Stuffed Poblano Peppers – loaded with lean ground turkey, hearty rice and black beans, nutritious tomatoes and corn, and finished with melty cheese. It’s a Tex-Mex recipe that’s brimming with flavor!
Many of you have had classic stuffed peppers and these are similar but with a Southwestern flavor and poblano peppers (aka pasilla peppers) are used instead of bell peppers. Plus these are a bit of a healthier option too.
They come together easily and no boiling is required beforehand. You’ll just bake the peppers until they start to soften and while they bake you make the filling in a skillet on the stovetop. Then stuff the peppers and finish them off in the oven.
You really don’t need much else to serve with them, though if you wanted something else you can’t go wrong with tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole.
The key here is just to find the larger poblano peppers at the grocery store (those little ones wont fit much filling), and I like to find some that will sit flat on each side if possible.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers Recipe Ingredients
- 6 large poblano peppers, halved lengthwise, seeds and ribs removed
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 small)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup corn, fresh or frozen
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 10 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies, well drained in a sieve
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
How to Make Stuffed Poblano Peppers
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Par-bake pepper halves: Place pepper halves on a 13 by 9-inch baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until tender crisp, about 10 – 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile make the filling: Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds.
- Scoot mixture to one far side. Add ground turkey and break into chunks, season with salt and pepper. Let cook while tossing and crumbling, until nearly cooked through. Add corn then finish cooking turkey through.
- Remove from heat. Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, rice, black beans, chili powder, cumin and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in 1/2 cup of the Mexican cheese blend and the cilantro.
- Spoon filling into peppers filling them heaping full (you can press down slightly to fit more in). Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese blend over tops.
- Return to oven and bake until cheese is nicely melted and peppers are softened to liking, about 8 to 10 minutes longer.
Possible Variations
- Lean ground beef or ground chicken can be used in place of ground turkey.
- Brown rice or quinoa will work in place of white rice.
- You can use another cheese here in place of the Mexican cheese blend such as Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or cheddar cheese.
- These stuffed peppers can also be made spicy, just add cayenne pepper to the filling.
Storage
- Filled and baked peppers should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Reheat individual servings in the microwave on 50% power until heated through.
More Southwestern Recipes to Try
- Breakfast Burritos
- Breakfast Tacos
- Chicken Fajitas
- Navajo Tacos
- Stuffed Peppers
Review Recipe
Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Loaded with lean ground turkey, hearty rice and black beans, nutritious tomatoes and corn, and they’re finished with melty cheese. It’s a Tex-Mex dish that’s brimming with flavor!
Servings: 6 (2 halves per person)
Prep20 minutesCook25 minutesReady in: 45 minutes
Ingredients6 large (about 1 3/4 lbs) poblano peppers, halved lengthwise, seeds and ribs removed1 Tbsp olive oil1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 small)1 Tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves)1 lb. lean ground turkey1 cup corn, fresh or frozen1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies, well drained in a sieve1/2 cup tomato sauce1 cup (slightly packed) cooked white rice1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained1 Tbsp chili powder1 tsp ground cumin1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided1/4 cup chopped cilantroSalt and black pepper
InstructionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pepper halves on a 13 by 9-inch baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until tender crisp, about 10 - 15 minutes.Meanwhile make the filling. Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds. Scoot mixture to one far side. Add ground turkey and break into chunks, season with salt and pepper. Let cook while tossing and crumbling, until nearly cooked through. Add corn then finish cooking turkey through.Remove from heat. Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, rice, black beans, chili powder, cumin and season with salt and pepper to taste.Stir in 1/2 cup of the Mexican cheese blend and the cilantro.Spoon filling into peppers filling them heaping full (you can press down slightly to fit more in). Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese blend over tops.Return to oven and bake until cheese is nicely melted and peppers are softened to liking, about 8 to 10 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Amount Per Serving
Calories 384 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%Saturated Fat 6g38%Trans Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 1gMonounsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 69mg23%Sodium 620mg27%Potassium 1020mg29%Carbohydrates 37g12%Fiber 9g38%Sugar 8g9%Protein 33g66% Vitamin A 1883IU38%Vitamin C 106mg128%Calcium 271mg27%Iron 4mg22% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Course: Main CourseCuisine: Tex-MexKeyword: stuffed poblano peppers Author: Jaclyn
Review Recipe
Nutrition Facts Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Amount Per Serving
Calories 384 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%Saturated Fat 6g38%Trans Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 1gMonounsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 69mg23%Sodium 620mg27%Potassium 1020mg29%Carbohydrates 37g12%Fiber 9g38%Sugar 8g9%Protein 33g66% Vitamin A 1883IU38%Vitamin C 106mg128%Calcium 271mg27%Iron 4mg22% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
Nutrition Facts
Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Amount Per Serving
Calories 384 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 69mg23%
Sodium 620mg27%
Potassium 1020mg29%
Carbohydrates 37g12%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 33g66%
Vitamin A 1883IU38%
Vitamin C 106mg128%
Calcium 271mg27%
Iron 4mg22%
- Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main CourseCuisine: Tex-MexKeyword: stuffed poblano peppers
Author: Jaclyn
