Fun and colorful Mexican-inspired Quinoa Stuffed Peppers! Easy seasoned quinoa, black beans, and corn are stuffed into these pretty pepper packages for an awesome, healthy meal. (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)
These fun & colorful quinoa stuffed peppers are a fiesta for the eyes and the mouth ๐ It starts with a delicious (and incredibly easy) Mexican-inspired quinoa filling with tons of flavorโฆ all stuffed in a pretty pepper package! By the time it takes the quinoa to cook, everything is prepped and ready to go. Then just let the oven do the work.
Customize your Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
While you can follow the recipe below, feel free to also customize it based on your own tastes. It’s a fun recipe to play around with. Swap out the black beans for pinto beans, add a can of diced tomatoes for a juicier filling (we love this!), exchange the quinoa for rice, or also add spice with smoky chipotle, etc. It’s also great with some restaurant-style blender salsa scooped on top before serving. Hope you enjoy this recipe as well – let the pepper party commence!
PS – come join The Garden Grazer on Instagram and share a photo if you make this! (Or leave a review/star rating below if you give it a try – your feedback is always very appreciated!)
Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 4 large bell peppers
- 3/4 cup quinoa (dry, uncooked)
- 15 oz. can black beans
- 1 cup corn (I use frozen, thawed)
- 2 green onions
- 2/3 cup salsa
- 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. chili powder
Toppings of choice (optional):
- Guacamole, salsa, vegan cheese or sour cream, hot sauce, fresh cilantro, etc.
Instructions
- Cook quinoa according to package directions with 1 1/2 cups water/broth. (I often use vegetable broth in place of water for more flavor.)
- Meanwhile, halve bell peppers and remove stems, seeds and ribs.
- Rinse and drain black beans, thaw corn, and slice green onions.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cooked quinoa and all other ingredients except bell peppers. Stir to combine, and adjust taste if necessary (salt, more seasonings, nutritional yeast).
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a 9ร13โณ baking dish, place pepper halves, and generously stuff them with the quinoa filling. Lightly press down to compact and fill all the crevices.
- Cover with tin foil and bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove foil, and bake 10 minutes more. (Or longer for softer peppers.)
- Serve with any desired toppings.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving (estimate)
If you’re enjoying these quinoa stuffed peppers, also feel free to check out these Easy Portobello Fajitas, Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili, or this roundup of 50 Awesome Vegan Black Bean Recipes!
I've recently become a fan of stuffed peppers and this version looks amazing! Looking forward to trying this recipe ๐
xo – Michelle
Hi Michelle! Hope you enjoy! Stuffed peppers are such a great way to change up the dinner routine – they seem so fun and festive! ๐
what is the nutritional yeast for?
Hi Cindy! Nutritional yeast has a very nice cheesy/nutty flavor – so good! You can leave it out if you don't have it though ๐
Nutritional yeast also has 8g of protein per tbsp. A great way to add protein to a vegetarian dish.
Haaaaaa too much cumin! Great recipe but only put a pinch of cumin. It's a very strong spice that should never be used in that amount. To an entire gallon of green chile I add only a pinch. Cumin in small quantities compliments flavor, a teaspoon and a half would OVERWHELM!!!!!
To some of us, there is no such thing as too much cumin. LOL.
To each their own. People's tastes are different. I like the amount given in this recipe. It's perfect for me. You need not express your sentiments here. It's not your blog. No need to be rude. Or attempt to force your opinion on others based on your likes alone. In my opinion, it DOES NOT OVERWHELM!!!!!!
A pinch of anything does absolutely nothing! All good cooks know that!
There can never be "TOO MUCH" cumin in anything! I keep a minimum of 2 jars at all times!
Love cumin! Iโll probably use more than the recipe suggests! I guess we all have different taste buds! Making these today for meal prep!
Love quinoa anything! Delicious
Hi Rami! Agree – it's such a nutrient-packed, versatile ingredient! ๐
Me too. I discovered it late in life, like 6 years ago and now use quinoa almost exclusively instead of rice or pasta.
I made them today too!! Delish! New family fave! Thanks for a delish recipe!
Wonderful Pam! So fun to hear they're a new family favorite – thanks for the sweet message! Have a great week ๐
I found this recipe in my quest for dairy free dinner ideas. It is so good, thank you for sharing. We will be making these again very soon.
Hi Katie! Very nice to hear – glad you enjoyed them and are looking forward to making them again! ๐ Have a great week!
Do these freeze well?
Hi Jamie! I’ve personally never tried it with these, but have heard stuffed peppers freeze quite well! I’d probably try cooking them first, then be sure they cool off completely before freezing. (And also be sure they’re completely sealed in the freezer.) ๐ Hope you enjoy. Would love to hear how it goes if you give it a try!
We typically make a double batch. One to cook tonight, one to freeze. The frozen ones turn out great but in order to cook them completely, the peppers cook down and become a bit softer than the first batch. I enjoy both versions equally.
