Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

At the heart of the dish is comfort: Warm, cheesy rice festooned with mushrooms and cubed tofu, seasoned with cumin and paprika, and tucked into a red pepper that cooks until tender enough to slice with ease.

The peppers are warm, filling, and enormously healthful. It’s the type of dish I crave when I want something comforting, but don’t want to land in a food coma. Trust me, these stuffed peppers promise a very good dinner, whether you are a devout vegetarian or not.

The inspiration for the recipe comes by way of Deborah Madison, a chef and pioneer in the vegetarian cooking scene. I’ve been making the brown rice casserole from her famed The Greens Cookbook since it hit my bookshelf two decades ago.

I spun the essentials of that recipe—rice, vegetables, and tofu—into something just as tasty, if not a tad more elevated. The flavors won’t knock you over with heat or spice or richness, but the sum total of ingredients is immensely satisfying.

An Everyday or Special Occasion Recipe

In my book, this recipe is suitable for a weeknight supper, since it takes about 30 minutes of hands-on time and offers the kind of nourishment I want in my everyday cooking. That said, parceled up in those pretty peppers, I would also do this for a sit-down dinner or party buffet.

The peppers work beautifully as a vegetarian main course or a side dish to any number of roast poultry or meat dishes. The recipe can be scaled up as needed, so consider it fair game whether you’re serving a party of six or 16.

What to Serve with Stuffed Peppers

These peppers have all the elements of a balanced meal—protein (tofu and cheese), quality carbs (brown rice), and plenty of vegetables.

If serving the peppers as a center-of-the-plate dish, I’d suggest making a simple salad to go with, such as this Kale with Balsamic Dressing. If serving the peppers as a side dish, this Dry Brined Roast Chicken would be a perfect main dish.

It’s worth noting that this recipe makes six peppers. That's enough for six people with lighter appetites or a table set with additional salads, side dishes, or larger mains.

Hungrier folks may want an extra half pepper or even a second serving. So let’s say you are a family of four with two heartier appetites, the recipe will be just about right.

Red Peppers Preferred

The recipe calls for red, orange, or yellow bell peppers. That’s because I’m just not crazy about green bell peppers, , so I lean on the sweeter red/orange/yellow end of the vegetable rainbow. That said, if you fancy green peppers, feel free to use those instead. 

Can You Make Stuffed Peppers Ahead?

Yes! There is plenty you can do up to a day ahead, then cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble.

• Cook the rice
• Cut the tops off the peppers and pull out the seeds and membranes
• Cut all the vegetables
• Grate the cheese
• Make the filling in its entirety

In addition, while this recipe is at its very best when it goes straight from oven to table, it can be made in advance and reheated quite successfully. A few minutes in the microwave or about eight minutes in a 350°F preheated oven should do.

Stuffed Peppers Are Great as Leftovers

As far as leftovers go, this recipe is a real keeper. Just store them in a sealed container for up to four days in the fridge. The peppers offer their own, built-in container that can easily be transported and reheated.

If you’ve got kids with adventurous appetites, there’s no reason you can’t heat and tuck one into a lunchbox thermos. For adults, one of these warmed in the office kitchen for a desk lunch may just earn the envy of co-workers.

Swaps and Substitutions

This is such a flexible recipe, so feel free to tinker with it depending on your mood and what you have in your larder.

• Swap half or more of the button mushrooms with cremini, portabella, shiitake, or oyster mushrooms. 
• Use other vegetables in place of the carrots or celery, such as diced fennel, zucchini, or broccoli.
• Add another leafy green instead of spinach, such as chard, kale, or collard greens. These are heartier greens, so give them a two-minute head start in the pan before you add the rice and tofu.
• Try another cheese such as sharp Cheddar, Havarti, aged Gouda, or crumbled feta.
• Use white rice instead of brown or give the peppers a dramatic look by using antioxidant-rich black rice.
• Try a different grain, such as barley, farro, or sorghum
• Use the filling to stuff smaller, spicier peppers such as large poblanos, knowing you will need to double the amount of peppers and split the peppers in half, filling both halves.

More Satisfying Stuffed Pepper Recipes

• Kofta-Style Stuffed Peppers with Yogurt Mint Sauce
• Pressure Cooker Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Cheesy Quinoa Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
• Mom’s Stuffed Peppers
• Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Cajun Spiced Stuffed Peppers