One-Pan Unstuffed Pepper Skillet

Unstuffed peppers borrow the cozy flavors of classic stuffed peppers without the filling fuss. This one-pan skillet browns lean ground turkey with sweet bell peppers, tomatoes, and warm spices for a quick, hearty lunch.

Serves 4 · 10 min prep · 20 min cook

Estimate for one serving

• 365 cal
• 33g protein
• 18g carbs
• 18g fat
• 3g fiber

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Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 diced yellow onion
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 3 mixed colors diced bell peppers
• 1.5 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 can (14.5 oz) canned diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 2 cups cooked cauliflower rice
• 3/4 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 cut into wedges lime

Instructions

1. 1Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and break it apart with a wooden spoon; cook 5 to 6 minutes until no pink remains and edges start to brown.
2. 2Push turkey to the side and add diced onion. Sauté 2 minutes until translucent, then stir in minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. 3Add the diced bell peppers. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften but still hold a slight crunch and bright color.
4. 4Sprinkle chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper over the mixture. Stir 1 minute so the spices toast and coat everything evenly.
5. 5Pour in diced tomatoes with their juices and the tomato sauce. Bring to a lively simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook 5 minutes so flavors meld and liquid reduces slightly.
6. 6Fold in the cooked cauliflower rice and simmer 2 more minutes until heated through and the skillet looks cohesive rather than watery.
7. 7Scatter shredded cheese evenly across the top. Cover the skillet for 2 minutes off heat so the cheese melts into a gooey blanket.
8. 8Uncover, garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve straight from the pan with lime wedges. Portion into containers for easy high-protein lunch reheats that skip the stuffing step yet keep classic pepper flavor.