Southwest Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

If you love Southwestern dishes, these Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers are an awesome choice. Not only is this dish packed with flavor, but it is also packed with tons of tasty ingredients like sweet corn, black beans, cheese, and pico de gallo.

Love stuffed bell peppers? You should also check out my Rice and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers! Or other quinoa dishes like this Warm Quinoa Roasted Veggie Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette or Baked Flounder with Pontchartrain Sauce.

three quinoa stuffed bell peppers

Quick, easy, and ready in under 30 minutes, these stuffed bell peppers are perfect for any meal or as an on the go snack.

In addition to being easy to throw together, you can find many of the ingredients for this recipe in your pantry. Items like black beans and corn are typically items we have handy at any moment. So grab those along with fresh pico de gallo (or simply chop and combine fresh tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos) and some cheese, and you have yourself a whole meal.

Stuffed bell peppers are filling and perfect as a vegetarian option for Meatless Monday or a vegan option if you forgo the cheese.

Single orange quinoa stuffed bell pepper with a side of pico

What is quinoa?

Pronounced KEEN-wah, quinoa is actually not a grain — although it is used in the same way rice, farro, or other similar grains would be used. It is a grain-like and naturally gluten-free pseudocereal hailing from South America.

Curious about the difference between quinoa vs. rice? A cup of quinoa provides twice the amount of protein (packing more than any other grain) and fiber as the same amount of white rice. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids. Plus, it’s packed full of antioxidants, which can also help with blood sugar, aid in weight loss, and improve your cholesterol. Clearly, quinoa is the way to go and is a worthy inclusion in your diet.

Quinoa comes in various colors– like red, black, or white, but they all cook the same way. While the lighter varieties carry a mild flavor, the darker varieties are more robust.

Ingredients for stuffed bell peppers:

Stuffed pepper ingredients
  • Quinoa is first up on your list. I keep this super simple and purchase the boil-in-bag option from Success Rice. The quinoa comes out perfect and fluffy every time; however, if you have a preferred brand go for it.
  • You can go all green for the bell peppers or add a little color and pick a variety. The most common color is green, but I easily find red and sometimes orange and yellow. Going from less ripe to more ripe, green bell peppers are unripe, red bell peppers are fully ripe, and yellow and orange straddle between green and red. The riper the bell pepper, the sweeter, and the more nutrients they pack.
  • The bell peppers’ filling consists of black beans, sweet corn, pico de gallo (you can typically find this fresh at your local grocer), Monterey jack cheese, Mild Cheddar Cheese, and chopped cilantro.
  • And because seasoning your dish is essential, I add adobo all-purpose seasoning (a little goes a long way), black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and Himalayan salt.

How to make quinoa stuffed bell peppers in a few steps:

  1. Cook quinoa as instructed, or use Success Tri-Color Boil-in-Bag Quinoa for an easy alternative. Once cooked, add to a large bowl and fluff. Set this to the side to be used later.
  2. Remove the stem from your bell pepper and cut them in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds.
  3. Add remaining ingredients to the same bowl as quinoa and fold everything together. Fill each bell pepper halve with filling—Bake at 360 degrees for 25 minutes.

Once baked, you can enjoy the stuffed peppers as is, or you can serve them with a side of guacamole, sour cream, salsa, or any other spicy topping.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Absolutely! They store well and are the perfect leftovers and/or meal prep. You can make them in advance (but don’t bake them), wrap them individually, and refrigerate them for around 3-4 days. When you are ready to make them, remove them from their plastic wrap and place them directly in the oven.

taking a bite and a little filling from the stuffed bell peppers

Loaded with protein, fresh ingredients, and healthy grains, these stuffed bell peppers will provide the nutrition you need for a nutrient-rich meal!

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three quinoa stuffed bell peppers

Southwest Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers


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  • Author: Eric Jones
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

If you love Southwestern dishes, these Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers are an awesome choice. Not only is this dish packed with flavor, but it is also packed with tons of tasty ingredients like sweet corn, black beans, cheese, and pico de gallo.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup Quinoa
  • 3 Whole Bell peppers
  • 7 oz. Organic Low-Sodium Black Beans, drained
  • 1 cup Sweet Corn, fresh or canned
  • 1 cup Pico De Gallo
  • 1 1/2 cup Monterey Jack or Mild Cheddar Cheese
  • 1/3 cup Chopped Cilantro
Seasonings:
  • 1 tsp Adobo All-Purpose Seasoning
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Himalayan Salt


Instructions

  1. Cook Success Tri-Color Boil-in-Bag Quinoa as instructed. Fluff and add to a large bowl.
  2. Remove the stem from bell pepper and cut it in half. Remove seeds.
  3. Add remaining ingredients to the same bowl as quinoa and fold together. Fill bell pepper halves with filling.
  4. Bake at 360 degrees for 25 minutes.

Equipment

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Southwest

Nutrition

  • Calories: 375
  • Sugar: 4.8g
  • Sodium: 187mg
  • Fat: 12.1g
  • Carbohydrates: 49.1g
  • Fiber: 8.7g
  • Protein: 19.7g
  • Cholesterol: 30mg

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