• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Zimmy's Nook
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Zimmy’s Blog
  • Services
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Zimmy’s Blog
  • Services
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Zimmy’s Blog
    • Services
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Chicken & Poultry

    Stuffed Peppers in Tomato Sauce – Making do with what you’ve got!

    Published: Mar 23, 2020 · Modified: Mar 25, 2023 by Zimmy · This post may contain Amazon and other affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    A top down image of a pan with seven Stuffed Peppers in Tomato Sauce

    If you’re like me, your pantry may not be stocked with everything that you desire at this moment. So, I put together this Stuffed Peppers in Tomato Sauce recipe to encourage you to make do with what you’ve got… experiment, substitute ingredients and just have fun with cooking at home! You will be surprised how good it will be!

    Ingredients
    • 6-8 multi-coloured bell peppers (no peppers? try using a hollowed-out squash)
    • 1 large sweet potato (small cubes – roasted)
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 lb. ground turkey (or beef, or pork, etc.)
    • ½ cup rice (uncooked) plain or flavoured (I had an open bag of olive oil & roasted garlic flavor)
    • 1 cup orzo pasta (or other small pasta – or substitute an additional ¾ cup uncooked rice)
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 28 oz can diced tomatoes – drained
    • 2 ¾ cups tomato sauce – divided (homemade or store bought – I used a jar of arrabiata sauce)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1 onion (diced)
    • 2 celery stalks (diced)
    • ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese (or mozzarella, asiago, etc.)
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or parsley, cilantro, oregano, etc.) – plus more for garnish
    • salt (to taste)
    • pepper (to taste)
    Preparation

    Preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Toss diced sweet potato cubes with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt, pepper & paprika (to taste). Spread sweet potato on a baking sheet in an even layer. Roast for 10 minutes then flip and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until edges are crisp and middle is soft. Set aside to cool.

    Cook the rice and orzo (if using), as per the package instructions and set aside to cool.

    Lower oven to 350°F.

    Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil into a skillet over medium heat and sauté the onions & celery for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute, then add the ground turkey, ¼ teaspoon each of salt, pepper & paprika, Italian seasoning and cook until browned. Remove to a paper towel to drain.

    In a large bowl, combine meat mixture, cooked rice/pasta, drained diced tomatoes, ¾ cup tomato sauce, ¼ cup parmesan, chopped basil. Mix together and then season with salt and pepper to taste.

    Remove the tops, seeds, and membranes of the bell peppers. Arrange peppers in an oven-proof pan or baking dish with the hollowed sides facing up.

    Spoon the meat mixture equally into each pepper, well packed. Optional, top the peppers with the pepper lids. Pour remaining 2 cups of tomato sauce around the stuffed peppers (lift peppers to allow sauce to run under).

    Cover the pan/dish with a lid/foil and bake for 45-55 minutes (until peppers are beginning to slightly wilt). Remove the lid/foil and spoon a little tomato sauce over each pepper, then sprinkle peppers with remaining ½ cup of cheese. Cook for an additional 15 minutes until cheese is beginning to brown.

    Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil and serve.

    Hope you enjoy this recipe! I would love to hear your feedback in the “comments” below!

    In addition to this Stuffed Peppers in Tomato Sauce recipe, you can find more of my favourite dinner recipes here.

    Hestan Culinary Nanobond 5qt Essential Pan
    GIVEAWAY ALERT!

    During this time when we all will be cooking from home more, Hestan Culinary and I have partnered to give one randomly chosen winner a Nanobond 5qt Essential Pan. The Essential Pan is perfect for whipping up a big batch of chili, soup, curry, paella, pasta, roasting a chicken, braising a roast or baking stuffed peppers in tomato sauce! From our kitchen to your kitchen, from our family to your family and from our home to your home, we are one community in this together! Be well friends! #HestanAtHome

    Click here for details on how to enter. Contest closes at 6 pm EDT April 3, 2020

    Proud Hestan Culinary Ambassador. Opinions in this post are my own.

    More Chicken & Poultry

    • Chicken Teriyaki Sliders with Pickled Asian Slaw and grilled pineapple.
      Chicken Teriyaki Sliders with Pickled Asian Slaw
    • Two trays each with a smoked duck leg, served with a Charred Scallion Chimichurri, mac & cheese, and a cucumber salad.
      Smoked Duck Legs with Charred Scallion Chimichurri
    • A close up of a plate of Butterflied Chicken Drumsticks with Sweet & Spicy Herb Sauce.
      Butterflied Chicken Drumsticks with Sweet & Spicy Herb Sauce
    • A board with Crispy Smashed Potato Tacos (or Tostadas) Topped with spiced rotisserie chicken, cheese, and fresh toppings like guacamole and Pico de Gallo,
      Crispy Smashed Potato Tacos / Tostadas

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Zimmy's Nook bio

    Hi, I’m James (aka Zimmy), a home chef who loves to grill year-round. In partnership with my wife Elaine, we work with and passionately promote the stories of local farmers, food producers/purveyors, as well as the products of companies who share our passion for quality, innovation and design.

    More about us →

    Grilling in the Nook 🔥

    • A double patty shawarma spiced lamb smash slider topped with onions, peppers and toum. The lid is being placed on the burger.
      Shawarma-Spiced Lamb Smash Sliders with Garlic Toum
    • A serving tray with Espresso Bacon Jam Burgers with toppings, fries and a pot of smoked Gouda Sauce.
      Bacon Jam Burgers with Smoked Gouda Sauce
    • A platter of lil smokies skewered with lime wedges and coated with an elote topping.
      Grilled Lil Smokies with Elote-Inspired Topping
    • Slices of smoked char siu pork with a pineapple relish overtop and served with a cucumber salad and sweet potatoes.
      Smoked Char Siu Pork Collar with Grilled Pineapple Relish
    See more Grilling in the Nook →

    Follow us!

    Join our mailing list

    Hestan Culinary – Save 20% off use code: ZIMMY20

    Hestan Culinary - Shop Now
    Click the image to shop. *Discount not available during promotional periods.

    Ooni

    Ooni Koda 16
    Ooni Koda 16

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    As an Amazon, Hestan Culinary and Ooni Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Zimmy's Nook