Delicious & Healthy Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers: A Low-Carb Weeknight Meal Prep Favorite
Searching for a dinner idea that effortlessly combines health, flavor, and convenience? Look no further than these incredible **Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers**. They are designed to fit seamlessly into your weekly routine, offering a nutritious and satisfying meal that’s both **low carb** and brimming with delicious taste. Beyond being a fantastic weeknight dinner solution, their ease of preparation and reheating makes them an absolute dream for **meal prep**, ensuring you have healthy options readily available throughout your busy week.
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Growing up, my kitchen was often filled with the comforting aroma of my grandfather’s **Italian-style stuffed peppers**. These were a true family staple, a recipe passed down through generations, typically featuring whole bell peppers generously filled and baked until tender. While those classic, hearty versions hold a special place in my heart – and yes, I’ve even shared my own take on them from way back in 2008 – they undeniably require a bit more cooking time. In today’s fast-paced world, where every minute counts, I’ve found myself gravitating towards quicker, equally delicious alternatives.
That’s where the revelation of making **stuffed pepper halves** came in! It feels like a genuine “hello, why didn’t I think of this sooner?” moment. By simply slicing the bell peppers lengthwise, you drastically reduce the cooking time, transforming a traditional, longer-cooking dish into a speedy weeknight wonder. This small tweak has made all the difference, allowing me to enjoy the comforting flavors of stuffed peppers without the lengthy wait.
These simple yet utterly satisfying **Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers** have quickly become a cherished part of our weekly meal plan. I’ve prepared them numerous times over the past year, and each time, I’m reminded of how effortlessly they come together. Their delicious taste, combined with their nutritional benefits and quick cooking time, makes them an unbeatable choice for busy evenings when you want something homemade and wholesome without the fuss.
What I particularly love about this **Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers recipe** is its delightful simplicity, requiring just a handful of straightforward ingredients. We’re talking only six core components to create a truly flavorful and satisfying meal! One of my favorite tricks for boosting nutrition in ground meat dishes, whether I’m making tostadas, hearty meat sauces, or these fantastic stuffed peppers, is to incorporate a generous amount of spinach and baby kale. I typically grab a convenient bag of this blend during my weekly grocery run, and it works wonders.
My family, bless their hearts, has grown accustomed to this practice and rarely questions it. This means I can happily provide them with an extra dose of essential vitamins and minerals without any fuss, making dinner both delicious and incredibly nutritious. It’s a fantastic way to subtly add green goodness to their plates!
(**Mom tip:** If you’re looking to introduce more veggies into your family’s diet, start incorporating them into familiar dishes like this when your kids are young. It helps establish it as the norm! But remember, it’s truly never too late to start making these healthy adjustments to your cooking habits. Every little bit counts towards a more wholesome lifestyle.)
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Beyond their amazing taste, one of the stand-out features of these **Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers** is how incredibly well they lend themselves to **meal prep**. Imagine having a ready-to-go, wholesome lunch or dinner waiting for you in the fridge! They reheat beautifully, making them an ideal choice for busy individuals or families looking to streamline their weekly cooking. Prepare a batch on Sunday, and enjoy healthy, flavorful meals throughout the week without any extra effort.
These stuffed peppers are also excellent for portion control, naturally dividing into individual servings. This makes managing your intake simple, especially if you’re following a **low carb diet** or simply aiming for balanced meals. They’re hearty enough to keep you satisfied, yet light enough not to weigh you down, making them a perfect fit for any healthy eating plan.
Print Recipe
Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers
- Author: Aggie Goodman
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beef
- Method: Oven
These healthy and flavorful stuffed bell peppers feature a savory lean ground beef and spinach filling, seasoned perfectly and topped with salsa and cheese. A simple, low-carb, and family-friendly meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights and excellent for meal prepping!
Ingredients
- 6 medium sized bell peppers, cut longways and seeded
- 1.5 lb lean ground beef
- 3 – 4 handfuls baby spinach and kale blend (I use this one), cut into smaller pieces or torn
- 2 tablespoons your favorite taco or fajita seasoning (I am currently obsessed with this one)
- your favorite salsa (I used this Roasted Tomato Salsa)
- shredded Mexican blend cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200°C).
