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Turkey Sausage Stuffed Peppers

Heidi Larsenby Updated: Apr 11, 2026

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These healthier stuffed peppers swap the usual rice for protein-packed quinoa, turkey sausage, and zucchini for an Italian-inspired all-in-one dinner that the whole family will love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I will definitely be making this again! The fennel is what MAKES THIS RECIPE, so don’t omit it!” -Tara, FoodieCrush reader

Overhead view of turkey sausage stuffed peppers in a baking dish

Nutrient-Dense Meals Don’t Have to Be Bland or Boring!

Photo of Heidi from FoodieCrush

The other day I read that the day of the family dinner plate being made up of a main protein (meat, chicken, fish), a side of carbohydrates (rice, pasta, potatoes), and then a side of veggies (carrots, broccoli, whatever is languishing in the fridge), is quickly losing ground as the best idea of what dinner should look like. I grew up on the same idea of that ratio and for many years followed suit.

But thanks to the popularity of meals in bowls, hearty salads served as the main meal, and more all-in-one serving options, the dinner plate has changed. And it’s not only in how we divvy out portion size, but the actual vessel our meal is served in, like using vitamin-packed vegetables such as sweet potatoes, every squash imaginable, and cabbage leaves, just to name a few.

And at our house, there’s really no more versatile vegetable-to-bowl main ingredient than the almighty bell pepper. Stuffed peppers have made plenty of appearances at our house, but this time around I wanted to make a protein-packed, veggie-loaded stuffed pepper dinner, but one that still had tons of flavor.

Let me tell you, these colorful bell peppers stuffed with turkey sausage, tomato sauce, quinoa, zucchini, and a sprinkling of grated Parm certainly deliver!

Enjoy!

Heidi
Spiralized Zucchini, Quinoa and Turkey Sausage Stuffed Peppers | foodiecrush.com
Chopped onion, zucchini

Ingredient Notes

The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.

Turkey Sausage

I make my own by seasoning 1 pound of ground turkey with fennel seeds, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Turkey sausage in links can be used here too, just be sure to remove the casings before cooking if using it ground. You could also chop the sausage to give the filling a chunkier bite.

Zucchini

One of my most used appliances/gadgets/kitchen helpers (besides my trusty husband behind the stove) is my spiralizer. This baby takes all the work out of chopping, dicing, or slicing the zucchini packed into these peppers. If you don’t own a spiralizer, finely dice the zucchini and call it good.

Quinoa

I added more protein-power to this dish by substituting quinoa for the traditional rice. So many love quinoa as an option for gluten-free eating that scores as one of the highest plant-based proteins out there. Here’s my favorite way to cook quinoa so it turns out light and fluffy rather than mushy and wet.

turkey sausage filling in a skillet
Overhead view of turkey sausage stuffed peppers in a baking dish

How to Make Turkey Sausage Stuffed Peppers

  1. Par-cook the bell peppres. A simple sprinkle of kosher salt to the interior of the peppers and then a 5 minute blast in the microwave pre-cooks these peppers and cuts your baking time in half.
  2. Cook the filling. You’ll want to sauté the zucchini first so that all of that excess moisture can evaporate off without making the quinoa soggy. Remove the zucchini to a plate before browning the ground turkey in the same skillet. Stir in the crushed tomatoes before returning the zucchini and cooked quinoa to the skillet.
  3. Stuff and bake. Our favorite way to stuff the peppers is to cut the tops then stand them like little soldiers in a baking dish. I use a smaller baking pan so the peppers fit snugly, holding more of the ingredients without spilling out. The peppers need to bake for about 20 minutes to finish softening the peppers and to get the filling nice and hot.
Overhead view of turkey sausage stuffed peppers in a baking dish

Side Dish Suggestions

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below, leave a comment to tell us what you think, and tag me on Instagram @foodiecrush.

4.61 from 92 votes

Turkey Sausage Stuffed Peppers Recipe

These healthier stuffed peppers swap the usual rice for protein-packed quinoa, turkey sausage, and zucchini for an Italian-inspired all-in-one dinner that the whole family will love.
Print
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Keyword stuffed peppers
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6 makes 6 peppers
Calories 382kcal

Ingredients 

  • 6 bell peppers (any color)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
  • 2 medium zucchini , spiralized or diced (about 4 cups)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced or pressed
  • ½ teaspoon dried fennel seed , crushed
  • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
  • 4 cups cooked quinoa
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese , plus more for garnish
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Par-cook the peppers. Remove the stems and core the bell peppers, removing all of the seeds, then rinse. Lightly sprinkle the inside of the peppers with kosher salt and place in a microwave safe dish with ¼ cup water. Microwave for 5 to 7 minutes or until they start to soften. Remove and set aside.
  • Sauté the zucchini. Spiralize or dice the zucchini. Heat 1 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the zucchini and season with a sprinkle of kosher salt. Toss the zucchini and cook until it just begins to soften, about 2 minutes, then transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  • Brown the turkey sausage. In the same pan, heat the rest of the olive oil until hot then add the ground turkey, pressed garlic, fennel seeds, crushed red pepper flakes and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes or until cooked almost through, stirring often.
  • Finish the filling. Add the onion and continue to cook until the onion softens. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and cook for another minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the quinoa and zucchini. Toss with the Parmesan cheese and the fresh basil and season to taste.
  • Stuff the peppers, then bake. Transfer the peppers to a 3-quart baking dish and fill them with the sausage and quinoa mixture. Sprinkle the tops with more Parmesan cheese if desired, and bake for 20 minutes or until peppers are tender and cheese is browned. Serve hot.

Notes

Choose firm, glossy bell peppers that are wide at the top and at the base so the peppers will easily stand on their own when stuffed. 

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 1036mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 4099IU | Vitamin C: 170mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 4mg

More Stuffed Pepper Recipes You’ll Love

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Heidi of FoodieCrush

Hi! I’m Heidi and I cook real good, real food I hope you’ll love to make, too.

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