This Stuffed Pepper Skillet is a satisfying, one-pan weeknight meal. Made with ingredients like ground chicken, rice, kidney beans and bell peppers, this healthy dinner has all the flavours of stuffed peppers, but with way less work!

This recipe was adapted from my popular Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup – give it a try, too!

stuffed pepper skillet on a white plate viewed from overhead

Okay, so technically this meal is more like an “unstuffed” pepper skillet. We’re putting together all the same ingredients, but instead of taking the time to stuff the peppers and bake them in the oven, we keep it simple and cook everything on the stove top. It’s made in just one skillet, instead of the 2-3 dishes you would need for stuffed peppers. Yay for shortcuts!

You’re going to love this stuffed pepper skillet because

it comes together in about 30 minutes
it’s an all-in-one balanced meal, full of lean protein and colourful vegetables
the flavour is well loved by all (kid approved!)
leftovers are perfect for meal prep lunch

Ingredients

Onion – 1 medium yellow onion, diced
Garlic – 3 cloves, minced
Bell peppers – 3 of your favourite colour(s)
Ground chicken – one pound, any ground meat will work
Long-grain white rice – 1 cup, rinsed briefly. Any variety should work, but I like to use jasmine.
Kidney beans – 15 oz can, drained and rinsed
Diced tomatoes – 15 oz can, not drained
Tomato paste – a full small can (about 5.5oz)
Chicken broth – 2 1/4 cup
Herbs and spices: dried basil, dried parsley, oregano, onion powder, red pepper flakes
Chopped fresh parsley – optional garnish
Freshly grated parmesan – optional garnish, omit if dairy free

How to make it

1. Heat olive oil in a 12″ skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until starting to soften, then add the bell pepper and sauté for another minute or so. Add the ground chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink (at least 5 minutes). Break it up into smaller pieces as it cooks.

sauteed ground chicken and bell peppers in a black skillet next to a white bowl of spices and half a yellow bell pepper

2. Stir in the rice, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth and all the dried herbs/spices. Be sure the ingredients are well combined and evenly distributed. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Bring to a simmer, cover, then turn heat down to low. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking. Add more broth if you find it’s getting too dry for your taste. It’s done once the rice is cooked to your liking! Serve immediately with your chosen garnishes.

stuffed pepper skillet in a black skillet next to a white linen viewed from overhead

Tips for Success

Be sure you have a strong simmer. If you don’t have a good simmer, the rice won’t cook evenly and it will take much longer to cook (which will dry out the whole dish). You want it to really bubble before covering and turning the heat down to low.
Don’t walk away – stir occasionally. You need to stir every 4-5 minutes once it’s simmering to be sure the rice doesn’t stick to the skillet.
Add broth if needed. I usually end up adding a splash or two toward the end of cooking time, to be sure I don’t end up with any crispy rice.
Don’t skip rinsing the rice. This helps remove excess starch so the dish will have a more pleasing texture.

Can I make this vegan?

Yes! To make this skillet vegan, leave out the chicken and add another can of kidney beans (cannellini beans would also be great – why not both?). Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and skip the parmesan garnish.

Other easy weeknight meals