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    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Hearty Couscous Turkey Stuffed Peppers

    Hearty Couscous Turkey Stuffed Peppers

    Updated: Jul 21, 2023 by Veronica Noone · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Turkey stuffed pepper on black plate
    Turkey stuffed pepper on black plate
    Turkey stuffed pepper on black plate
    Turkey stuffed pepper on black plate
    hearty couscous turkey stuffed peppers pin

    A light and delicious couscous turkey stuffed peppers recipe is just what you need for those post-Thanksgiving meals.  Not only does this so easily use leftover turkey, but it feels so much lighter after all of those heavy meals of the holidays.  Packed with tender couscous, zucchini, spinach, turkey, and tons of flavor, these tender peppers become an all-in-one meal that is ideal for busy weeknights. 

    Stuffed peppers on plate

    Couscous Turkey Stuffed Peppers

    Stuffed peppers always bring to mind a rich tomato sauce and ground beef  with rice, but these are the complete opposite!  Instead of beef and rice, the stuffing in this dish is made of a healthier couscous and shredded leftover turkey.  This makes the classic stuffed pepper a whole new savory meal that you are going to love. If you've never cooked with couscous before, this is the ideal choice to introduce you to making and using it in a recipe.

    With this dish, you still get a hearty meal, but it is lighter and healthier overall.  The addition of extra vegetables and a whole wheat grain are excellent for added fiber in your diet, and the turkey is naturally lean.  With simple classic herbs mixed into this dish, you have a great variety of texture and flavor to serve up to your family.  You can still enjoy a bit of that leftover turkey salad or a great sunflower crunch salad with turkey for lunch, but this brings those leftovers to the dinner table with ease.

    What is Couscous?

    Couscous is a grain that is very common in African and Middle Eastern cuisines.  It's a less refined grain than others, and is an excellent alternative to rice, quinoa, or pasta.  This tends to have a nutty flavor and is ideal for lighter fare like salads or alongside a dish with a nice sauce. 

    I tend to reach for whole wheat couscous for the nutrition, but you may also find traditional pearl couscous in your grocery store.  The Moroccan variety is much smaller than others and definitely the most common. It often comes in an instant version and is what you will likely reach for more often than not.  The whole wheat Moroccan couscous is usually what I pick up for dishes like this where I want to make them fast and easily without a lot of extra preparation.

    If you haven't used it in your menu yet, you will love how it works with this recipe.  Other options I love are the skillet shrimp over whole wheat couscous and the taco soup with couscous and avocado.  Both are great introductions to using this on a regular basis.

    Turkey stuffed pepper on black plate

    Can I Use Chicken Instead?

    If you don't have cooked turkey on hand, or just prefer using chicken, feel free to do so in this recipe.  It will be just as delicious and easy to make any time of the year.  Personally, I use turkey a few times a month for variety, but chicken is always in my freezer. 

    While the nutrition calculated for this uses turkey breast, you can also switch this up with dark meat turkey or chicken if you prefer.  Both are equally tasty and fit naturally with the herbs and vegetables in this meal.

    Can I Add Cheese?

    While this recipe doesn't really need the cheese you often see in a stuffed pepper, you can add cheese if you want.  I think this would be best with Parmesan for a sharp salty accent.  If you want that melting cheese, then a mild mozzarella or provolone would fit well with this recipe.

    Stuffed peppers in platter

    What are the myWW Points for Turkey Stuffed Peppers?

    Stuffed peppers are a great healthier option for your menu.  This recipe is excellent for all myWW plans, new and old, and is a fun way to add something new to your menu.  The nutritional calculations and points below are done using white meat turkey breast.  If you choose to use dark meat instead, you will need to recalculate the points on your own.

    • myWW Blue: 3
    • myWW Green: 4
    • myWW Purple: 0
    • Points Plus: 5

    Ingredients

    • Turkey broth or stock
    • Whole wheat couscous
    • Red onion
    • Zucchini
    • Cooked turkey
    • Spinach
    • Bell peppers
    • Salt
    • Black pepper
    • Sage
    • Thyme

    How to Make Couscous Turkey Stuffed Peppers

    Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

    In a small saucepan, bring â…” cup broth to a boil over medium heat.

    Once the broth is boiling, remove it from the heat and add the couscous to the liquid. Stir lightly and set aside.

    Cut the tops off of each bell pepper and clean out the seeds and membrane from the center.

    Place the peppers onto the baking sheet and roast in the oven for 10 minutes.

    Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray then place over medium heat. 

    Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook, stirring regularly, for 3-4 minutes until they are beginning to soften.

    To the skillet, add the diced zucchini and season the vegetables with the salt and pepper then continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until the zucchini is tender.

    Add the shredded or chopped turkey, couscous, sage, and thyme to the skillet and stir to combine then mix in the remaining broth and cook for another 2 minutes.

    Stir in the spinach, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until the spinach is wilted and the mixture is heated through.

    Remove the peppers from the oven and fill each with ¼ of the couscous mixture then place back on the baking sheet and place back into the oven for a final 5 minutes.

    Serve with fresh chopped parsley.

