My tasty air fryer stuffed peppers are so easy to make! I love how satisfying the ground beef and rice filling is, and the melty cheese on top adds the perfect finishing touch.
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My Easy Reicpe FOr Stuffed Peppers in the Air Fryer
Stuffed peppers were a favorite of mine growing up, but they didn’t become a weekly staple for my family until I came up with my recipe for air fryer stuffed peppers!
I make them with ground beef and cooked rice, so I can use up my leftover rice in an easy way that’s still filling enough for dinner.
My recipe all came together because I had leftover rice that needed to be eaten before it went bad, but my husband Ben wasn’t in the mood for burrito bowls. That’s when I spotted the peppers I’d picked up at the grocery store and got the idea!
I’d made stuffed peppers in the oven before, and while they were delicious, something about the process always felt like a ton of work. The air fryer made everything so much easier, and I loved the way the peppers stayed tender.
For more air fryer vegetable recipes, be sure to check out my air fryer vegetables, air fryer bell peppers, air fryer-green beans, air fryer asparagus, and air fryer potato wedges!
Air Fry Stuffed Peppers Ingredients
- Bell peppers – I cut the tops off and remove the seeds so they cook evenly and there’s more room for the filling.
- Lean ground beef – This keeps the filling hearty without being greasy. I also love switching it up and using ground chicken or turkey!
- Cooked rice – I like using brown rice for texture, but white rice works just as well.
- Olive oil – I use this to sauté the onion and garlic so they soften and build flavor before mixing.
- Onion – This adds sweetness and depth once cooked into the filling.
- Garlic – I prefer to mince fresh garlic here because it gives the filling more punch than garlic powder alone.
- Tomato sauce – This keeps the filling moist and ties everything together.
- Italian seasoning – A simple blend that gives the filling classic comfort-food flavor and means I don’t have to measure out individual spices.
- Salt and black pepper – I season lightly and adjust after the filling is mixed.
- Shredded mozzarella – This melts smoothly over the peppers and holds everything together. It’s also the best for a cheese pull!
How to Make Stuffed Peppers in the Air Fryer
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 300 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Cut the tops of the peppers off, then scrape out the seeds.
STEP THREE: Brush the peppers with olive oil, inside and out. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook them for 5 minutes.
STEP FOUR: While the peppers are cooking, season the beef with salt and pepper.
STEP FIVE: Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the beef, onions, and garlic. Cook until the beef is browned with no more pink, then drain the grease.
STEP SIX: Add the cooked rice, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning to the saucepan with the beef and simmer for 4 minutes.
STEP SEVEN: Scoop the beef mixture into the peppers, then place the stuffed peppers in the air fryer.
STEP EIGHT: Cook them at 350 degrees F for 8 minutes. Open the air fryer, top the peppers with the shredded mozzarella, then air fry them for another 3-4 minutes until the tops are golden brown.
Easy Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 4 bell peppers
- 1 pound ground beef I used lean
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- ½ onion chopped
- ½ tablespoon minced garlic
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 300 degrees F.
- Cut the tops of the peppers off and then scrape out the seeds.
- Brush the peppers with olive oil, inside and out. Place them into the air fryer basket and cook them for 5 minutes.
- While the peppers are cooking, season the beef with salt and pepper then brown it with the onions and garlic, in a medium saucepan, over medium high heat. Cook it until there is no more pink in the beef and then drain the grease.
- Add the cooked rice, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning to the beef mixture and simmer it for 4 minutes.
- Scoop the beef mixture into the peppers and place them back into the air fryer. Cook at 350 degrees F for 8 minutes. Top them with the shredded mozzarella and place back into the air fryer for another 3-4 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.
Notes
- If the peppers wobble, trim a tiny bit off the bottom so they sit flat in the air fryer basket.
- If the cheese browns too fast, loosely tent the peppers with foil for the last few minutes.
