Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
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I love to cook dinners that my family likes without creating extra work, and air fryer stuffed peppers fit the bill perfectly. The air fryer helps to speed things up, making this dish easy enough for any night of the week.
Stuffed bell peppers is one of my favorite meals because it checks all the “wholesome meal” boxes. There is protein, vegetables, and a flavorful grain all in one dish, which means there isn’t much else that’s needed to serve with them.
I also love how the air fryer helps the peppers cook evenly without becoming mushy. By the time they’re done, the cheese is melted and everything is heated through perfectly.
Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite
This stuffed peppers air fryer recipe is one that makes people think you put in a lot more effort than you actually did. Everything cooks together right inside the bell pepper, which means less cleanup and fewer dishes to wash afterward.
Learn how to cook anything in your air fryer with our free cook time chart!
One of the biggest benefits is, they cook faster in the air fryer compared to the traditional oven method.
And because they are portable and freezer-friendly, they are great for meal prep, sharing with a friend, or saving for a busy day when you’ll be glad to have something homemade ready to go.
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my important mom-tested cooking tips for making this recipe! I’ve made this countless times, so I can save you from a failed attempt.
- Par-cook the peppers first. This gives them a head start so they become tender without overcooking the filling.
- If your peppers are larger than average, they may need a few extra minutes in the air fryer.
- Let the stuffed peppers rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This gives the filling time to settle and makes them easier to eat.
If you enjoy quick comfort food meals like stuffed peppers in the air fryer, I also have recipes for Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas, Instant Pot Carnitas, and Ground Beef Burrito Bowl. They are all family-friendly dinners packed with flavor and perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredient Notes
You’ll want to add these ingredients to your grocery shopping list:
This recipe is easy to adapt based on what you have on hand. Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner option.
If you have leftover brown rice, feel free to use it in place of white rice.
You can also swap the black beans for pinto beans, and regular diced tomatoes are a good substitute if you prefer a milder flavor than tomatoes with green chiles.
For the shredded cheese, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, and Mexican cheese blend all work well.
Recipe Variations
Top the peppers with sour cream, avocado, green onions, or fresh cilantro just before serving.
Add a handful of corn to the filling for a little extra sweetness and texture.
Add your favorite hot sauce before serving if you like a little extra heat.
Serve the peppers with guacamole or chipotle corn salsa for even more Tex-Mex flavor.
Making Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
This is only a summary of the steps. For the full instructions, see the recipe card! ⬇️
Jump to RecipeImportant: You will need to use cooked rice for this recipe because there isn’t enough liquid in the filling to completely cook raw rice all the way. I suggest starting this recipe by making Instant Pot rice. While the rice is cooking, you can start making the filling.
- Cook the ground beef in a large skillet on the stove, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Add the seasonings to the cooked meat, then stir it well so all of the ground hamburger is seasoned.
- Add the rice, beans, tomatoes, and cheese, then mix until everything is evenly combined.
- Fill each pepper generously, pressing the mixture in lightly so every bite is packed with filling.
Quick Tip
If your bell peppers will not stand upright in the air fryer basket, slice a very thin piece off the bottom of each pepper before filling them. Just be careful not to cut all the way through. This helps keep the peppers stable while they cook.
- Place the stuffed peppers in the air fryer and cook until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through.
- Top with cheese and cook for a few more minutes, until melted. Let the peppers rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Make it kid friendly:
These air fryer stuffed peppers are easy to adapt for picky eaters. If your kids are not excited about the peppers, serve some of the cheesy filling on the side. It is just as delicious on its own or spooned into tortillas or taco shells.
Meal Prep Instructions for Stuffed Peppers with Rice
One of the best things about the making stuffed bell peppers in the air fryer is that it makes life a little easier later in the week.
Filling: A batch of filling made ahead means it's ready to use whenever you want it. The filling will keep in the fridge for about 5 days
To save even more time, cook rice in the Instant Pot ahead of time to use in the filling. If you have any leftover rice, keep it in the fridge for burrito bowls or to serve it with a meal like chicken broccoli stir fry later in the week. It is an easy way to get ahead on multiple meals at once.
Stuffed peppers ready to air fry: You can stuff the peppers a day in advance. Put them in a covered dish and keep them in the fridge until you're ready to air fry them.
Storing Leftovers
I always appreciate a recipe that makes enough for leftovers, and stuffed bell peppers do exactly that. They store well in the fridge and are easy to reheat throughout the week.
Stuffed Bell Pepper Recipe FAQs
No, you can leave out the rice if you want to. The filling will be a little less substantial, but the meal will still be delicious. For a lower-carb option, consider replacing the rice with Mexican cauliflower rice or broccoli rice.
Bell peppers vary in size and thickness. If yours are still firmer than you'd like, just put them back into the air fryer and let them cook for a few extra minutes.
Yes! Corn, diced zucchini, mushrooms, and spinach all work well and are easy ways to add more vegetables to the meal.
After you make this recipe, please give it a star rating below and comment to let me know how it went!
Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 bell peppers any color
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- ¾ cups white rice (1.5 cups cooked)
- 1 cup diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel)
- 1 cup canned black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. *If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, just turn it on about 10 minutes before you start cooking.
- In a medium pot over high heat, bring 1.5 cups water or broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low, add uncooked rice, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.¾ cups white rice
- Meanwhile, cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds and ribs. Place peppers in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 7 minutes to par-cook. After removing the peppers, reduce the air fryer to 350°F.4 bell peppers
- While the unfilled peppers are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon as it cooks, until no longer pink, about 6 minutes.2 pounds lean ground beef
- Add taco seasoning, tomato paste, and water to the beef, stirring until meat is evenly coated. Stir in cooked rice, diced tomatoes with green chiles, black beans, and 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.¾ cups white rice, 1 cup diced tomatoes with green chiles, 1 cup canned black beans, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 tablespoons water, 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Remove par-cooked peppers from air fryer. Fill each pepper to the top with beef mixture, packing gently.
- Place stuffed peppers in air fryer basket. Cook at 350°F for 15 minutes.
- Top peppers with remaining 1 cup of cheese and cook for 2-3 more minutes, until cheese melts. Remove stuffed peppers from air fryer and let them cool for 5 minutes before serving.1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Notes
- Use leftover cooked rice to save some time!
- You can skip par-cooking the empty peppers and increase the cook time by 6-10 minutes instead.
- There may be filling left over—save it for another meal or use it to make extra servings.
Nutrition
2026 Update: This recipe is still a favorite of ours! It's been updated to simplify the cooking instructions and include extra cooking tips. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Serving Suggestions
This meal is filling enough to serve on its own, which is one of the reasons this is such a great recipe for busy families.
If you'd like to round out the meal, a simple green salad, tortilla chips and salsa, or a bit of guacamole are all easy additions that work well alongside the peppers.
