Stuffed Peppers: compare the 3 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Lightest Black Bean and Rice (Vegan)About 240 calories a serving, against 490 calories or more for the others (an estimate).
- Make it ahead Mediterranean Quinoa and FetaCook the quinoa and mix the filling up to 2 days ahead.
- Vegan Black Bean and Rice (Vegan)The only one that fits vegan, going by the ingredient lines.
- Vegetarian Mediterranean Quinoa and Feta and Black Bean and Rice (Vegan)The ones that fit vegetarian, going by the ingredient lines.
Side by side
| Mediterranean Quinoa and Feta | Black Bean and Rice (Vegan) | Beef and Rice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total time | 1 hr | 1 hr 5 min | 1 hr 10 min |
| Prep | 20 min | 20 min | 20 min |
| Level | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Steps | 12 | 11 | 12 |
| Serves | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Key ingredients | vegetable broth or water, red bell peppers and chickpeas | bell peppers, diced tomatoes and cooked rice | bell peppers, ground beef and diced tomatoes |
| Only in this one | quinoa, vegetable broth or water, red bell peppers and chickpeas | ground cumin, chili powder, black beans and frozen corn | ground beef, italian seasoning, shredded cheddar or monterey jack c… and tomato sauce |
| Dietary | |||
| Calories | 490 | 240 | 650 |
| Protein | 17 g | 9 g | 34 g |
| Carbs | 57 g | 47 g | 37 g |
| Fat | 24 g | 3.5 g | 41 g |
| Cleanup | 2/5 4 things to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash |
| Kid helper | No | No | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.