- For extra color, mix different bell pepper colors in the same batch.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 300 degrees F for about 5 minutes, until the filling is heated all the way through.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
- To avoid greasy filling, I drain excess fat from the ground beef before mixing everything together.
- If the peppers wobble, I trim a tiny bit off the bottom so they sit flat in the air fryer basket.
- When I need to cook stuffed peppers in batches, I keep the finished peppers warm in the oven while the rest finish in the air fryer.
- If the cheese browns too fast, I loosely tent the peppers with foil for the last few minutes.
- For extra color, I mix different bell pepper colors in the same batch. I love how they all look together on the plate!
Variations and Substitutions
- For a lighter version, I swap the lean ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
- When I’m craving Tex-Mex flavors, I use taco seasoning, black beans, and diced tomatoes in the filling with fresh cilantro as the garnish.
- To dial up the flavor and spice, I sometimes mix in paprika and a pinch of red pepper flakes with the Italian seasoning.
- For a sausage version, I’ll cook up Italian sausage instead of ground beef and reduce or omit the Italian seasoning.
- If I want something besides mozzarella, Monterey Jack or Colby Jack cheese melts beautifully over the peppers!
- When I need a vegetarian option, I double the rice and add black beans and extra onion.
What to Serve with Stuffed Bell Peppers in the Air Fryer
When I’m hosting friends or family, I love serving air fryer stuffed peppers as a fun and tasty side to go with air fryer turkey tenderloin, air fryer whole chicken, air fryer pork chops, or air fryer chicken cordon bleu!
If I’m eating air fried stuffed peppers as a main course, I’ll pair them with recipes like air fryer tortilla chips or Mexican air fryer sweet potatoes.
Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers FAQs
What kind of bell peppers should I use?
I usually grab whichever bell peppers look best at the store, but red and yellow peppers tend to be a little sweeter once cooked. Green peppers have a bolder, earthier flavor, so those are my go-to when I want to add some extra seasoning or use Italian sausage in the filling.
How do I prevent my air fryer stuffed peppers from getting soggy?
I drain excess grease from the ground beef after cooking and make sure not to overstuff the peppers, which can cause liquid to bubble over and make the peppers mushy. I never want my peppers sitting in liquid while they air fry.
How should I store leftovers?
I store leftover stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. They hold up well and make an easy lunch the next day!
How to reheat leftover stuffed peppers in the air fryer
I always reheat my stuffed peppers in the air fryer so the peppers warm through without getting mushy. I preheat the air fryer to 300 degrees F, then cook the peppers for about 5 minutes until the filling is hot all the way through.
More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Air fryer hot dogs
- Air fryer pork chops
- Air fryer hamburgers
- Air fryer turkey tenderloin
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Sounds like a good recipe for the air-fryer, but I always halve my peppers vertically, to get more ‘stuff’ in them AND to get more surface area, for MORE CHEESE! (I prefer sharp cheddar.) I only bake 2 (4 halves) at a time (it’s just the 2 of us) in an 8×8″ dish, so I think they’ll fit in the basket.
I may also skip the initial 5 minutes on the empty peppers. We like a little more crunch in ours.
I have made stuffed peppers in the air fryer many times. I mix the raw ground meat with whatever seasonings feel right for the night, plus either rice or raw oatmeal. It is much like meatloaf. Cheese is a frequent addition. The meat cooks along with the pepper.
Could I use beef broth using brown rice which needs a lot of help adding flavor to it? Plan on making this tonight using lean ground Turkey meat. Thank you.
Yes, you can, Kris! Just cook the rice in the beef broth fully and use it in the recipe as normal!
What an awesome way to make stuffed peppers! I cannot thank you enough! Absolutely delicious and so easy!! 🙂
I made your stuffed bell pepper recipe. I used a box Mexican rice.
I saw later in your posting, you cooked the peppers tops separate. I understand why.
Hi Pat, Yes, I cook the pepper tops separately. I hope you give it a try next time you make this recipe.