    Turkey stuffed pepper on black plate

    📖 Recipe

    hearty couscous turkey stuffed peppers featured

    Hearty Couscous Turkey Stuffed Peppers

    Katie Hale
    Create a fast meal with leftover turkey in this hearty couscous turkey stuffed peppers recipe! Loaded with delicious flavor and lighter than a traditional pepper, it is a perfect weeknight meal.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 198 kcal

    Equipment

    • Speckled White and Blue Gray Stoneware Baking Dish with | Etsy
    • Aphorism Purple & White Baking Dish 20 x 15 cm | Etsy
    • Red Clay Pottery Baker from my Clay Studio | Etsy
    • Personalized casserole pan Hand written lasagna recipe | Etsy
    • Personalized Casserole Dish Pyrex Baking Dish Engraved Name | Etsy
    • Made With Love Personalized Bakeware Loaf Pan Casserole | Etsy

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup turkey broth divided
    • â…” cup whole wheat couscous
    • ½ medium red onion diced
    • 1 medium zucchini diced
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 6 oz cooked turkey shredded or chopped
    • ½ teaspoon ground sage
    • ½ teaspoon ground thyme
    • 2 cups baby spinach
    • 4 bell peppers
    • Non-stick cooking spray

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    • In a small saucepan, bring â…” cup broth to a boil over medium heat.
    • Once the broth is boiling, remove it from the heat and add the couscous to the liquid. Stir lightly and set aside.
    • Cut the tops off of each bell pepper and clean out the seeds and membrane from the center.
      4 bell peppers
    • Place the peppers onto the baking sheet and roast in the oven for 10 minutes.
    • Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray then place over medium heat. 
      Non-stick cooking spray
    • Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook, stirring regularly, for 3-4 minutes until they are beginning to soften.
      ½ medium red onion
    • To the skillet, add the diced zucchini and season the vegetables with the salt and pepper then continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until the zucchini is tender.
      1 medium zucchini, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • Add the shredded or chopped turkey, couscous, sage, and thyme to the skillet and stir to combine then mix in the remaining broth and cook for another 2 minutes.
      1 cup turkey broth, ⅔ cup whole wheat couscous, ½ teaspoon ground sage, ½ teaspoon ground thyme, 6 oz cooked turkey
    • Stir in the spinach, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until the spinach is wilted and the mixture is heated through.
      2 cups baby spinach
    • Remove the peppers from the oven and fill each with ¼ of the couscous mixture then place back on the baking sheet and place back into the oven for a final 5 minutes.
    • Serve with fresh chopped parsley.

    Notes

    • myWW Blue: 3
    • myWW Green: 4
    • myWW Purple: 0
    • Points Plus: 5

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 17gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 439mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5g
    Keyword Couscous Turkey Stuffed Peppers, Stuffed Peppers, Turkey Stuffed Peppers
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    hearty couscous turkey stuffed peppers pin 2

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    1. JJ

      December 31, 2008 at 4:52 pm

      Hi Roni. My 16 year old son made your stuffed peppers and they were quite delicious. He used yellow and orange bell peppers and they looked good and tasted fantastic. I made your savory sweet potatoes to go with them. We're having fun and bonding using your recipes. I am happy to eat healthier too!!

      Reply
    2. Roni

      July 26, 2008 at 11:46 am

      lol Yup! One whole pepper. This was one of my older posts, I didn't have my format down yet. :~)

      -Roni

      Reply
    3. Tam

      July 23, 2008 at 1:09 pm

      Is the nutritional information based on one whole pepper? I'm assuming that's without the sweet potato fries. 🙂

      Reply
    4. roni

      December 22, 2007 at 12:53 am

      Deb -

      So glad you liked it!

      I just added it at the end as well. It seemed a bit dry.

      Thanks!

      Reply
    5. Deb

      December 21, 2007 at 2:58 am

      Roni,

      I made the Leftover Turkey and Couscous Stuffed Peppers
      tonight for dinner...a big hit and sure to make again. Just wondering where the remaining 1/2 c. of broth is used? I used it last when the spinach was wilting.

      Thanks so much for your website and great recipes. I've tried many and they've all been very good.

      PS. Your 'toddler' is adorable!

      Deb

      Reply
    6. roni

      December 01, 2007 at 9:05 pm

      Nancy - Wait a minute.... you lost 170LBS!!!

      You are an inspiration. And guess what, you WILL get on back on track, you HAVE to. I've been at goal almost 2 years and it's a struggle every day. Whether you are "on track" or "off track" you still moving forward right? Doesn't it go smoother and easier when you are on track? Don't you feel better about yourself?

      Shoot me an email if you want to chat.

      I know it's tough. Today I was "off track" and now I feel like crap. But guess what? Tomorrow I'll realign.

      Reply
    7. Nancy LeClair

      November 30, 2007 at 10:18 pm

      Will I ever get back on track and lose the last of my extra weight. The harder I try the more I put on....
      I love weight watchers...I want to be a leader and yet I can;t reach goal....Weight loss to date....170. Weight gain to date....1 trillion he he.... I don't really care how much I lose, I just want to reach WW's goal and be a leader.

      Everyone says I am such an inspiration to them. Well, I need inspiration.
      Thank you for reading.
      Nancy

      Reply
    8. Liz

      November 27, 2007 at 11:28 pm

      I LOVE couscous - of course it helps to have a mother who is Moroccan! It was a winter dish for me growing up and now that I eat it so much I don't know why my mom didn't whip it up more often. Must have been 'how' she made it - very heavy on the cabbage and meat!

      I like to use it for any dish that you would eat with rice. Mostly I wing it but tonight (how timely!) I made a recipe for Moroccan (go figure) stew out of the current issue of WW magazine. It was a super easy one pot meal (you know how we moms love that!)and it called for putting it over couscous. I also like it plain with chickpeas and a sprinkle of splenda! It is very versatile.

      My only problem is that my husband does not like it despite my many tries - Boo!

      Reply

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