These Italian-Style Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers are colorful, healthy, and so delicious!
I'm on a quest to make more meatless meals, and this recipe did not disappoint. In fact, it turned out to be insanely delicious! Not to mention, super healthy. One serving provides over 100% of the RDI for vitamin A, 4 times the RDI for vitamin C, and a whopping 9 grams of fiber!
Ingredients you will need
Bell Peppers - Choose red, orange, and yellow as they are packed full of nutrition!
Onion - I used a vidalia, however any type of onion could be used.
Garlic - Four cloves were used for this recipe, because I LOVE that garlicky flavor!
Zucchini - There's no meat in this recipe, so I stuffed these veggies with, well, more veggies!
Farro is packed full of protein, fiber, magnesium, and zinc. Feel free to substitute brown rice if you need to make this recipe gluten-free.
Cannellini Beans add even more protein and fiber. Feel free to substitute black beans or chickpeas, if desired.
Crushed Tomatoes helps these peppers to turn out moist, juicy, and soooo scrumptious!
Cheese - Mozzarella and parmesan add a of boost of calcium and some melty goodness.
Spices - These peppers are flavored with Italian seasoning, salt & pepper. Don't forget some fresh basil for garnishing!
How to Prepare Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Halve the peppers and using a pastry brush, coat them with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper, then arrange them in a 9x13 baking dish.
Roast the peppers for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and set aside.
While the peppers are roasting, cook the farro, chop the zucchini and onion, and mince the garlic. (I like to prepare a large batch of farro, so that I have extra on hand to use throughout the week.)
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, onion, Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 7-8 minutes or until the zucchini is tender and the onions are translucent. Stir in the garlic and let cook another 30 seconds.
Add the crushed tomatoes, farro, beans, and mozzarella cheese. Stir to combine.
Stuff those pepper halves generously with the filling, and then sprinkle on the parmesan cheese.
Add the stuffed peppers back into your 425 degree oven and bake for 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted. I then like to switch the oven over to a high broil for 1-2 minutes to brown them up a bit.
Garnish with some fresh basil, serve, and enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Leave me a comment below. I love to hear from my readers! 🙂
Other Hoorah to Health vegetarian recipes you may enjoy-
- Mujadara
- Chickpea Salad
- Easy Caprese Flatbread Pizza
- Pumpkin Risotto with Crispy Kale
- Superfood Salad with Kale and Blueberries
- Strawberry Spinach Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
- Maple Roasted Butternut Squash with Brussels Sprouts & Cranberries
For more delicious recipes and healthy inspiration, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest!
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers - Italian Style
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Dish
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- 4 large Bell Peppers halved
- 3 cups Zucchini chopped
- 1 large Onion chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups Farro cooked
- 1 can (14 oz) Cannellini Beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup Crushed Tomatoes canned
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil divided
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Salt divided
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper divided
- Fresh Basil for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Halve the peppers and using a pastry brush, coat them with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper, then arrange them in a 9x13 baking dish.
- Roast the peppers for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and set aside.
- While the peppers are roasting, cook the farro, chop the zucchini and onion, and mince the garlic.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, onion, Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 7-8 minutes or until the zucchini is tender and the onions are translucent.
- Stir in the garlic and let cook another 30 seconds.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, farro, beans, and mozzarella cheese. Stir to combine.
- Stuff the pepper halves generously with the filling, and then sprinkle on the parmesan cheese.
- Add the stuffed peppers back into your 425 degree oven and bake for 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Broil on high for 1-2 minutes to brown them up a bit.
- Garnish with fresh basil, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Choose red, orange, and yellow peppers, as they are packed full of nutrition!
- I used a vidalia, however any type of onion could be used.
- Brown rice may be substituted for the farro, if you need to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Feel free to substitute black beans or chickpeas, if desired.
I have made these stuffed peppers twice. They are so delicious! The first time I substituted chickpeas. The second time I used what I had on hand: black beans and quinoa instead of farro. Both were very good but my favorite is chickpeas and farro. Very good recipe! I love stuffed peppers!
Thank you! A versatile recipe, for sure. Glad you enjoyed!! 😊
A delicious and healthy way to stuff peppers!
Absolutely! 🙂
So delicious!
Thank you, Sara!!
Such gorgeous colors! Great recipe!
Thanks, Jamie! 🙂
Have you ever frozen a batch? If so how did you do it.
Yes! Place the peppers on a baking sheet in the freezer for 2 hours. Then transfer the peppers to a Ziplock freezer bag (squeeze out any air from the bag) and freeze for up to 3 months!
Have made this multiple times and everyone loves it! Have swapped brown rice and quinoa mix as well, for farro.
I sometimes substitute rice and quinoa too. Thanks for the great feedback! 🙂
It was OK, really no flavor.
Oh no, did you forget the Italian seasoning or the cheese?
Looks great, and it is nice to have something different instead of fake meat. I haven't made much with cannellini beans; this sounds delicious.