These air fryer stuffed peppers are made with sweet bell peppers and savory meat. Plus, air frying takes only a fraction of the time as baking!
Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers Video
How To Make Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are traditionally made in the oven, but we encourage you to try air-frying them. Check out this general overview of the process.
- Prep the peppers: Thoroughly wash the peppers, then slice the tops off and remove the seeds.
- Sauté the aromatics: In a large skillet, add olive oil and sauté the chopped onions and garlic until they’re soft.
- Add in the meat: Add the lean ground beef and seasoning to the skillet and cook until the beef is browned.
- Mix in the rice and sauce: Mix in the cooked rice and pasta sauce, then cook the mixture until the sauce is bubbly.
- Fill the peppers: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Stuff the peppers with the filling and place in the airfryer.
- Air fry the peppers: Air fry for about 20 minutes, or until the peppers are tender.
Hot tip: Make the filling up to two days in advance and store in the refrigerator. When you’re ready for dinner, stuff and cook the peppers as directed.
Ingredient Variations
Customize your stuffed peppers to fit your ingredient availability and flavor preferences. Change up the meat, rice, and sauce, or add cheese, veggies, or herbs.
- Meat: Ground beef is the most common meat for stuffed peppers, but feel free to substitute it with ground turkey, ground chicken, or any other ground meats.
- Rice: For a carb-free substitute, use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
- Pasta sauce: We like to use Prego mushroom pasta sauce, but be free to use any pasta or tomato sauce you love and have on hand.
- Cheese: Sprinkle your favorite shredded cheese on top of the peppers during the last few minutes of cooking. For extra cheesy gooey-ness, add more shredded cheese between layers of filling in the peppers. We like mozzarella cheese, but a Mexican blend and/or cheddar cheese are great too!
- Veggies: To get more veggies in, add shredded sautéed carrots, corn, finely chopped mushrooms or zucchini, and/or black beans to the filling.
- Seasoning: Give the peppers more herby flavor with fresh parsley, or add more of your favorite seasonings such as Italian seasoning.
Hot tip: If you have extra filling, don’t throw it away! Save it for nacho night this week!
Tips & Tricks
Are you ready to get stuffed to the brim with delicious air fried peppers? Follow these tips & tricks to make them a guaranteed success.
- Adjust the bell pepper size: For large bell peppers, the filling is exactly enough to fill 4-5 peppers. If your peppers are smaller, you may need 5-6 peppers to use up all the filling.
- Modify the cooking time: Cooking time largely depends on how soft and tender you prefer your stuffed peppers. Adjust the cooking time to your preference.
- Use leftover rice: This recipe is a great way to use up leftover cooked rice.
- Spray the air fryer basket: Remember to spray the basket slightly with cooking spray before air frying to keep the peppers from sticking!
- Trim the peppers: If your peppers won’t stand by themselves in the air fryer, slightly trim the bottom to make it flatter (but don’t make a hole!) You don’t want the peppers leaning on each other in the air fryer — or the heat will not circulate around them as it should. Plus, avoid cutting too much off or there will be a hole on the bottom of the pepper!
Serving Suggestions
If making air fryer stuffed peppers, all you need to complete the meal is a side of sour cream, shredded cheese, and a few slices of avocado. Oh — and don’t forget salty and crispy baked tortilla chips or air fried tortilla chips (your choice!). In case you want something a bit more carby, we love having this garlic bread to soak up any of the tasty juices. Or, for a cold and refreshing taste, pair the peppers with a simple side salad like this one, or a tangy Mediterranean chickpea salad.
Storing & Reheating Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
If you find yourself with a few stuffed peppers left over, store them in the fridge or freezer to enjoy again later. Check out these tips to safely store and reheat them when needed.
- Storing: Store cooled leftovers up to four days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: To reheat refrigerated leftovers, place them in the air fryer at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until the meat is warmed through to 165°F — or, use the microwave for a faster reheat. To reheat frozen stuffed peppers, remove the plastic wrapping and place the peppers directly in the air fryer. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until the inside meat is warmed to 165°F.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Calzones — Pepperoni stuffed pizza pockets
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes — An easy start to your loaded baked potato dinner
- Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers — Cheesy, spicy, bacon-wrapped delights
- Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings — Crispy, Parmesan-coated chicken wings
- Air Fryer Quesadillas — Two-ingredient cheese-filled tortillas
Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large red bell peppers
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 lb ground beef lean 85/15
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 2 cups mushroom pasta sauce
Instructions
- Wash the peppers. Slice the tops off and remove the seeds inside. Set aside.
- Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and chopped onions. Sauté until they just start to soften. Add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper. Cook until beef is no longer pink and cooked through.
- Add the cooked rice and pasta sauce. Mix it all together until well combined. Cook for a few minutes or until the sauce is bubbly.
- Stuff the peppers to the top with the filling. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Set the stuffed peppers on the tray.
- Air fry for about 20 minutes, or until the peppers are tender. Enjoy!
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