FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You Need My Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Stuffed Peppers With Ground Turkey
• My Recipe Tips
• Topping Ideas
• More Easy Ground Turkey Recipes
• Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

Ground turkey stuffed peppers are one of those meals I keep coming back to—they’re easy, satisfying, packed with flavor, and lighter than beef. You can make stuffed peppers with ground turkey using many different add-ins, but this version is my fave. It reminds me of tacos or my taco salad , except baked into a warm, cheesy dish. Make them with me next time you want to change up your Taco Tuesday!

Why You Need My Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers Recipe

• Taco night, reinvented – If you love tacos, my ground turkey stuffed peppers are a flavor-packed upgrade! It’s like taco night, but with fewer dishes, a built-in veggie, and a melty, cheesy finish.
• Light and filling at the same time – Many recipes have heavier components like brown rice or beans. Mine is lighter, focused on protein and vegetables, but still very satisfying.
• Easy to make – You can have a healthy dinner on the table in well under an hour with this recipe, and I love that I usually have the ingredients on hand.
• Meal prep hero – I often make a double batch, because these store and freeze beautifully. And my kids like helping stuff the peppers!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my ground turkey stuffed peppers, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Bell Peppers – Any color you want! I used red and yellow bell peppers for their sweetness and color variety.
• Ground Turkey – I prefer 93% lean ground turkey, but 99% fat works too because the diced tomatoes (below) still keep it moist. And while these are turkey stuffed bell peppers, there’s no reason you can’t make them with ground chicken, ground beef (like a more classic taco meat ), chorizo , or even barbacoa .
• Canned Diced Tomatoes – For flavor and to keep the stuffing moist. I usually have regular diced tomatoes around, but you can swap in fire-roasted tomatoes for a smoky taste or even diced tomatoes with green chilies for a kick.
• Red Onion – White or yellow onion works, too. Sometimes I add a few cloves of minced garlic with it.
• Seasonings – I use my homemade taco seasoning (you can make it in 5 minutes), but feel free to use store-bought. Fajita seasoning works, too. You’ll also need water (or any broth you like for extra flavor) to add moisture with the seasoning, and salt for the peppers.
• Shredded Cheese – For the melty layers! Cheddar cheese is my fave, but Monterey jack, pepper jack, or Mexican cheese blend would also work well.
• Olive Oil – For roasting the peppers and browning the ground turkey. Avocado oil or any oil you’ve got is fine.

How To Make Stuffed Peppers With Ground Turkey

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Prep the peppers. Slice off the tops and scoop out the seeds and ribs. Trim a thin layer off the bottoms (without cutting a hole) so they stand upright.
2. Bake to soften . Arrange them upright in a baking dish , drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake until they’re tender and the edges look slightly puckered.
3. Sauté the onions. While the peppers are in the oven, heat the oil in a large skillet and cook the diced onions, until they’re soft and golden.

1. Brown the ground turkey. Add it to the pan and cook, breaking it apart, until it’s browned and cooked through.
2. Season the meat. Stir in the taco seasoning and water, letting it simmer until the liquid evaporates. Mix in the drained diced tomatoes.

1. Fill the peppers. Spoon the turkey mixture into the peppers, layering it with the shredded cheddar. Repeat until the peppers are full.
2. Final bake. Pop the ground turkey stuffed peppers back in the oven, just long enough to melt the cheese.

My Recipe Tips

• The perfect-sized baking dish will help the peppers stay upright. I love this oval dish because it’s just the right size for all 6 bell peppers to fit without space for them to fall over.
• Choose your skillet based on how you like your turkey. I used this hard-anodized one , which is my fave nonstick kind because it’s non-reactive, and it keeps the turkey moist. Cast iron ( I like this enameled one for no maintenance) is better if you want darker browning with crispy edges on your ground turkey.
• My meat chopper makes breaking up the turkey so much faster and easier. It’s one of those tools I didn’t know I needed until I tried it!
• Forgot to drain the diced tomatoes? No problem—just simmer off any extra liquid.
• The ideal amount of filling can vary, but it doesn’t really matter. Depending on the size of your peppers, sometimes they end up full to the top and sometimes the filling is a little lower than the edge. When I have extra space on my ground turkey stuffed peppers after baking, I just use that as an excuse to load up extra toppings !
• Want to make them more hearty? Reduce the amount of turkey to 1 pound and the taco seasoning to 2 tablespoons. Then, add 1 cup of cooked rice (or cauliflower rice ), beans, or corn (so good with leftover Mexican street corn !) to the ground turkey mixture before filling.
• Want to pack in more veggies? Reduce the amount of turkey like I explained above, and saute a cup of other vegetables together with the onions. I like zucchini or carrots!

Topping Ideas

I topped my ground turkey stuffed peppers with jalapenos, avocado cubes, and fresh cilantro, pictured above. Feel free to get creative with your favorite taco toppings, like sour cream, guacamole , salsa (try my salsa verde or fresh salsa ), or shredded lettuce.

These also pair nicely with a bowl of homemade tortilla chips to scoop up any extra filling, my fresh avocado corn salad on the side, and even a skinny margarita when it’s one of those days .

