Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers (Vegetarian)

These Mediterranean stuffed peppers are here to liven up your weeknight meal plan! The well-seasoned vegetarian filling includes robust flavor from aromatics, spices, feta cheese, and fresh parsley. They're bright, zesty, protein-rich, gluten-free, and great for meal-prep!

Stuffed peppers are a classic - so easy, versatile, and satisfying. I like playing with different grains, seasonings, and vegetables depending on the season.

For this Mediterranean stuffed peppers recipe, we use protein-rich quinoa, which I also love in gluten free tabbouleh salad and tofu quinoa bowl with roasted eggplant and broccoli.

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Why This Recipe Is The Best
• 🍅 Ingredient Notes
• 📝 Variations & Substitutions
• 🔪 How To Make Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Storage Instructions and Expert Tips
• 🍽 How to Serve Stuffed Peppers
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🥒 More Vegetarian Recipes
• Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers Recipe

⭐️ Why This Recipe Is The Best

• Full-flavored: Bright & zesty vegetarian stuffed peppers with a slight pop of heat from cayenne pepper. The bell peppers mellow in the oven, becoming sweet and tender, and the quinoa filling is slightly nutty.
• Texture: Creamy, chunky, and fluffy
• Packed with vitamins and minerals; high in protein and fiber while still being vegetarian and gluten-free.
• Great for meal-prep: The peppers only get better after mingling in the fridge for a day!

🍅 Ingredient Notes

• Quinoa - One of my favorite grains; high in protein and naturally gluten-free.
• Zucchini - Any variety of summer squash will work just fine. Use it to make stuffed zucchini boats with rice.
• Chickpeas - High in protein and fiber, and adds a slightly nutty flavor. Use them for crispy bbq chickpeas and chickpea spinach curry.
• Feta - Salty and briny, and a lovely complement to the sweet tomatoes and bell peppers.

📝 Variations & Substitutions

• Make vegan/dairy-free: You can either substitute a vegan cheese or simply omit it.
• Green bell peppers. I use a mix of orange and yellow sweet bell peppers here. You could use green bell peppers as well, but they have a more bitter flavor.
• Add protein. This dish is already high in protein because of the quinoa, chickpeas, and feta, but if you want to add more protein, go for it!
• Use your favorite grain. Substitute couscous, farro, brown rice, or white rice for the quinoa.
• Shallots or a red onion can be used in place of yellow onion.
• Fresh herbs. Use your favorite Mediterranean herbs in place of, or in addition to, fresh parsley.

🔪 How To Make Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers

Add vegetable broth and quinoa to a medium-size sauce pan. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low.

Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until broth is absorbed. Remove from heat and uncover. Set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray. Place the (seeded and halved) peppers into baking dish cut-side up.

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until tender, around 3-4 minutes.

Add the zucchini and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, cumin, coriander, and cayenne, and cook for 1 minute.

Stir in chickpeas and cherry tomatoes and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Add cooked quinoa, feta, salt, pepper, and parsley.

Divide quinoa filling evenly among pepper halves and cover with foil.

Bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until peppers are soft and tender. Serve immediately.

👩🏼‍🍳 Storage Instructions and Expert Tips

• Make ahead: Prep everything ahead of time and store separately in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to bake, stuff and assemble, and add an additional 5-10 minutes to bake time.
• How to store: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• To freeze: Wrap peppers in foil and place in freezer-safe bags. Can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• To reheat: Place in a 350 degree F. (pre-heated) oven for 15 minutes, or until filling is heated through.

🍽 How to Serve Stuffed Peppers

Serve your stuffed peppers as a main dish with sides like creamy cucumber avocado gazpacho, tuscan bean salad, corn on the cob, or see my list of the best sides for stuffed peppers

Serve them as a side accompaniment to main dishes like portobello mushroom sandwich and chicken focaccia sandwich.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🥒 More Vegetarian Recipes

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