructed stuffed peppers offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to serving! Here are a few ideas:
Classic Bowl Style: This is the most straightforward way. Prepare the deconstructed mixture (peppers, rice, meat, sauce) and ladle it into bowls.
Loaded Up: Get creative with toppings! Chopped fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, a dollop of guacamole or sour cream (dairy free if needed), crumbled cheese (dairy free if needed) or a sprinkle of chopped nuts all add extra flavor and texture.
Sheet Pan Style (Great for Leftovers!): Spread leftover deconstructed mixture on a sheet pan and top with shredded cheese. Broil for a few minutes until cheese melts for a cheesy, melty goodness. You could also try adding my homemade cashew cheese sauce on top!
Variations
Rice: I used pre-cooked white rice here to make the process quick. You can also cook your rice. Try using brown rice, quinoa or cauliflower rice to mix it up!
Peppers: I used a red bell pepper and a yellow bell pepper. You can also use orange or green peppers. Mini peppers would also be fun to use in this recipe!
Meat: I used ground turkey for this recipe. Feel free to also try out ground beef or ground chicken.
Spices: I used oregano, thyme and garlic powder. If you want to add some spice, try adding some red pepper flakes or hot sauce!
Vegetables: I used bell peppers and onions in this recipe. Experiment with adding other vegetables like mushrooms, corn, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, spinach or cauliflower.
Sauce: Use regular marinara sauce, vodka sauce or try out my nomato sauce if you are sensitive to tomatoes.
Recipe FAQ
Can you freeze these deconstructed peppers?
Yes, definitely!
Can you use other types of meat?
Yes! Try using ground beef or ground chicken instead.
Can you make these deconstructed peppers ahead of time?
These deconstructed stuffed peppers can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
What color bell pepper should you use?
You can use any color bell pepper you desire!
Do you eat the pepper in stuffed peppers?
Yes!
Is it possible to make this dish vegetarian?
Yes, if you omit the meat this dish can be vegetarian.
Related Recipes
Be sure to try these easy dinner recipes next:
If you make these deconstructed stuffed peppers and love them, I would really appreciate a 5 star review! I also love seeing your creations so please tag me on Instagram or TikTok.
Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers
Equipment
- 1 skillet
- 1 knife
- 1 cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 bell peppers
- 1/2 sweet onion
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- dash salt
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp garlic
- 2 cups cooked rice
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients.
- Chop vegetables and add them to an oiled skillet. Stir in spices.
- Add in ground meat and cook until lightly browned.
- Pour in rice, sauce and coconut aminos and cook for 5-7 more minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Leave a Reply