More Easy Ground Turkey Recipes

If you like these stuffed peppers with ground turkey, you’ll love my other recipes using this protein:

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 6 medium Bell peppers ▢
• 3 tbsp Olive oil (divided into 2 tbsp and 1 tbsp) ▢
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/2 large Red onion (diced; ~1 cup) ▢
• 1 1/2 lb Ground turkey ▢
• 3 tbsp Taco seasoning ▢
• 3/4 cup Water ▢
• 1 14.5-oz can Diced tomatoes (drained) ▢
• 2 cups Cheddar cheese (shredded) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
2. To prepare the peppers, chop off the tops and scoop out the seeds and ribs inside. Slice a tiny layer off the bottoms (without making a hole if possible) so that the peppers are stable standing upright.
3. Place the peppers into a stoneware baking dish , open side up. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
4. Bake peppers for about 15 minutes , until they are soft and the edges are slightly puckered. Blot any extra liquid inside the peppers using paper towels.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a large saute pan , heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced red onions and saute for 5-10 minutes , until translucent and slightly golden.
6. Push the onions to the sides of the pan and add the ground turkey in the center. Cook, breaking apart with a spatula (or for a more effective way, use a tool like this ), for 8-10 minutes , until cooked through.
7. Add the taco seasoning and water to the pan. Simmer for 3-4 minutes , until the extra liquid evaporates.
8. Stir in the diced tomatoes.
9. Once the peppers are done baking, remove from the oven and reduce heat to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). If there is any liquid inside the peppers, blot it dry with paper towels. Spoon the meat filling into the pepper cavities, filling them halfway.
10. Sprinkle with shredded cheese on top, about 2-3 tablespoons (10.4 – 15.6 grams) per pepper. Top with the remaining meat filling and remaining cheese.
11. Return to the oven for about 10 minutes , until the cheese is melted.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 ground turkey stuffed pepper

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips to help your peppers stay upright, shortcuts for cooking the turkey, variations to make them more hearty or add extra veggies, and more.
• Toppings: If you’d put it on a taco, it’s great for these ground turkey stuffed peppers! Check out my topping ideas above.
• Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Meal prep: There are so many ways I’ve made these ahead! Sometimes I just cut and empty the peppers. Sometimes I pre-bake them and cook the filling. But most often, I assemble them completely and just bake the day-of.
• Reheat: These reheat well in the microwave (great for lunch!), or you can bake them at 350 degrees F.
• Freeze: You can freeze these before or after baking, for up to 3 months. You can bake them from frozen, but it’s much faster if you thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

My ground turkey stuffed peppers pack tender bell peppers with a taco filling and melty cheese. Perfect for an easy dinner or meal prep!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/turkey-taco-stuffed-peppers/

Ingredients

• 6 medium Bell peppers
• 3 tbsp Olive oil (divided into 2 tbsp and 1 tbsp)
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt
• 1/2 large Red onion (diced; ~1 cup)
• 1 1/2 lb Ground turkey
• 3 tbsp Taco seasoning
• 3/4 cup Water
• 1 14.5-oz can Diced tomatoes (drained)
• 2 cups Cheddar cheese (shredded)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
2. To prepare the peppers, chop off the tops and scoop out the seeds and ribs inside. Slice a tiny layer off the bottoms (without making a hole if possible) so that the peppers are stable standing upright.
3. Place the peppers into a stoneware baking dish , open side up. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
4. Bake peppers for about 15 minutes , until they are soft and the edges are slightly puckered. Blot any extra liquid inside the peppers using paper towels.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a large saute pan , heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced red onions and saute for 5-10 minutes , until translucent and slightly golden.
6. Push the onions to the sides of the pan and add the ground turkey in the center. Cook, breaking apart with a spatula (or for a more effective way, use a tool like this ), for 8-10 minutes , until cooked through.
7. Add the taco seasoning and water to the pan. Simmer for 3-4 minutes , until the extra liquid evaporates.
8. Stir in the diced tomatoes.
9. Once the peppers are done baking, remove from the oven and reduce heat to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). If there is any liquid inside the peppers, blot it dry with paper towels. Spoon the meat filling into the pepper cavities, filling them halfway.
10. Sprinkle with shredded cheese on top, about 2-3 tablespoons (10.4 - 15.6 grams) per pepper. Top with the remaining meat filling and remaining cheese.
11. Return to the oven for about 10 minutes , until the cheese is melted.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 ground turkey stuffed pepper

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips to help your peppers stay upright, shortcuts for cooking the turkey, variations to make them more hearty or add extra veggies, and more.
• Toppings: If you’d put it on a taco, it’s great for these ground turkey stuffed peppers! Check out my topping ideas above.
• Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Meal prep: There are so many ways I’ve made these ahead! Sometimes I just cut and empty the peppers. Sometimes I pre-bake them and cook the filling. But most often, I assemble them completely and just bake the day-of.
• Reheat: These reheat well in the microwave (great for lunch!), or you can bake them at 350 degrees F.
• Freeze: You can freeze these before or after baking, for up to 3 months. You can bake them from frozen, but it’s much faster if you thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)