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Air fryer stuffed peppers garnished with sour cream and parsley in a large oval serving bowl.
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Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

Air fryer stuffed peppers are a fresh and flavorful, comforting meal that your whole family will love! This recipe is made vegetarian but can just as easily be converted to a ground chicken or ground turkey stuffed pepper version. Made in a fraction of the traditional oven time, they’re quick, easy, and beyond delicious!
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 408kcal
Cost $15

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ yellow onion chopped
  • 1 jalapeño diced small
  • 1 cup white basmati rice uncooked
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 14.5 oz canned diced tomatoes
  • 14.5 oz canned chicken or vegetable broth (around 1 ⅔ cup)
  • 6 bell peppers, any color halved lengthwise, cleaned out and deseeded
  • 15.25 oz canned corn drained
  • 15.25 oz canned black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
  • salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for topping

Instructions

  • Place a dutch oven or medium-sized pot on the stove over medium heat.
  • Add in olive oil, onion, jalapeño, rice, salt, and pepper. Stir so the onion and rice don’t stick or burn. Cook for about 5 to 8 minutes, allowing the onions to turn translucent and the rice to turn slightly golden brown.
  • Stir in all of the spices, garlic, canned tomatoes, and broth.
  • Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • While waiting for the filling to cook through, prepare the peppers. Cut them in half lengthwise and then remove the ribs and seeds.
  • When the rice mixture is cooked through, remove it from the heat. Mix in the corn and black beans.
  • Set the peppers on their side and scoop the filling into the hollowed out center.Place the stuffed peppers in the basket of your air fryer. You might need to cook the peppers in batches, depending on the size of your basket.
  • Air fry the peppers at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the basket from the air fryer and top the peppers with the cheese. Air fry at 350 degrees F for another 2 minutes, or until the cheese gets perfectly melty and bubbly.
  • To pair fryer stuffed peppers with sour cream, homemade salsa, or guacamole. Serve warm, either as a side dish or main meal.

Notes

  1. You can bulk up the recipe by adding ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground beef. Place the pot over medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Brown the meat in the olive oil and proceed with the rest of the instructions, starting with adding the onion, jalapeno, rice, salt, and pepper.
  2. If you’d like to use a different grain, like brown rice or quinoa, instead of basmati rice, just adjust the amount of liquid and the cook time according to their package instructions.
  3. If you want to add some spiciness, add a few dashes of cayenne pepper along with the other spices.
  4. See above in-post recommendations on storing and freezing stuffed peppers.
  5. To make this recipe in the oven instead, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Follow all of the recipe instructions, but instead of air frying, place the stuffed peppers in a shallow baking dish. Pour about a half inch to an inch of water in the bottom of the dish, around the sides of the peppers. This will steam and help them soften a bit. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the peppers become tender and the cheese gets bubbly. 
  6. Any extra rice filling can be used as a side dish, quick leftover lunch, or to stuff additional peppers and other vegetables for dinners throughout the week.
 
Italian stuffed peppers: follow the “filling” instructions in this Italian stuffed zucchini recipe, with or without the ground chicken. Instead of adding the filling to zucchini, scoop it inside your favorite colored bell peppers, top them with the cheesy breadcrumb mixture, and cook according to these instructions.
 
Asian stuffed peppers: you can whip up some instant pot chicken fried rice, again omitting the chicken if you prefer a vegetarian dish, stuff it inside the peppers and cook in the air fryer by following the cook times above. You might need to add a tad more sesame oil or soy sauce to keep the filling perfectly moist.
 
Cajun stuffed peppers: follow instructions for a traditional dirty rice recipe, add the rice inside the peppers, and then air fry. You might need to add a bit of tomato sauce for a more saucy filling. You can also opt to add your favorite cheese on top or simply leave it off.

Nutrition

Calories: 408kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 870mg | Potassium: 825mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4084IU | Vitamin C: 170mg | Calcium: 212mg | Iron: 3mg