Stuffed Peppers Without Meat (Easy Vegetarian Recipe with Quinoa & Beans)

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Try these delicious stuffed peppers without meat, filled with quinoa, beans, and tomato sauce for a healthy, protein-packed vegetarian meal everyone will love!

Stuffed bell peppers without meat in a baking dish.

Recipe Summary

✅ Recipe Name: Stuffed Peppers Without Meat
🕒 Prep Time: 40 minutes
🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Serves: 2
🍽️ Calories: 368 kcal
🥣 Ingredients: Bell peppers, quinoa, beans, onion, garlic, salt & pepper, Italian seasoning, tomato sauce, water.
👏 Why You'll Love It: Simple ingredients, made with real, nutrient-dense ingredients, family-approved.

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Growing up in Serbia, stuffed peppers were my ultimate summer comfort meal. My mom always made them with ground pork and rice-a true classic! Just like in my Gluten-Free Meat & Rice Stuffed Peppers.

But when I started exploring cleaner and lighter meals, I created this meatless version using quinoa, beans, and tomato sauce, and I was amazed by how hearty and delicious it turned out.

Even my non-vegetarian family members love them! They're packed with plant-based protein and Mediterranean flavor, making them the perfect balance of comfort and nutrition.

👉 If you enjoy meatless dinners, try my Spinach Pasta next; it's another satisfying vegetarian favorite.

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Recipe Summary
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Bell Pepper Varieties
Nutrition Benefits of Bell Peppers
🧄 Ingredients You'll Need
🥣 How to Make Stuffed Peppers Without Meat
💡 Tips for the Best Meatless Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed Peppers without Meat FAQs
Other Tasty Dinner Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

❤️ Hearty and satisfying: Thanks to quinoa, beans, and melted mozzarella, these stuffed peppers are full of protein and fiber that keep you full and energized.
⏱️ Quick and easy: Simple ingredients and minimal prep-perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
🍽️ Family-approved: Even meat lovers will enjoy this flavorful and cheesy vegetarian meal!
🥦 Clean and wholesome: Made with real, nutrient-dense ingredients and no processed fillers.
🍴 Customize: Use any color of bell peppers or swap quinoa for rice, couscous, or lentils.

Bell Pepper Varieties

Bell peppers come in beautiful colors: red, yellow, orange, and green, each with a slightly different sweetness level. They all belong to the Capsicum annuum family and are often called sweet peppers.

The color of each pepper depends on its ripeness. Green peppers are harvested earlier, making them slightly less sweet (and usually less expensive), while red peppers stay on the vine longer and develop a richer flavor and higher vitamin content.

I love mixing different colors when making stuffed bell peppers, it makes the dish bright, fresh, and full of nutrients.

Nutrition Benefits of Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are not just tasty, they're loaded with vitamins and antioxidants.
One medium-sized red bell pepper (about 119 g) provides:

1.2 g protein
7.2 g carbs
2.5 g fiber
152 mg vitamin C (200% of the daily value!)
54.7 mcg folate
3720 IU vitamin A
1.88 mg vitamin E

They support immune health, vision, and skin, and pair perfectly with the anti-inflammatory Mediterranean-style diet I follow and recommend.

🧄 Ingredients You'll Need

Bell peppers: Choose any color you love: red for sweetness, yellow for brightness, or green for a slightly earthy taste.
Quinoa: A nutritious grain that adds plant-based protein. If you like quinoa, try my Mason Jar Salad with Chickpeas and Quinoa.
Cooked beans: Use white, black, or kidney beans for extra protein and fiber.
Onion
Garlic
Salt and black pepper
Italian seasoning: A mix of herbs that gives your stuffed peppers a Mediterranean twist.
Tomato sauce: Keeps the filling moist and adds a rich, tangy flavor. I like using a good-quality jarred tomato sauce for convenience, but if you have fresh, ripe tomatoes on hand, making your own adds an extra layer of flavor. You can also check out my Turkey Bolognese with Jar Tomato Sauce for another delicious way to use tomato sauce.
Olive oil: For sautéing and that extra touch of healthy fat.
Mozzarella cheese: Melts beautifully on top.

🥣 How to Make Stuffed Peppers Without Meat

Stuffed bell peppers without meat, cook quinoa.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the quinoa according to package directions.

Stuffed bell peppers without meat, add garlic to onion.

Step 2: In a pan, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil for 3-5 minutes, or until fragrant.

Stuffed bell peppers without meat, add spices.

Step 3: Stir in the seasonings and cook for about 2 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend together.

Step 4: Stir in cooked quinoa, beans, and tomato sauce. Mix well.

Stuffed bell peppers without meat, add the filling to the peppers.

Step 5: Lightly grease the baking dish with a small amount of olive oil and a spoonful of tomato sauce, then fill each pepper half with the quinoa-bean mixture and arrange them in the dish.

Stuffed bell peppers without meat, add water to the baking dish with peppers.

Step 6: Add a little water to the bottom of the pan to prevent burning.

Stuffed bell peppers without meat, top with schredded mozzarela cheese.

Step 7: Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of each stuffed pepper.

Stuffed bell peppers without meat, bake until cheese is golden and bubbly.

Step 8: Place the dish in the oven and bake uncovered until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and golden, about 25-30 minutes.

💡 Tips for the Best Meatless Stuffed Peppers

Use leftover grains: You can swap quinoa for brown rice, couscous, or farro.
Make it dairy-free: Skip the cheese or use a plant-based mozzarella alternative.
Meal prep friendly: These peppers reheat beautifully for up to 3 days in the fridge.