Air Fryer Stuffed Bell Peppers with Tomato, Beef, and Mozzarella Recipe
This Air Fryer Stuffed Pepper recipe is a delicious, easy-to-make meal featuring bell peppers filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, rice, and Italian-seasoned tomato sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Cooked quickly in the air fryer, it’s a flavorful and satisfying dish perfect for a weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 4 large bell peppers
- 1 small onion, diced
- Diced tops of bell peppers (from the 4 peppers)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Meat
- 1 pound lean ground beef
Other ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (15-ounce) can no salt added tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the peppers: Slice off the top of each bell pepper and dice the tops, then set aside the diced pieces. Remove the seeds and membranes from the remaining whole peppers, keeping them intact to hold the filling.
- Sauté the filling: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and diced pepper tops, cooking for 6-7 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Add the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces, and cook until browned. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce along with 1½ teaspoons of Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a low boil and cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, then stir in the cooked rice until well combined.
- Preheat the air fryer: Set the air fryer to 360°F and let it preheat for about 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Stuff the peppers: Spoon approximately 1 to 1¼ cups of the beef and rice mixture into each hollowed bell pepper, packing the filling tightly to hold its shape.
- Air fry the stuffed peppers: Place the stuffed peppers in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes at 360°F to cook the filling through and soften the peppers.
- Add cheese and finish cooking: Carefully open the air fryer and top each pepper with shredded mozzarella cheese and the remaining ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Air fry for an additional 2 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly browned.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat during cooking.
- You can substitute cooked quinoa or cauliflower rice for the rice to make it lower in carbs.
- Feel free to use different cheeses like cheddar or Monterey Jack for variety.
- Adjust cooking times slightly depending on the size of your peppers and your air fryer model.
- For a vegetarian version, replace the ground beef with a plant-based crumble or cooked lentils.
