Air-Fried Stuffed Bell Peppers: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air fryer stuffed peppers are a quick and easy meal that can be cooked in less than 20 minutes. The peppers are stuffed with a mixture of rice, ground beef and spices, and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. The peppers are first sliced and the seeds removed, then filled with the mixture and cooked in the air fryer until tender. The cooking time will depend on the size of the peppers and the amount of filling, but it usually takes around 10-20 minutes.

Preparing the peppers

To prepare the peppers, start by rinsing the bell peppers and patting them dry. Then, cut off the tops of the peppers and set them aside. You can slice a sliver off the bottom of each pepper so they stand up straight. Next, remove the seeds and membranes from the peppers and discard them. If desired, you can chop the tops from around the stem. Ensure that the peppers will fit in your air fryer standing upright, and remove more of the top if necessary. If you prefer, you can cut the peppers in half vertically instead of keeping them whole.

Filling the peppers

You can fill the peppers with a mixture of ground beef, Italian sausage, rice, spices, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Saute onions and garlic in a skillet over medium-high heat until they are translucent. Then, add the ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink. Finally, add the cooked rice, spices, and tomatoes, and cook until the mixture starts boiling.

Scoop the mixture into the peppers, filling them just to the top. If you are using halves, make sure to fill them evenly.

Cooking the filling

First, rinse the bell peppers and pat them dry. Remove the tops and slice a sliver off the bottom of each pepper so they stand up. Chop the tops from around the stem and set aside. Next, remove the seeds and membranes from the peppers and discard. Place the pepper shells in the air fryer basket and preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 5 minutes. Cook the peppers until they are mostly tender, which should take about 10 minutes.

While the peppers are cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onions and garlic until they are translucent. Then, add the ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink. Once the beef is cooked, add the cooked rice, spices, and tomatoes. Continue cooking until the mixture starts boiling.

Once the filling mixture reaches 170°F, it is done. However, this will likely take much more than 10-12 minutes.

Cooking the peppers

Next, place the peppers in the air fryer basket. If you're using whole peppers, you may need to put them in ramekins to prevent them from falling over. Cook the peppers until they are mostly or almost tender, which should take around 10 minutes. If you're using halves, this will take 4-5 minutes. Once they're done, pour out any accumulated liquid from inside the peppers.

While the peppers are cooking, prepare your filling. This could be a mixture of ground beef, Italian sausage, rice, spices, tomatoes, and onions, cooked in a skillet until boiling.

Once the filling is ready, scoop it into the peppers, filling them just to the top. Top with cheese, if desired, and cook until the filling reaches 170°F, which will likely take more than 10-12 minutes.

Serving the peppers

Once your peppers are cooked, it's time to serve them. You can serve them as they are, or you can get creative with toppings and sides. Here are some ideas:

If you've cooked your peppers whole, you might want to slice them in half to make them easier to eat. You could also slice them into strips or quarters, depending on your preference.

For toppings, you could add some extra cheese. A sprinkle of grated parmesan or a dollop of creamy ricotta would work well. You could also add some fresh herbs, like basil or parsley, for a burst of colour and flavour.

If you're looking for a more substantial meal, serve your peppers with a side of rice or quinoa. A fresh salad would also work well, with leafy greens, tomatoes, and a simple vinaigrette dressing.

Finally, don't forget to enjoy your peppers! They're a delicious and healthy option, perfect for a quick and easy meal.

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