I know what you might be thinking.  Cajun food = a LOT of calories.  However, there are ways around that my friend! These healthy cajun stuffed peppers are amazing and your waist line will thank you for eating them.

Healthy Cajun Stuffed Peppers

Before I get into the recipe, I have a little trick with these that REALLY cut back on time.  I love to meal prep, and quite often when these are on the rotation, it’s BECAUSE of meal prepping.  This recipe came about as a “clean out the fridge” meal.

I made made a batch of my Dirty Rice recipe and we needed to stretch it for another meal but there’s wasn’t quiiiitttteeee enough.  But, I had some stuff to doctor it with. We loved the result.  And, truthfully, we didn’t feel like we were eating the same thing for the third night in a row. (Anyone else get bored after a meal or two of the same thing?)

Related: 8 Ways Weekly Meal Planning Is the Key To You Success

To Make Healthy Cajun Stuffed Peppers:

This recipe is very adaptable for the various diets and eating plans out there.  For paleo, just increase the various other ingredients and ditch the rice or quinoa and beans.  It’s already gluten and dairy free so you’re golden there! You could even go vegetarian if you felt so inclined. Once again, you could just up the black beans or mushrooms.

You will need:

•   12 bell peppers of varying colors – tops cut off and de-seeded
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 3 cups cooked rice – either brown or white works. (quinoa works too!!)
• 1 medium onion – chopped
• 1 carrot – shredded
• 1 large celery stalk sliced
• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 4 tsp cajun seasoning (or more if you prefer)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 F/200C. In a large baking dish with high sides.  Arrange your peppers inside the baking dish
2. Brown your ground beef in a large skillet.
3. Once beef is cooked through, add in the onion and mushrooms.  Sauté 3-4 minutes, just until onions start to soften.
4. Add in the cajun seasoning, black beans, celery and peas.  cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
5. Lastly add in the rice and carrots.  Stir until well combined
6. Spoon the beef and rice mixture into the peppers until the peppers are full.
7. Bake the peppers in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.  This amount of time will give you peppers that are still slightly crunchy.  If you prefer softer peppers, bake for a little longer.
8. Serve hot.

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For a change up in routine, work these delicious Healthy Cajun Stuffed Peppers into your dinner rotation.  Add in whatever fun veggies are in your fridge and make it your own special version (and then tell me what you did so I can try it!).

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