Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Chorizo, Avocado & Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Avocado is one of the most talked about superfoods out there. I feel like if...

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Avocado is one of the most talked about superfoods out there. I feel like if foods were personified (wow, haven’t used that word since the 7th grade) and could be friendly with other foods, then kale and avocado would be best friends.

Avocado has taken the place of dairy in sauces, replaced cream cheese on toast, has become a staple salad topper and of course, is the essential ingredient in everyone’s favorite appetizer: guacamole.

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Despite everyone’s obsession with avocado, I rarely see it cooked. Baked and grilled avocados are phenomenal – the warmed avocado meat is sensational. Really, sensational.

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

If you’ve never cooked your avocado before, you need to start now. I remember the first time I made Lu something with cooked avocado in it and he was like, “Wait, you cooked the avocado?”

Such a simple trick and so much yumminess. The avocado softens, becomes more fragrant and better complements the other ingredients.

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

I once baked an egg in an avocado. THAT was incredible.

Now, we cook chorizo, avocado and my butternut squash rice together, stuff it into a bell pepper and melt pepper jack cheese on top.

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

I can’t even tell you how good this tastes. I’m at a loss for words. I looked through the Thesaurus and there just isn’t a word for this.

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

The rice absorbs the juices of the chorizo and the smoked paprika and cumin just, well, make your mouth water. Instead of stuffing a pepper with rice or quinoa, use the butternut squash rice.

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

When I tell you that this is the BEST food for your Superbowl party, I really mean it. If you’d like to use it as an appetizer, use small bell peppers. If you’re using it as a main dish, use larger bell peppers and serve the halves stuffed to the brim!

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

And on purpose, you’ll have some leftovers with this recipe. The stuffing is so delicious, that it’s perfect for lunch the next day.

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Actually, I came home Friday night (after a night out with the girls) and was so excited to eat said leftovers, but I came to find that Lu had eaten them for dinner! Thankfully, he saved me an extra bell pepper. Which I devoured.

You’re going to love these for dinner, but they’re perfect as an impressive, healthy and super tasty Superbowl food.

Have you tried the rice yet? What do you think?

Chorizo, Avocado & Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 3 bell peppers any color
  • 2 chorizo sausages caseings removed and then crumbled
  • 1 avocado insides cubed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/3 cup diced yellow onion
  • 2 cups butternut squash rice made from noodles from 1/2 butternut squash*
  • salt to taste
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to broil. Slice the tops off your bell peppers, slice them in half lengthwise and then remove the white parts from the insides. Once it's preheated, place them on a baking tray lightly coated in cooking spray. Broil for 4 minutes and the remove from the oven, but keep the oven on broil.
  • While the peppers are broiling, place a large skillet over medium-low heat and spray with cooking spray. Add in the chorizo and avocado and cook, tossing frequently for 3-5 minutes. Set aside and add in 1 tbsp olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds. Then, add in the onion and cook for about 2 minutes or until onion beings to soften.
  • Add in the butternut squash rice, salt, cumin and smoked paprika. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Then, add in 1/2 cup chicken broth. Stir to combine and let reduce, stirring occasionally. Once reduced fully, add in 1/4 cup chicken broth and let reduce. Taste the rice and if the rice is still crunchy, add in another 1/4 cup of broth and let reduce. If the rice is done (the consistency is that of rice), add in the chorizo and avocado and stir to combine.
  • Once the rice mixture is done, stuff the peppers with it, using a spoon. Pat down the tops of the stuffed peppers with the back of the spoon to compress.
  • Top each pepper with the pepper jack cheese evenly and place in the broiler. Broil for about 3 minutes, checking after 2 minutes to make sure it does not burn. Once the cheese has melted, remove from the oven and serve!

Recipe Notes

To make butternut squash rice, spiralize a butternut squash and then place the noodles into a food processor and pulse until made into rice-like bits. This will make 2 cups of rice (a 348g piece of butternut squash makes 2 cups).

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

Chorizo, Avocado and Butternut Squash Rice Stuffed Peppers

 

with love, Ali

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comments

  • So many beautiful pictures, and they would be amazing! This is being pinned right away! I love stuffed peppers, and I love enjoying them as a well balanced meal before my next training run! Thanks for sharing :)
  • I don't eat meat, think I could follow the recipe & just omit the sausage?
  • I just bought my spiralizer for Christmas and so far have just made your caprese beet dinner which btw was amazing, the whole family loved! I need to try some of these recipes you're making using the riced butternut squash! but question. Can I make a big batch of the rice using a a whole squash and then freeze it into 2 cup portions so then I have it ready to go? Should I defrost before using the rice then or just toss in still frozen? Have you tried this yet and if not what are your thoughts? Thank you!
    • Yes, you can definitely do that! You can freeze it or keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days! Definitely defrost the rice first before you put it in the pan.
      • The frozen butternut squash rice worked perfectly! I made these 3 weeks ago & the whole family really loved them. I think it was the chorizo & creamy avocado that did it! I had never eaten cooked avocado before & was wondering if it would be good. We love avocado raw.. but cooked?? Well, question was laid to rest, it was so creamy & helped offset the strong taste of chorizo. The kids said they couldn't even taste the squash! So I riced a whole butternut squash & saved 1/2 of it in the freezer. Pulled it out a couple days ago & defrosted in fridge & then used it in the recipe again tonight. Perfect! Made it a really quick & easy dinner. And also another thanks for cooking avocado. I made a recipe a couple weeks ago that used avocado on a homemade pizza. Dice & top a pizza with avocado. It was so good....made you need less cheese as it was a creamy addition. Now love cooked avocado & will try & remember to try it on other things in place of cheese. Thank you for the inspirational recipe!YUM!
        • Erika - I am so so glad you've adapted the recipe to work for you and your family. This all sounds amazing - I love that you're experimenting! Thanks for inspiring me :)
  • What kind of chorizo are you buying for your recipes?
    • Regular chorizo - sometimes I like smoked chorizo, but regular chorizo is fine! This is an example: https://www.freshdirect.com/category.jsp?catId=dai_packa_saus&prodCatId=dai_packa_saus&productId=del_dar_chorizo&trk=srch
  • How much avocado is used in the recipe? I don't see it listed. (Am I missing it?) This looks amazing!
  • These were delicious! Didn't have Monterrey jack so used crumbled feta instead. Came out great!
  • This was absolutely amazing!! My husband had no idea that I used a butternut squash as the base. SO so good!
  • Been so excited the whole week to have this for dinner tonight and it certainly did not disappoint!! Absolutely delicious and felt like such a treat being able to eat all that yummy chorizo and avocado by using pumpkin instead of actual rice! So good!
  • oooommmmggggg!!!!!!! firstly let me introduce myself. I am catherine and i am not a vegetable person at all. i think there are something you have to eat just because its good for you. I discovered your blog by accident from "Against all Grain" which i also discovered by accident all i can say is that you are amazingly talented. I've only been on your site for two days and I've never been so excited about vegetables in my entire life till now. this recipe was amazing,, served it to my friends they even had seconds. you are amazingly talented please keep up the good work and I'm really looking for to your book.
  • I made this for dinner tonight....outstanding! I will be making this again!
  • I have to tell you how much I LOVE your blog!!! I share it with everyone I know! EVERYTHING I have made, and I have made a lot of your recipes, has been AMAZING. I made this tonight and have to say, although I cooked too long and made it mushy, it was "to die for!" Thank you so much for all you do!!!
    • Thank you so so so much for the kind words, I'm so glad you loved this recipe! Come back soon :)