Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
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For a tasty dinner, garden fresh bell peppers packed to the brim with lean ground beef, rice and aromatic spices cook up quick as can be, in your air fryer. Air fryer stuffed peppers have it all when it comes to satisfying, savory flavors and lean, filling nutrition.
Sheila’s Recipe Snapshot for Stuffed Peppers in Air Fryer
Thanks to the invention of the air fryer, you can make delicious stuffed bell peppers in less than half the time it used to take!
There’s something special about walking into the kitchen and catching the aroma of a homemade meal — especially one like these stuffed bell peppers.
Stuffed peppers have been around for generations, with every family adding their own touch. My mom learned how to make them from my grandmother, who learned from hers — tradition at its best!
With this easy air fryer recipe, now you can get all the classic flavors in a fraction of the time! If you love today’s recipe, you should try this delicious Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe next — it’s juicy and moist and not overly greasy.
Ingredient Notes for Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
- Sweet bell peppers | Any color is fine. For fun and variety use a mix of colors.
- White or Brown Rice | Rice helps bind the other ingredients together and adds a pleasing texture to the filling. Brown rice has more fiber and nutrition, so if you have time I recommend it.
- Sweet onion | Honestly any onion will elevate the flavor profile of your stuffed peppers. Sweet onions are just a little sweeter and smoother in taste.
- Italian style canned tomatoes | This ingredient adds seasoning, moisture and another dimension of tastiness to the recipe.
Variations and Substitutions
- White rice cooks faster and minute rice is super quick. Any of these are fine to use.
- If you don’t have them, use regular diced tomatoes and add an extra ½ teaspoon of italian seasoning.
How to Air Fry Stuffed Peppers
It goes without saying that you’ll need an air fryer for this recipe. If you don’t have one yet, take a few minutes to check out some credible reviews online. Personally, I love my NuWave air fryer!
PREHEAT AND PREP. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes. Slice off pepper tops and dice up for later. Clean out the seeds and insides and discard.
PRE-COOK THE PEPPERS. Coat the air fryer basket with non-stick spray and put the peppers in, cut side up. Cook for 6 minutes.
MAKE THE FILLING. Cook the rice according to package directions. Saute onion, chopped pepper and garlic in a skillet. Crumble the ground beef into the skillet and cook until it’s no longer pink. Add salt, Italian seasoning, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and rice. Cook 2-3 minutes until most of the liquid is reduced.
STUFF THE PEPPERS. Spoon the meat mixture into the bell peppers. Cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
FINAL TOUCHES. Sprinkle cheese on top and continue cooking for 3 more minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions and serve if desired.
More Recipe Success Tips
Storage and Reheating Tips
- You can store stuffed peppers in the refrigerator for 4-5 days in an airtight container.
- To reheat, place them in the air fryer for about 5 minutes at 375 degrees until warmed through.
- When stored in a freezer bag or container, they will keep for 2-3 months. Be sure to thaw completely before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s best to pre-cook the ground beef before stuffing the peppers. That way, the filling is fully cooked and prevents excess moisture from accumulating inside the peppers.
It’s best to briefly pre-cook the peppers and drain any liquid that collects inside before adding the filling. If the filling seems too liquidy, use a slotted spoon to spoon it into the peppers.
They are perfect to veganize! Just swap out the beef with your favorite vegan ground meat substitute. Exchange the dairy cheese with vegan cheese shreds. They’ll turn out great!
Looking for More Easy Air Fryer Recipes?
You’ll love this Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp with my easy orange chili sauce, my hubby’s favorite Air Fryer Pork Chops (he requests them all the time!), and these crispy and juicy Air Fryer Chicken Legs — all easy and all delicious!
What to Serve With Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
This recipe goes great with a fresh green salad, vegetable medley, roasted corn, or fresh yellow summer squash. Try cooking your side dish veggies in the air fryer too. You’ll be amazed at how good they are!
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Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 6 medium sweet bell peppers any color
- ½ cup white or brown rice uncooked
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped sweet onion
- 1 – 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 (14.5-oz.) can petite diced Italian-style tomatoes (with basil, garlic, and oregano)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- chopped fresh parsley or green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Slice off the tops from the bell peppers and remove the seeds. Chop the tops and reserve.
- Lightly coat the basket of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray. Place the whole peppers in cut side up and cook for 6 minutes.
- In the meantime, cook the rice per the package directions.
- While the rice is cooking, in a large skillet over medium high heat warm the olive oil. Add the onions and diced bell pepper and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the garlic to the skillet and cook another minute, until fragrant.
- Crumble the ground beef into the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is no longer pink, about 8 minutes.
- Add the salt, Italian seasoning, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and the cooked rice. Cook another 2-3 minutes until most of the liquid is reduced.
- Spoon the meat mixture into the bell peppers. Cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle cheese on top and continue cooking the stuffed peppers for 3 more minutes, until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted. If desired, garnish with chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions and serve.
Notes
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the stuffed peppers in batches if needed.
- Do you cook for anyone who doesn’t eat peppers? No problem! You can spoon the filling into scooped out eggplant or zucchini. It won’t be a stuffed pepper, but it will still be very good.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
