Chicken Parmesan & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

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Chicken Parm gets a fun low-carb and gluten-free twist with these cheesy stuffed peppers with chicken and quinoa. Serve with a salad for a healthy dinner that's easy to prep too.

a recipe photo of the stuffed peppers
Prep Time:
15 mins
Additional Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 stuffed peppers

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed

  • 1 ¼ cups water

  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

  • 1 ½ cups lower-sodium marinara sauce

  • cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • ¾ cup sliced fresh basil, divided

  • 4 large red bell peppers (about 8 ounces each)

  • 2 ounces low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add quinoa; cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 seconds. Add water; increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Stir in chicken, marinara, Parmesan and 1/2 cup basil.

  2. Trim top 1/2 inch from peppers; remove seeds and membranes. Arrange the peppers, cut-sides up, in an 8-inch-square glass baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave on High for 3 minutes. Remove plastic wrap. Spoon the quinoa mixture evenly into the pepper halves (about 1 1/4 cups each).

  3. Bake the stuffed peppers until they are softened, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella. Continue baking until the cheese is melted, 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1/4 cup basil.

Tips

To make ahead: The peppers can be prepared through Step 2 up to 1 day in advance. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature while preheating the oven. Continue with Step 3.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

559 Calories
18g Fat
49g Carbs
48g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 1 stuffed bell pepper
Calories 559
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 49g 18%
Dietary Fiber 8g 30%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 48g 95%
Total Fat 18g 24%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 104mg 35%
Vitamin A 5915IU 118%
Vitamin C 218mg 243%
Folate 173mcg 43%
Sodium 522mg 23%
Calcium 245mg 19%
Iron 5mg 29%
Magnesium 149mg 36%
Potassium 969mg 21%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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