- In a large nonstick skillet or cast iron pan, cook the lean ground beef over medium-high heat. As it cooks, use a wooden spoon to carefully crumble the meat. Once it’s about halfway browned, add your favorite taco or fajita seasoning, stirring well to ensure the beef is evenly coated. Continue to cook until the beef is fully browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat. Add the cut spinach and kale blend to the skillet with the cooked beef. Stir and cook for about 4-5 minutes, or until the spinach has completely wilted and cooked down. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Prepare your bell peppers by placing them in a large glass baking dish or oven-safe pan that has been lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Evenly spoon the beef and spinach mixture into each bell pepper half, filling them generously. Top each stuffed pepper half with approximately 1 tablespoon of your favorite salsa. Place the baking dish into the preheated 400°F (200°C) oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes. At this point, check the peppers for tenderness; they should be soft but still hold their shape. If they feel too firm, bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle about a tablespoon of shredded Mexican blend cheese over each pepper, and return to the oven for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy!
These adaptable and delicious **Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers** have been celebrated for their low-carb profile, even being featured in Kalyn’s Kitchen’s renowned collection of Ten Low Carb Stuffed Peppers recipes. Their versatility and healthy attributes make them a standout choice for anyone seeking flavorful, mindful eating options.
Tips for Perfect Stuffed Peppers & Variations
To ensure your **Beef and Spinach Stuffed Peppers** turn out perfectly every time, consider these helpful tips:
- Choosing Your Peppers: Any color of bell pepper works beautifully! Red, yellow, and orange peppers tend to be sweeter, while green peppers offer a slightly more robust, less sweet flavor. Choose peppers that are firm and free of blemishes.
- Meat Alternatives: While lean ground beef is fantastic here, you can easily substitute it with ground turkey or ground chicken for an even lighter meal. Ensure it’s cooked thoroughly before stuffing the peppers.
- Spice It Up: If you love a little heat, choose a spicier salsa or add a pinch of chili flakes to your beef mixture. A dash of smoked paprika or cumin can also enhance the depth of flavor.
- Cheese Options: Mexican blend cheese melts beautifully, but feel free to experiment with other cheeses like Monterey Jack, cheddar, or even a sprinkle of Parmesan for a different twist.
- Make it a Meal: These stuffed peppers are a complete meal on their own, but if you want to add a side, consider a simple green salad, a spoonful of cauliflower rice, or a side of steamed green beans.
- Freezing for Later: You can prepare the filling ahead of time and freeze it. Once thawed, proceed with stuffing the peppers and baking. Cooked stuffed peppers can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven or microwave.
LIKE BEEF? DISCOVER MORE EASY & HEALTHY BEEF RECIPES:
If you’re a fan of flavorful and wholesome beef dishes, you’re in for a treat! We love incorporating lean beef into our weekly meals, and these recipes are some of our family’s favorites, offering a variety of cooking methods and tastes. Perfect for expanding your healthy dinner repertoire.
- London Broil with Mustard, Balsamic Vinegar and Garlic Marinade – A tender and flavorful London broil, marinated to perfection, makes for an impressive yet simple main course.
- Grilled Flank Steak with Brown Sugar Rub – This recipe offers a delightful balance of sweet and savory, resulting in a perfectly grilled flank steak that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
- Easy Pepper Steak – A classic, quick, and vibrant dish packed with colorful bell peppers and tender strips of steak, ideal for a stir-fry night.
A Few More Simple and Healthy Dinner Ideas for You to Try:
Beyond beef, we’re always on the lookout for diverse and delicious healthy dinner options. These recipes offer a fantastic way to keep your meal plans fresh and exciting, proving that healthy eating can be incredibly flavorful and easy to achieve.
Salsa Chicken and Bean Tostadas
A quick, vibrant, and customizable meal perfect for busy weeknights, these tostadas are loaded with flavor and wholesome ingredients.
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Spring Vegetable Pasta with Pesto
Celebrate fresh seasonal produce with this light and flavorful pasta dish, brightened by a fragrant pesto sauce. A wonderful vegetarian option!
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Leftover Chili Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Transform your leftover chili into an exciting, low-carb, and incredibly satisfying meal with these clever zucchini boats. An excellent way to reduce food waste!
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For even more wholesome and inspiring meal ideas, explore our curated Healthy Recipes Pinterest Board:
Follow Aggie’s Kitchen’s board Healthy Recipes on Pinterest.