Wonderful to hear! Many thanks for the kind feedback, and sharing your freezing experience – very helpful ๐ Wishing you a great weekend! -Kaitlin
Is there a replacement for the yeast? I'm not familiar with it.
Nutritional yeast is found in a whole foods/health food store. It is a powdered substance that is used to mimic a cheese flavor.
Thanks for answering Jill! <3 I'd recommend trying it Shay! Otherwise you could substitute it with your favorite non-dairy cheese shreds ๐ Hope you enjoy!!
Has anyone prepared the filling 2days before and then put in peppers and baked?
Hi Janet! I've never done that, but I like the idea! I'm guessing the filling would do just fine cooked beforehand. Or you could also just cook the quinoa ahead of time. Would love to hear if you give it a go! ๐
Do you have a calorie count on them
Hi Connie! I don't provide nutritional stats, but if you'd like to calculate your own you can try this website:
http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
I've heard it's pretty straightforward and easy to use. Hope that helps! ๐
Update: I know this is an old comment, but just wanted to let you know that the estimated nutritional content is now provided on the site! (You can find it below each recipe in the post.) Hope you find it useful! ๐
these are amazing. i will def add this to my recipe book! Thank YOU
Wonderful Dru! Glad you enjoyed them enough to add to your book ๐
I saw this recipe and immediately wanted to try them! They are almost done cooking and they smell great. Cant wait to try them!! Thank You so much for Sharing this recipe! ๐
Yay! Hope you enjoyed them the other night! We made them a few nights ago too (and I just finished the leftovers for breakfast haha.) Have a great week!
Hey there! I love stuffing my peppers w/ a quinoa mixture-and I love the idea of using nutritional yeast to keep it non-dairy while getting that flavor!
My question is-have you ever made a bunch of these and froze a few? I am trying to fill my freezer w/ some easy healthy weeknight dinners and stuffed peppers would be a welcome addition! Thanks!
Hi!! Stuffed peppers are so fun aren't they? ๐ Personally I've never tried freezing them, but I've heard they do pretty well and hold their shape. Just a guess but I'd probably try freezing them before baking. Would love to hear if you give it a go and how it turns out! Have a great weekend!!
These look awesome I am a vegetarian but my fiance is not I would like to make half this way and half subbing ground beef for the beans. Do you know, should I cook the beef before filling the peppers or just add it raw and it will cook in the oven?
Hi! Definitely cook it before filling. Though I'd encourage you to try it all with beans first to see if he likes it! ๐ Lots of meat-eaters end up loving it this way!
These look very tempting i am looking forward to making them. Can you tell me what nutricional yeast is. Is it like vegimite
Hi Elaine! I've never had vegemite before, but nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast with a slightly cheesy/nutty flavor – it's a great vegan substitute for cheese! It's also packed with lots of vitamins and minerals, including protein, fiber, and B12. We use it all the time! Hope you enjoy the peppers ๐
I made these for dinner tonight and they were delicious! My family loved them!!
Yay! Great to hear the family enjoyed them Lauren! Have a great weekend! ๐
I've just got to try these! They look delicious x
Hope you love 'em! ๐
Just made these tonight and they were sooooooo delicious!! ๐
Awesome to hear you enjoyed!! Have a great week ๐
Do you think I could cook these and then freeze some to eat later? Or would the cooked pepper not freeze well? Thanks for the recipe!
Hi! I've personally never tried freezing these, but just read up on freezing stuffed bell peppers and they do quite well! Try cooking them first, then be sure they cool off completely before freezing. And also totally seal them up in the freezer ๐ Hope you enjoy. Would love to hear how it goes if you give it a try!
Do you think rice could sub for the quinoa? Looks really yummy!
Hi Janet! Definitely! People have commented that they tried that variation with success ๐ It's a fun recipe to play around with! I also love adding a can of diced tomatoes for a little more juice/flavor. Hope you enjoy!!
What do you serve these with? I would like to make them for my family but am trying to think of sides that would complement.
Hi there! This response is way late (apologies!), but I'd suggest a fresh salad, fruit, or simple veggie dish which would all be super easy. Stuffed peppers are kind of tricky to pair with – I feel like they're an all-in-one dish in themselves! ๐
OMG, this is good and I even made extra to freeze. I have only been eating a plant based diet for a couple of years. Your recipes are so helpful, easy, tasty.Thank you for sharing. You are a great cook and teacher.
Hi Patsy! What a sweet comment, thanks so much for your kind words ๐ I'm thrilled to hear you're enjoying the recipes and it's SO great to hear you're plant-based as well! (My husband and I have been vegan for about 4-5 years now and absolutely love it.) ๐ Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment – hope you continue to enjoy the recipes! Wishing you a lovely rest of the week <3
I'm allergic to quinoa, so I replaced it with a mix of cooked brown and white rice and my kids loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
Hey Jennifer! So fantastic – I love your adaption to make it work for you!! Glad you guys enjoyed ๐ Have a great week! -Kaitlin
Made them tonight for dinner. I added shredded chicken. DELICIOUS!!
