Name: Stuffed Banana Peppers
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce; 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed; 8 ounces sweet or hot Italian turkey sausage (2 links), casings removed; 0.3333 cup stemmed, seeded and chopped pickled hot cherry peppers; 0.3333 cup thinly sliced fresh basil, plus basil leaves for garnish; 3 tablespoons whole-wheat panko; 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic; 0.6666 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, divided; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided; 8 medium fresh banana peppers (1 1/2 lbs.)

Stuffed Banana Peppers

5.0

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1 Review

These stuffed banana peppers are filled with spicy sausage, tender spinach and Pecorino Romano cheese, with zippy chopped hot cherry peppers to sharpen the flavor. A layer of tomato sauce at the bottom adds a hint of sweetness. If you want to tame the heat, use sweet Italian turkey sausage in place of hot.

By Liz Mervosh

Updated on March 28, 2023

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Stuffed Banana Peppers — Photo: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Styling / Ruth Blackburn

Active Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs 10 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Profile:

Egg Free Low Carbohydrate Nut-Free Soy-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
8 ounces sweet or hot Italian turkey sausage (2 links), casings removed
⅓ cup stemmed, seeded and chopped pickled hot cherry peppers
⅓ cup thinly sliced fresh basil, plus basil leaves for garnish
3 tablespoons whole-wheat panko
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
⅔ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, divided
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
8 medium fresh banana peppers (1 1/2 lbs.)

Directions

Position oven rack 8 inches from heat source; preheat to 350°F. Spread tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch broiler-safe baking dish.
Squeeze spinach over the sink to remove as much liquid as possible. Transfer to a medium bowl; pull apart clumps. Add sausage, cherry peppers, basil, panko, garlic, 1/3 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon oil; mix well with your hands.
Trim and discard tops from banana peppers. Cut a lengthwise slit into each pepper; do not cut all the way through. Remove and discard seeds. Stuff the peppers evenly with the sausage mixture (about 3 tablespoons each). Arrange the peppers, slits-down, in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle evenly with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Cover the baking dish tightly with a double layer of foil.
Bake until the peppers are tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup cheese. Set oven to broil; broil until the cheese is melted and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with basil leaves, if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

169	Calories
11g	Fat
11g	Carbs
9g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 169
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 11g	4%
Dietary Fiber 5g	18%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 9g	18%
Total Fat 11g	14%
Saturated Fat 3g	15%
Cholesterol 24mg	8%
Vitamin A 4751IU	95%
Sodium 377mg	16%
Potassium 395mg	8%

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.