Air Fryer Stuffed Bell Peppers are delicious and quick to make in the air fryer! These stuffed peppers without rice are easy enough to make for a weeknight dinner or lunch. They take less than 30 minutes to make.
This is my absolute favorite stuffed peppers recipe. I just love the flavor and it's so quick and easy to make.
The beans and ground beef are flavored with diced tomatoes and several different seasonings to make this full of flavor and delicious.
The bell peppers roast up perfectly in the air fryer, bringing out their sweetness.
The cheese gives it a delicious melty topping.
And while I prefer my stuffed bell peppers without rice for a more low-carb version, you can absolutely add leftover rice or freshly cooked rice to the filling if you prefer. So easy to customize!
Why make this
Easy - These stuffed bell peppers are so easy to make in the air fryer. All you do is make the filling, stuff the peppers, and then air fry them!
Delicious - The combination of the ground beef, beans, and spices pairs beautifully with the roasted bell peppers. It's so flavorful and delicious.
Quick - Because they're made in the air fryer, these stuffed peppers can be ready in about 30 minutes, start to finish.
Key Ingredients
- Bell peppers - This recipes calls for 4 fresh bell peppers. Any color works!
- Ground beef - I used an 85% Lean Ground Beef.
- Black beans - A 15 oz can works great here! You'll want to drain the beans before using.
- Diced Tomatoes - You'll need 15oz diced tomatoes with the juice!
This stuffed pepper recipe is made without rice for a low-carb, grain-free version. However, you can always add some cooked rice to your mixture if you prefer.
What color bell peppers should I use?
Honestly, it's up to you! I used orange and yellow here, but you could use red or green bell peppers too.
Equipment
To make the bell peppers, you'll need a large skillet to cook the ground beef filling in.
You'll also need an air fryer! This is the one I have and love.
And while I used air fryer parchment paper, it's completely optional. I love it for recipes like this though. Helps with cleanup!
How to serve
I love serving my stuffed bell peppers as is, with some chopped fresh cilantro on top. Here's a few ideas for side dishes to really round out the meal:
Air Fryer Green Beans and Bacon or Air Fryer Broccolini - Want a quick and easy side dish made in the air fryer? This is a great option.
Air Fryer Lemon Asparagus - I love making this when asparagus is in season.
Oven Roasted Red Cabbage - If you're looking for a healthy and delicious recipe to make in the oven, I love roasted red cabbage.
Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan - If you're looking for a light salad to pair with your stuffed peppers, this is one of my favorites.
Customizations
Meat - Swap out the meat! You could easily switch out the ground beef for ground chicken, ground turkey, or even use a combination of beef and Italian sausage.
Add rice - While I made these stuffed peppers with no rice for a grain-free version, you could add rice to the mixture or even cauliflower rice.
Swap the seasonings - I used dried oregano, but you could use Italian seasoning or leave it out altogether.
Cheese - I did a shredded Mexican blend cheese on top of my bell peppers, but you can use colby jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, or whatever cheese you prefer.
Leave bell peppers whole - While I sliced my bell peppers in half because I find them easier to eat that way, you can absolutely leave them whole and just remove the stem and ribs before stuffing. The cook time will not change.
How to store leftovers
Let any leftover bell peppers cool and then store them in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator.
To reheat, either place back in the air fryer until heated through or reheat in the oven.
Recipe tips
- This recipe made just enough filling for me to stuff my bell peppers. However, if you add rice or other items, you may have leftover filling.
- Be careful when placing your bell peppers in and out of the air fryer so that they do not tip over or the filling come out.
- All air fryers cook differently. Watch carefully and adjust cook times as needed.
Instructions
In a skillet, add a drizzle of olive oil and then add your ground beef. Brown ground beef, breaking apart as needed into smaller clumps.
Once beef is browned, add black beans (drained) and diced tomatoes (with the juice) to the skillet. Stir to combine.
Add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and dried oregano and stir to combine.
Cook until sauce has thickened and mixture isn't runny.
While ground beef mixture is cooking, prepare the bell peppers. Slice each bell pepper in half through stem, then remove the stem and inner ribs and seeds.
Stuff each bell pepper half with the ground beef mixture.
Air fry for 12-15 minutes at 360 degrees F.
Top with cheese and air fry for another 2-3 minutes.
Plate and enjoy! I served with chopped fresh cilantro.
More air fryer recipes to love
Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers Without Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 bell peppers
- 1 can black beans 15 oz
- 1 can diced tomatoes 15 oz
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- shredded Mexican cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, stirring and breaking up as needed.
- While beef cooks, prepare the peppers. Slice each pepper in half through the stem. Remove the stem and inner ribs and seeds. Set aside.
- Once beef is browned, drain the black beans and add them to the skillet. Add the diced tomatoes (with juices) and stir to combine.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and salt to the skillet. Stir to combine. Cook for several minutes until sauce has thickened.
- Stuff each bell pepper half with the ground beef mixture. Place pepper halves in your air fryer basket (you will likely need to do in 2 batches if making the full recipe).
- Cook the bell peppers for 12-15 minutes at 360 degrees F. Open the air fryer basket and top each pepper with grated cheese. Air fry for another 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Plate and enjoy.
Notes
- This recipe made just enough filling for me to stuff my bell peppers. However, if you add rice or other items, you may have leftover filling.
- Be careful when placing your bell peppers in and out of the air fryer so that they do not tip over or the filling come out.
- All air fryers cook differently. Watch carefully and adjust cook times as needed.
- While I sliced my bell peppers in half because I find them easier to eat that way, you can absolutely leave them whole and just remove the stem and ribs before stuffing. The cook time will not change. This may allow you to cook more bell peppers in the air fryer at once.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
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