These Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers are the ultimate weeknight win—flavor-packed, veggie-loaded, and ready in no time flat.
Stuffed peppers are a total comfort classic, and the air fryer makes them quick, crispy, and easy—no oven required. You’ll get perfectly tender peppers with a golden top and flavorful filling in under 10 minutes.
I’ve tested them with everything from taco-seasoned ground beef to leftover quinoa, and they always turn out great. If you love veggie-packed mains, try my Crispy Air Fryer Avocado Fries or Air Fryer Tater Tot Casserole next!
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💖 Why This Recipe Works
- Healthy and Flavorful: Lean protein, veggies, and whole grains in one tidy, tasty package.
- Effortless Cooking: The air fryer keeps everything easy—no baking trays or oven babysitting needed.
- Flexible Filling: Swap in your favorite meats, grains, or even make it low-carb with cauliflower rice.
⭐ Star Ingredients
- Ground Turkey – I love using turkey here because it’s lean but still flavorful, and it soaks up all those herbs and spices like a champ. You can easily swap it for ground chicken or beef if that’s what you have on hand.
- Cooked Rice – This is the filler that brings it all together. I usually use jasmine or basmati for a little extra fragrance, but brown rice or even quinoa works great too.
- Bell Peppers – Red and yellow are my favorites for their natural sweetness, but green works perfectly if you like a bit more bite. Choose ones that are firm and wide enough to hold that delicious stuffing!
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Meat Swap: Use ground beef, Italian sausage, or shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Low-Carb Option: Sub cauliflower rice for regular rice to keep it keto-friendly.
- Dairy-Free: Skip the cheese or use a plant-based melt like Violife or Miyoko's.
- Spicy Kick: Add chopped jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes to the mix.
- Veggie Boost: Stir in chopped spinach, corn, or black beans.
- Color Variety: Use red, yellow, or orange peppers for a sweeter flavor profile and pretty presentation.
Love easy veggie meals? You’ll also love my Air Fryer Onion Rings or Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes for more crispy, colorful sides.
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers?
- Step 1: In a large skillet or Instant Pot saute and brown the ground meat. Add the oil and spices. Cook for 3 minutes on medium-high heat. Add the rice, onions, and diced tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Cook for 3 minutes on medium-high heat. Add the rice, onions, and diced tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Cut the bell pepper in half and remove the seeds. Scoop the meat and rice filling into each pepper half.
- Step 4: Place in the stuffed pepper halves into the air fryer basket.
- Step 5: Cook at 400 for 6-8 minutes or until peppers start to brown.
- Step 6: Garnish the bell peppers with Romano cheese.
💡Hint: Use similarly sized peppers so they cook evenly—and don’t overcrowd the basket. Air needs to circulate to get that perfect texture!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Preheat your air fryer for better browning and faster cook time.
- Choose firm peppers that can hold their shape when softened.
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon with a flat edge to pack the filling neatly into each pepper half.
- Want a crispy cheese top? Run the peppers under a broiler for 1–2 minutes after air frying if you like a browned finish.
💭 FAQs
Classic stuffed peppers usually include a mix of ground meat, cooked rice, veggies, and cheese. This air fryer version keeps things healthy and fast without skimping on flavor.
No, you don’t need to blanch the peppers before stuffing them. The air frying cooking process will soften the peppers and make them tender.
Yes! You can use different colored bell peppers if you wish. Bell peppers come in a variety of colors due to their ripening process. Green bell peppers are the least ripe and red bell peppers are the ripest. The longer they stay on the vine, the sweeter they become. Try mixing it up and stuff your peppers using the green peppers, yellow, red and orange peppers.
Simply swap cooked rice for cauliflower rice. You’ll still get a hearty, flavorful filling without the extra carbs.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer. These freeze well too—just thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat before serving.
💖 Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite sides to serve with stuffed rice peppers:
- Asparagus With Goat Cheese – Crispy, savory, and loaded with flavor.
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes: Crunchy and slightly sweet, a delightful contrast to the savory peppers.
- Parmesan Breadsticks – Buttery and cheesy, great for scooping up any extra filling.
- Spicy Lasagna Soup with Oregano – Warm, cozy, and full of Italian vibes.
- Creamy Ranch Dip with Veggie Chips – For a crunchy, creamy contrast.
💡Leftovers? Chop up a few stuffed peppers and use them as a taco or burrito filling, or toss into a grain bowl with greens, beans, and salsa for a next-day lunch.
🍽 More Super Veggie Dishes
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Best Air Fried Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Turkey or any ground meat of your choosing such as beef or chicken
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Chopped Tomatoes seasoned with garlic and basil.
- ¼ Cup Green Onion Chopped
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Dry Parsley or 2 Tablespoons of fresh parsley
- Salt And Pepper
- 1 Cup Cooked Rice
- 1 Cup Romano Cheese Shredded
Instructions
- In a large skillet or Instant Pot saute and brown the ground meat. Add the oil and spices. Cook for 3 minutes on medium-high heat. Add the rice, onions, and diced tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Cut the bell pepper in half and remove the seeds. Scoop the meat and rice filling into each pepper half and place in the air fryer basket.
- Cook at 400 for 6-8 minutes or until peppers start to brown.
- Garnish the bell peppers with Romano cheese.
Tried these air fryer stuffed peppers and they turned out delicious! The combination of ground turkey, rice, and spices was flavorful, and the air fryer gave the peppers a nice, tender texture.