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High-Protein Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers With Quinoa & Feta – A Simple, Satisfying Dinner

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • Bell peppers (4 large) – any color, halved and seeded
  • Quinoa (1 cup dry)
  • Chickpeas (1 can, 15 oz), drained and rinsed
  • Feta cheese (4–6 oz), crumbled
  • Olive oil (3–4 tablespoons)
  • Yellow onion (1 small), finely chopped
  • Garlic (3 cloves), minced
  • Tomato paste (1 tablespoon)
  • Cherry tomatoes (1 cup), halved (or 1 large tomato, diced)
  • Baby spinach (2 cups), roughly chopped
  • Lemon (1), zested and juiced
  • Fresh parsley (1/4 cup), chopped
  • Fresh dill or mint (2 tablespoons), chopped (optional but great)
  • Ground cumin (1 teaspoon)
  • Smoked paprika (1/2 teaspoon)
  • Red pepper flakes (1/4 teaspoon), optional
  • Vegetable broth (2 cups) or water for quinoa
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Plain Greek yogurt (optional for serving)
  • Pine nuts or sliced almonds (2 tablespoons), toasted (optional for crunch)

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oven: Preheat to 400°F (200°C). Lightly oil a large baking dish.
  • Prep the peppers: Halve the bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes. Rub the insides with a little olive oil and a pinch of salt. Arrange cut side up in the baking dish.
  • Cook the quinoa: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. Add to a pot with 2 cups vegetable broth and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer, cover, and cook 15 minutes. Remove from heat and rest 5 minutes, then fluff.
  • Sauté aromatics: In a skillet over medium heat, warm 1–2 tablespoons olive oil. Add onion with a pinch of salt and cook 4–5 minutes until translucent. Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute until fragrant and slightly darkened.
  • Build the filling: Add cherry tomatoes, cumin, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook 2–3 minutes until tomatoes soften. Stir in chickpeas and spinach; cook until spinach wilts. Fold in the cooked quinoa, lemon zest, and half the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add cheese and herbs: Remove from heat. Gently fold in feta, parsley, and dill or mint. Taste and adjust seasoning—more lemon, salt, or paprika as you like.
  • Stuff the peppers: Spoon the mixture into each pepper half, packing it in slightly. Drizzle with a little olive oil over the top.
  • Bake: Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until peppers are tender and the tops are lightly golden.
  • Finish and serve: Squeeze the remaining lemon juice over the peppers. Top with extra feta, herbs, and toasted nuts if using. Serve with a spoonful of Greek yogurt and a side salad if you want to round it out.