Description
This Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers recipe offers a delicious, quick, and easy way to enjoy a classic stuffed pepper dish using an air fryer. Ground beef, seasoned with soy sauce and Italian spices, is combined with rice and tomatoes before being stuffed into colorful bell peppers and cooked to perfection. Topped with melted mozzarella and optional fresh parsley, this recipe serves a hearty, flavorful meal in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasonings
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
Fillings
- 1¾ cups cooked rice
- 15 oz. diced tomatoes
- 6 oz. tomato paste
Vegetables
- 4 whole bell peppers (any color)
Toppings and Garnishes
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- Chopped parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease, then stir in soy sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt to season the meat thoroughly.
- Combine Fillings: Add cooked rice, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste to the skillet with the beef mixture. Stir everything together evenly and cook for an additional 3 minutes to blend the flavors and heat through.
- Prepare the Bell Peppers: Cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes inside. Fill each pepper cavity with the seasoned beef and rice mixture, distributing it evenly among all four peppers.
- Air Fry the Peppers: Place the stuffed peppers in the air fryer basket. Depending on your air fryer size, you may need to cook them in two batches. Cook at 360°F (182°C) for 10 minutes to soften the peppers and start melting the filling inside.
- Add Cheese and Finish Cooking: Remove the peppers from the air fryer, sprinkle the tops with mozzarella cheese and optional chopped parsley. Return the peppers to the air fryer and cook for an additional 3 minutes at the same temperature to melt the cheese perfectly.
- Serve: Carefully remove the stuffed peppers from the air fryer, plate them, and serve hot as a satisfying main dish.
Notes
- To reduce sodium, use low-sodium soy sauce or substitute with tamari.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or plant-based meat alternatives.
- Bell peppers can be any color; red and yellow tend to be sweeter.
- Ensure cooked rice is cooled before mixing to prevent mushiness.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the stuffed peppers at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes, then top with cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes.
- Leftover stuffed peppers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer or oven.
