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Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

This recipe outlines how to prepare savory stuffed bell peppers using an air fryer. Bell pepper halves are filled with a seasoned mixture of ground beef, diced onion, tomato sauce, and cooked rice, then air-fried until tender. A topping of mozzarella cheese is added and melted to finish the dish, offering a quick and satisfying meal.
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Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine middle eastern
Servings 3 people
Calories 1626.5 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer Essential for cooking the stuffed peppers
  • 1 Large Skillet For browning ground beef and cooking the filling
  • 1 Cutting Board For dicing onions and halving peppers
  • 1 Chef's knife For ingredient preparation
  • 1 Mixing Spoon/Spatula For stirring and filling

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 lb. ground beef
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 cups 8oz. tomato sauce
  • 1 cup cooked rice I like to use brown rice
  • 3 bell peppers halved
  • 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add diced onion and sauté until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart, until browned; drain any excess fat.
  • Stir in salt, black pepper, and garlic powder with the browned beef.
  • Add tomato sauce and cooked rice to the skillet, mixing well to combine all ingredients for the filling.
  • Halve the bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes; arrange the pepper halves in the air fryer basket.
  • Spoon the prepared meat and rice mixture evenly into each bell pepper half.
  • Cook the stuffed peppers in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the peppers are tender.
  • Remove the air fryer basket, sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top of each stuffed pepper.
  • Return to the air fryer and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Carefully remove from the air fryer and serve hot.

Notes

For optimal results, ensure your bell peppers are of similar size to promote even cooking in the air fryer. When browning the ground beef, drain any excess fat to prevent a greasy filling. Don't overcook the filling before stuffing, as it will continue to cook in the air fryer. A touch of fresh parsley or oregano in the filling would elevate the flavor profile, and a sprinkle of Parmesan with the mozzarella will add depth. Always preheat your air fryer for best results and adjust cooking times based on your specific model; don't overcrowd the basket.