Another fantastic recipe! Made this to a T (well added 1c of peas haha) but this is soooo good and perfect portions! Love this
Yay! Glad you enjoyed this recipe too, Jackie! <3 YUM to the peas addition!!
I love this different just worried about sodium
These were really tasty. Great recipe.
Hi Mary! So glad you enjoyed them, thanks for the feedback! ๐
I am making these for the second time tonight. My daughter is vegan, so she is the reason we tried it the first time. Per her request, I'm leaving out the smoked paprika (we figured out it was the smokiness she disliked) and I will be cooking them in the crockpot to make them extra tender. Can't wait!
Hi! Apologies for my very late response – hope you enjoyed these the second time! Would love to hear how they worked in the crockpot!! Take care ๐
I just made these for myself and my two 6 year olds…. The verdict…… These are amazing! My kids devoured them. Wish I found this receive sooner!!
Awesome!! I love when it’s a meal everyone can enjoy ๐ Appreciate your feedback! Hope you all have a beautiful week!
I made this and It came out pretty good…I did need to add some guacamole on top for a little something extra…next time I may try some homemade red sauce with it. Overall very good though!
This was such a tasty dish! I used brown rice instead of quinoa. Diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and fresh jalapeรฑos instead of salsa. I added some sautรฉed onions and mushrooms to the mix and I topped mine with some vegan mayo mixed with Trader Joe’s spicy Zhoung sauce. So delicious! Will be posting to my instagram page and will definitely tag you! Can’t wait to try other recipes of yours.
Hey Alyssa! YAY!! Looove your adaptions so much! ๐ Thanks for coming back to rate it and leave such a sweet message – very appreciated! Wishing you a most beautiful week and hope you enjoy any other recipes you try! -Kaitlin
Is the salsa on the ingredient list for a topping or are you supposed to mix that with the quinoa?? So looking forward to making these!
Hi Ashlyn! Go ahead and mix the salsa right into the filling with all the other ingredients ๐ Apologies that was unclear in the directions! Hope you enjoy these & have a beautiful week!
These are delish! My peppers were a little small and yet I could only fit 7 halves in my 13ร9. We used mostly cooked quinoa (1/2 cup dry) but added in some cooked brown rice (added 3/4 cup rice to the cooked quinoa). We also used pineapple salsa, didn’t use the nutritional yeast or as many spices, but instead melted shredded cheese on them in the last 5 minutes of bake time. The recipe works really well even if you have to tweak it based on your preferences or pantry. Will make again!
Hey Jessica! YAY! So awesome to hear you enjoyed these and I love your adaptions! I agree, such a fun & versatile meal to play around with based on what you have ๐ Thanks so much for coming back to leave such a sweet comment and recipe rating – very appreciated! Wishing you a beautiful week! -Kaitlin
Needs longer bake time for the peppers to cook down softer
Do you add the salsa from the ingredient list into the mixture or is it a topping?
Hi Anne! Yep, the 2/3 cup salsa listed in the recipe goes right into the mixture! (But feel free to use even more for topping afterwards if you’d like!) ๐ Apologies that wasn’t clear in the directions. Hope you enjoy if you give them a try!
This is one of my family’s favorite new recipes! My kids just devour these, and my husband who has always been ‘meh’ with traditional stuffed peppers would eat a whole try of these ones! It’s been a great one to add into our new vegetarian lifestyle meal plans. Someone will ask for them at least once every other week!
Haha, that’s awesome! Fun to hear you’re all enjoying these so much – thanks for the very kind feedback ๐ Wishing you all a most lovely week!
Hi there!
Can the nutritional yeast be omitted or replaced in this recipe?
Canโt wait to try! Thank you!
Hi Roxanna! Sure, you can simply omit it if you’d like ๐ (Or feel free to replace with your favorite vegan cheese shreds for some cheesy flavor.) Hope you enjoy if you give it a try!
Stuffed peppers are one of my favorite dishes. They are very easy to prepare and always very tasty. I grow peppers on my own since 2 years, Each year I try to grow different variety so this time I am growing https://gardenseedsmarket.com/sweet-pepper-mixed-seeds-capsicum-annuum.html . Some peppers grown from these seeds are already ready to pick up. They are a bit sweet and perfect to get stuffed. Your filling looks amazing, I don’t have quinoa so I will use something else like rice. Hope it will be also good!
Wonderful! Love that you grow your own peppers. Rice would work very well too! Hope you enjoyed if you gave them a try ๐ Have a beautiful week!
Hi Kaitlin,
I made this tonight, simple and delicious. Thank you for a great recipe and for providing suggestions of additions.
absolutely delicious and easy. When adding diced tomatoes is that in addition to the salsa or in place of? Thank you.