Emilie Meyer
Stuffed bell peppers are a delicious and healthy meal, perfect for a quick family dinner. They are easy to make and can be cooked in an air fryer in under 20 minutes. The peppers are filled with a mixture of ground beef, sausage, rice, and cheese, and baked until tender. The air fryer adds a crunchy texture to the peppers while keeping the inside juicy and delicious. This paragraph will discuss the benefits of cooking stuffed bell peppers in an air fryer and provide a step-by-step guide on how to make this tasty dish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 355F, 360F, 375F, 400F |
| Time | 15 minutes, 17 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes |
| Pre-cooking | Not necessary, but some recipes suggest pre-cooking the peppers for 2-3 minutes or 5 minutes |
| Post-cooking | Can be frozen for up to 3-6 months and reheated in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right pepper
When choosing the right pepper for air frying, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, look for peppers that are roughly the same size and have a good, even bottom so they can stand up straight in the air fryer. If they are wobbly, you can slice off a bit of the bottom to create a flat surface. Aim for bright, shiny, and firm peppers, avoiding those with wrinkled skin, soft spots, or mouldy stems.
The colour of the pepper will influence the flavour. Green bell peppers have a mildly bitter taste as they are unripe, but they will sweeten as they cook. They are also a more cost-effective option. If you prefer a sweeter pepper, opt for yellow or orange peppers, with red peppers being the sweetest of the pepper family.
You may also want to consider par-cooking the peppers before stuffing them. This can help to soften them and reduce the overall cook time. You can blanch them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, or roast them in the oven to add more flavour and reduce cleanup time. However, this is not necessary, especially if you are short on time, as the moisture in the filling and the heat of the air fryer will cook the peppers perfectly.
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Preparing the filling
Firstly, you will need to sauté your aromatics. In a medium-sized skillet or saucepan, heat some olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in your diced onions and cook until they are soft and translucent. You can also add in some diced garlic at this stage for extra flavor.
Next, add in your choice of ground meat. The most common options are beef, chicken, turkey, or Italian sausage. Cook the meat until it is browned and cooked through, crumbling it as it cooks. If you are using a meat thermometer, ensure that the beef reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Drain the meat and return it to the pan.
Now, it's time to add your spices and other ingredients. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as Italian seasoning, parsley, sage, salt, and pepper. Stir in your chosen spices along with cooked rice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and any other desired ingredients like Worcestershire sauce. If you want to make your dish lower in carbohydrates, you can substitute the rice with riced cauliflower. Continue cooking until the mixture starts boiling, or simmer for about 10-12 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Your filling is now ready to be scooped into your prepared bell peppers. Fill the peppers to the top, and they are almost ready for the air fryer!
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Stuffing the peppers
Stuffed peppers are a great comfort food and cooking them in an air fryer makes the dish even better. The air fryer adds a little crunch to the peppers while keeping the inside juicy and delicious. It also keeps the peppers from getting soggy at the bottom.
To prepare the peppers, slice off the tops and remove any veins or seeds inside. You can also dice the tops and add them to the filling if you like. Look for peppers that are roughly the same size and have a good, even bottom so they'll stand up. If your peppers are wobbly and not standing up straight, slice off a bit of the bottom (without puncturing the pepper) to create a flat surface.
For the filling, sauté the onions and garlic in a skillet with some olive oil until soft and fragrant. You can also add some green onion, parsley, sage, and salt to taste. Then, add the ground beef and cook until it's browned all over. You can use ground chicken, lean ground turkey, or Italian sausage instead of beef if you prefer. Drain the meat and return it to the pan. Next, add in the cooked rice, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and more salt and pepper to taste. You can also add some Worcestershire sauce and cheese—shred your own so it’ll melt better.
Once the filling is ready, stuff the peppers with the mixture. Place the stuffed peppers in the basket of the air fryer, making sure they stand upright and aren't leaning on each other. The hot air needs to circulate around them, so it's best if they don't touch each other.
Now, you're ready to air fry! Preheat your air fryer to 355°F to 375°F (190°C). Cook the peppers for about 15 minutes, then top each pepper with some shredded mozzarella or Colby Jack cheese and continue cooking for another 2 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Your air fryer stuffed peppers are now ready to be enjoyed!
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Air frying instructions
Firstly, ensure your peppers are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly. Look for peppers with a flat bottom so they can stand up straight. If they are wobbly, you can slice a bit off the bottom to create a flat surface.
Preheat your air fryer to 190C/375F. Cut off the tops of the peppers and clean the insides, setting aside the tops if you want to add them to your filling. If you are short on time, you can blanch the peppers in a large pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes before stuffing.
Now, make your filling. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat, add olive oil, onion, and garlic. Cook until soft and fragrant, then add your ground beef, crumbling and cooking until it is no longer pink. You can use ground chicken, turkey, or Italian sausage instead of beef. Drain the meat and return it to the pan, then add your cooked rice, spices, and tomatoes, and cook until the mixture boils. You can also add other vegetables to the filling.
Stuff the peppers with the filling, placing them in the basket of the air fryer. If your peppers are overfilled, you can lean them against each other, but it is preferable for them to stand alone.
Air fry the peppers at 355F for 15 minutes. You can also cook at 360F for 10 minutes, or 400F for 4 minutes, then add cheese and cook for another 4 minutes. Top with shredded cheese and cook for an additional 2-5 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
If you have leftovers, allow the peppers to cool, then wrap them in plastic wrap and aluminium foil and place them in a freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. To reheat, cook in the air fryer at 350F for 10 minutes.
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Reheating and storing
You can store your air fryer stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them. Wrap each pepper individually in plastic wrap or foil to prevent freezer burn, then place them in a freezer bag or container. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 to 6 months.
To reheat, thaw the peppers overnight in the fridge, then pop them in the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes, checking halfway through. You can also reheat them straight from frozen, but you'll need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. Reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around 10 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
The cooking time depends on the number of peppers you are cooking and the size of your air fryer. For example, cooking 3 small to medium peppers in a 6-quart air fryer took one user 30 minutes. However, most recipes suggest cooking peppers for 15 minutes and then adding cheese and cooking for an additional 2-5 minutes.
To prevent overcooking, it is recommended to cook the peppers for 15 minutes and then keep an eye on them in the last few minutes of cooking. Peppers are overcooked when they become soggy.
To store stuffed bell peppers, wrap them in foil or place them in an airtight container. They can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
