Air Fryer Stuffed Bell Peppers with Beef and Rice
These air fryer stuffed peppers feature tender bell peppers filled with a savory mixture of seasoned ground beef, rice, and tomatoes, then topped with melted mozzarella cheese. The air fryer creates perfectly cooked peppers with a slight char while keeping the filling hot and flavorful. This family-friendly dinner comes together quickly and makes great use of leftover rice. The combination of Italian seasoning and soy sauce adds an unexpected depth of flavor to the classic comfort food dish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cup cooked rice
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 4 whole bell peppers, any color
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- chopped parsley(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat and drain grease
- 2
Stir in soy sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt
- 3
Add cooked rice, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste and stir thoroughly
- 4
Let cook together for 3 minutes
- 5
Cut off the tops of bell peppers and remove seeds
- 6
Fill bell peppers with ground beef mixture
- 7
Place in air fryer and cook at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes
- 8
Remove from air fryer and top with mozzarella cheese and chopped parsley if desired
- 9
Place back in air fryer for another 3 minutes
- 10
Plate and serve
Tips
Cook peppers in two batches if they don't all fit in your air fryer basket at once.
Use leftover rice for this recipe to save time, or cook rice while preparing other ingredients.
Choose peppers that can stand upright by trimming a small slice from the bottom if needed.
Good to Know
Store leftover stuffed peppers in refrigerator for up to 3 days in covered container.
Stuff peppers up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate, then air fry when ready to serve.
Serve immediately while cheese is melted and peppers are hot.
Common Mistakes
Don't skip draining grease from beef to avoid greasy filling
Don't overfill peppers or filling will spill out during cooking
Substitutions
Gluten-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I use uncooked rice instead of cooked rice?
No, the rice needs to be pre-cooked since the air fryer cooking time isn't long enough to fully cook raw rice.
What if my peppers don't fit in the air fryer?
Cook them in batches or choose smaller peppers that will fit your air fryer basket comfortably.
How long will these keep in the refrigerator?
Leftover stuffed peppers will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the air fryer.