Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

Bell peppers stuffed with ground beef and cooked in the air fryer are the absolute best weeknight dinner or meal prep. I make stuffed peppers all the time. There are so many different flavor combinations and ingredients that you can add. Plus, it is easy to make a big batch because these make amazing leftovers!

I absolutely love stuffed peppers. They are the perfect meal prep or easy weeknight dinner. Plus, there are tons of flavor combinations to try. You can chose from my famous pizza stuffed peppers. Try out my Mexican stuffed peppers or enchilada stuffed peppers. Keep it more Italian with my lasagna stuffed peppers recipe or Italian stuffed peppers. But, I don't typically make them with ground beef so I used my favorite stuffed pepper recipe and reinvented it in the air fryer.

Why Do I Love Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

I typically cook my peppers in the oven; however, it takes a very long time. Cooking anything in the air fryer usually takes a lot less time. I also love the texture the air fryer creates.

I typically make my stuffed bell peppers with ground chicken; however, this time I decided to switch it out for some beef. Stuffed peppers are great because you can really make them your own. You can use ground chicken, ground beef, pieces of meat or really just anything.

They are an entire meal wrapped up in one cute package. You get the meat, carbs, vegetables and fat, all in one! But, if you want to skip any ingredients, you can!

Essential Ingredients

You will obviously need an air fryer. I love my Ninja double basket. If you do not have an air fryer, you can check out my other stuffed pepper recipes or you can modify this recipe to bake the peppers in the oven.

These are the essential ingredients that you will need to make the best air fryer stuffed peppers.

• Bell peppers
• Minced garlic
• Diced onion
• Ground Beef
• Taco seasonings
• Taco sauce
• Tomatoes
• Rice
• Shredded Mexican cheese

Bell Peppers

These air fryer stuffed peppers are made with bell peppers; however, you can also substitute a different pepper. The mini sweet peppers or jalapeño peppers are amazing with this recipe. But, those will be cooked for less time as they are smaller.

I used some green bell peppers for these air fryer stuffed peppers. However, you can use any color of bell pepper or substitute your pepper some spaghetti squash, eggplant, zucchini or another vegetable that you love.

Minced Garlic and Diced Onion

You can buy pre-minced garlic; however, I love mincing my own with this mini food processor. You can also use that for the onion, depending on how big you like the pieces.

Ground Beef

I typically make my stuffed bell peppers with ground chicken; however, this time I decided to switch it out for some beef. Stuffed peppers are great because you can really make them your own. You can use ground chicken, ground beef, pieces of meat or really just anything.

If you want to keep this a lighter dish, use ground chicken breast. For a vegetarian dish, you can swap out for a meat replacement or more vegetables or beans.

Taco Seasonings

This is the taco seasonings blend that I live and breathe for, but, hey, I am biased. However, you can also buy a packet, just use 2/2.5 tablespoons of it!

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon oregano

Taco Sauce

I add Taco Bell sauce to keep the air fryer stuffed peppers flavorful and moist. However, there are many taco sauce brands you can buy too.

Tomatoes

I just use a can of crushed tomatoes or sauce. However, you can substitute Rotel if you like the dish a little more spicy.

Rice

You will need to make your own rice and this recipe is not going to teach you how. For this recipe, I find that 1 cup or so of cooked rice works the best. That will be ½ cup dry. You can follow my stovetop rice recipe, my instant pot rice recipe or you can just use a rice cooker.

Shredded Mexican Cheese

I use the Trader Joe's lite Mexican cheese blend; however, you can use any type of shredded cheese that you want to.

Variations to my stuffed bell peppers with ground beef recipe

To keep it lighter, swap out the ground beef for ground chicken breast.

For a low carb dish, substitute the rice for riced cauliflower. Plus, it adds more vegetables. But, I also like to use riced cauliflower and rice together.

Step by Step Instructions for Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

Let's make some stuffed peppers in the air fryer! I typically get the peppers started first. Then, work on the meat and add the cooked meat into the peppers right before they are done. I do not like to keep the cooked ground beef in the air fryer for too long as it can get dried out.

Step 1: Making the Peppers

Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees. If you like the peppers softer/toasty, preheat to 375 degrees. Cut the tops off of the pepper. Then, remove the seeds and the core.

Cook the peppers in the air fryer for 10 to 14 minutes, depending on how soft you like your peppers. Try not to let the peppers touch as they need as much air flow as possible.

Step 2: Making the Filling

Meanwhile, heat a large pan over medium high heat. Drizzle with oil or grease with cooking spray. Once heated, add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softening. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.

Add the ground beef and start breaking it up. Sprinkle on the seasonings and continue to breakup while cooking. Continue to break up and mix in the seasonings until the beef is fully cooked. 

Once cooked, add in the sauce, tomatoes and cooked rice. Then, toss everything together and bring to a slight simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes.

Step 3: Putting the Stuffed Peppers Together

Once the peppers are almost done, stuff the meat mixture into each pepper. Top with shredded cheese and air fryer for another 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

Tips for the Best Stuffed Peppers

• Adjust the timing depending on how soft you like the peppers
• To cook them quicker, cut them in half instead of cutting the tops off
• If the peppers do not sit flat, shave off the bottom a little to create a base
• Try not to let the peppers touch as they need as much air flow as possible
• Drizzle queso or salsa con queso over the peppers before eating
• Increase the temperature when melting the cheese if you want it browner

Making Peppers in the Oven

If you do not have an air fryer, you can make the peppers in the oven. Follow the same steps, except, cook the peppers in the oven at 425 degrees for about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how soft you like the peppers.

storing and leftovers

You can store stuffed peppers in the fridge for up to three to four days in an air tight container. To heat it up, I typically pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. But, you can also add it back to the air fryer or place it in the oven.

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Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

Bell peppers stuffed with ground beef and cooked in the air fryer are the absolute best weeknight dinner or meal prep.

Click on this link to automatically calculate your Weight Watchers points. You can also modify the recipe and use ground chicken breast to reduce the points.