Cottage Cheese and Veggie Stuffed Peppers

Cottage cheese is an easy way to add protein to a vegetarian stuffed pepper without needing meat or a meat substitute. This is one of the higher-protein vegetarian meals I make, thanks entirely to that cottage cheese base.

Cottage cheese holds up surprisingly well baked into a stuffed pepper, staying creamy rather than turning watery the way I expected the first time I tried this. Quinoa adds its own protein on top of the cottage cheese, making this filling despite being fully vegetarian.

Spinach and tomato mixed into the filling add color and moisture, so the filling doesn't taste dry once it's baked. Parmesan on top gives it a light golden finish.

The recipe card has the full ingredient breakdown and bake time for all ten portions. Let the peppers cool before dividing them into containers, then refrigerate what you'll eat within four days and freeze the rest. This is one of my higher-protein vegetarian meals thanks to the cottage cheese.

Nutrition note: This is general food information, not individualized medical or nutrition advice.

Cottage Cheese and Veggie Stuffed Peppers

YIELD

10 portions

ESTIMATED NUTRITION

405 calories • 33g protein • 37g carbs • 13g fat per portion

What I really like about this recipe is how much protein the cottage cheese adds to a fully vegetarian filling.

Ingredients

• 10 cups cottage cheese

• 10 bell peppers, halved and seeded

• 5 cups cooked quinoa

• 5 cups spinach

• 5 tomatoes, diced

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

• 2 tsp Italian seasoning

• salt and pepper

Directions

1. Mix cottage cheese with quinoa, spinach, tomato, and Italian seasoning.

2. Stuff the pepper halves with the mixture and top with Parmesan.

3. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes, until the peppers are tender.

4. Let the food cool briefly, then divide it evenly among 10 airtight meal-prep containers.

Meal-prep notes: Refrigerate promptly and use refrigerated portions within 3–4 days; freeze any portions you will not eat in that window. Reheat hot meals until steaming. Nutrition is estimated per portion.