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Taco Quinoa Stuffed Peppers (Vegan + Gluten Free!)

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October 23, 2017 | 5 Comments |This post contains affiliate links.

Taco Quinoa Stuffed Peppers – These vegan stuffed peppers have an amazing quinoa filling with a taco twist. So much flavor, so very good for you. (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Taco Stuffed Peppers - Love these quinoa stuffed peppers. The filling is SO good! (Vegan & Gluten Free)

This post is written in partnership with Sprouts Farmers Market. All opinions are my own. 

I’ve been on the cozy food train for the last many weeks. I *may* be blitzing through our annual soup lineup at an alarming speed if we’re to make it through fall and winter without getting “soup-ed out.” (Is that a thing for anyone else? Just my family?)

So to break things up, I’ve been going back to cozy comfort food classics. Naturally, I give them a lightened up/nutrient-boosted twist because there are few things I love like comfort food that loves me right back.

These stuffed peppers felt exactly right. Warm and comforting, loaded with goodies, and ready for us to tuck in. They also come with a lot of options for changing them up AND a really fun way to make them for Halloween.

Read on, friends!

Taco Quinoa Stuffed Peppers - Stuffed Pepper Jack O'Lanterns are the PERFECT Halloween dinner!

A lot of stuffed peppers use rice as a base. We eat a LOT of rice as a gluten free family, so I love subbing in quinoa now and again to change things up. I mixed in some easy Tex-Mex flavors (a few veggies, some black beans, fresh herbs, and warm seasonings). Then, to tie everything together, I spooned in a bit of salsa. I gave everything a stir and loaded those peppers till they wouldn’t hold any more!

I typically do my stuffed peppers by slicing them in half lengthwise, but for a fun and festive Halloween twist, I wanted to show you an easy way to turn them into Jack ‘O’ Lanterns. It’s easy!

Taco Quinoa Stuffed Peppers - Stuffed Pepper Jack O'Lanterns are the PERFECT Halloween dinner!

Instead of halving them, I simply cut off the top (like I would a pumpkin), remove the seeds and membranes, then use a sharp knife to cut out some eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Done! They’re a bit larger per person, but they look like adorable little Jack ‘O’ Lanterns!

Whether you make them the “regular” way or carve up some bell pepper Jack ‘O’ Lanterns, these taco quinoa stuffed peppers are the perfect healthy comfort food!

Taco Stuffed Peppers - Love these quinoa stuffed peppers. The filling is SO good! (Vegan & Gluten Free)

Notes on the Recipe:

A Tip on Peppers – One thing I don’t love about stuffed peppers is when the pepper never really gets soft. You can speed things along by microwaving the peppers for a minute or two before stuffing them. I prefer to add a little water to my baking dish, which helps them steam and soften without burning.

Change Them Up! Feel free to get creative with your add-ins here. Stir in some corn, some green chiles, or even a little taco beef, chorizo, or cheese (if you’re not eating meatless).

Another easy way to change the flavor is by swapping out your salsa. Try using salsa verde, chipotle salsa, or even something with a sweet note, like mango salsa! Sprouts carries a LOT of yummy flavors (their tomatillo salsa is one of my all-time favorites).

Make-Ahead Tips. You can prepare these as a freezer meal by stuffing and freezing the peppers before baking. Stuff the peppers, freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag or freeze directly in an oven-safe container. Cook straight from the freezer, adding an extra 8-10 minutes or so to the cook time.

What to Serve With Them. Since this is pretty warm and filling, we serve them with a light salad or this Honey Lime Fruit Salad (swap out the honey for agave for a vegan option!).

Taco Quinoa Stuffed Peppers - These vegan stuffed peppers have an amazing quinoa filling with a taco twist. So much flavor, so very good for you.

SERVE THEM WITH:

  • Our Favorite Fresh Salsa
  • My ULTIMATE Guide to Guacamole
  • Creamy Avocado Ranch (an awesome sour cream alternative!)
  • Slow Cooker Refried Beans
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Taco Quinoa Stuffed Peppers - These vegan stuffed peppers have an amazing quinoa filling with a taco twist. So much flavor, so very good for you.

Taco Quinoa Stuffed Peppers (Vegan + Gluten Free!)


  • Author: One Lovely Life
  • Total Time: About 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4-8 Servings 1x
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Description

Taco Quinoa Stuffed Peppers – These vegan stuffed peppers have an amazing quinoa filling with a taco twist. So much flavor, so very good for you. (Gluten Free, Vegan)


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 Bell Peppers (halved or tops cut off–see notes)
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 (15oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup salsa (like Sprouts brand)
  • 1/4 cup finely minced red onion
  • Juice of 1/2 a lime
  • 2–4 Tbsp fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 tsp cumin, like Sprouts brand organic
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder, like Sprouts brand organic
  • salt
  • To serve (optional):
  • Avocado or guacamole
  • Salsa
  • Your favorite taco toppings (like sour cream, cheese, etc.)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Prepare a baking dish (8×8 if you’re doing them as Jack O’Lanterns or 9×13″ if you’re halving them) by filling it with 1/2″ water.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together quinoa, black beans, salsa, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, chili powder, and a pinch of salt.
  4. Scoop quinoa filling into peppers or pepper halves. Carefully place in your baking dish. Cover dish with foil. Bake 40-50 minutes, or until peppers are your desired tenderness. Enjoy with additional salsa, avocado, or your favorite taco toppings!

Notes

CUTTING YOUR PEPPERS: I typically halve my peppers lengthwise (stem to bottom) and remove the seeds and membranes before stuffing. To turn them into Jack ‘O’ Lanterns, I simply cut off the top (like I would a pumpkin), remove the seeds and membranes, then use a sharp knife to cut out some eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Done!

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 Minutes
  • Category: Main Dish, Vegetarian
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Keywords: Stuffed peppers, quinoa stuffed peppers, taco stuffed peppers, taco quinoa stuffed peppers, stuffed pepper jack o'lantern, stuffed pepper recipe

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These little stuffed pepper Jack O'Lanterns are the cutest Halloween dinner! (gluten free, vegan)

Filed Under: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Halloween, Main Dish, meatless main dishes, Tex Mex, Vegan

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Comments

  1. Ellen

    October 24, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    I’ve always loved stuffed peppers, and these look extra healthy. Your “tips on peppers” are really helpful. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Emily

      October 24, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      I’m so glad!

      Reply
  2. Allison

    October 30, 2017 at 8:16 am

    Hi Emily, These look so fun and delicious! How long do you typically cook them for? (I wasn’t sure if I missed the instructions in the recipe?) I love the Jack-o-lantern idea!

    Reply
    • Emily

      October 30, 2017 at 10:03 am

      Allison – I’m SO thankful for your comment! Somehow, my recipe instructions were deleted from the recipe card and I had no idea! I’ve corrected it now. I typically bake them between 40-50 minutes. They get tender and delicious!

      Reply
      • Allison

        November 2, 2017 at 4:13 am

        Thank you so much! I can’t wait to try them! 🙂

        Reply

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about emily

Hi, I’m Emily! I create fresh, flexible family recipes to help you feel more confident in the kitchen. Whether you’ve got picky eaters, food allergies/intolerances to navigate, or just a serious craving to satisfy, I want to help you eat delicious, gorgeous meals without a lot of fuss.

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