These air fryer stuffed peppers are the perfect 30 minute meal! Tender bell peppers packed with plant based protein, cheese and vegetables they're so good the whole family will enjoy them.
Stuffed peppers make the perfect addition to your families weekly dinner rotation. Not only will they impress the whole family with how fancy they look but they also are super tasty and packed with nutrients! Theses roasted peppers in air fryer are also SO easy to make. All you need is 30 minutes (total!) and you'll have the perfect plant based weeknight meal.
Why do you make these roasted peppers in air fryer?
If you don't know my love of the air fryer by now- let me just quickly explain why I love it. The air fryer is my secret weapon to making perfect recipes in half the time! It makes perfectly cooked vegetables- like these brussel sprouts or this asparagus. It also is perfect for a quick and easy 10 minute breakfast like this air fryer breakfast cookie. It's also great for making crispy chickpeas perfect for topping your salad. I just love how versatile it is. It's the perfect, non-intimidating appliance for anyone who wants to get into the kitchen more (and it's great for College/ University students).
Stuffed peppers are a food I grew up eating. My mom used to always make these and I loved them. They made for such an easy, tasty meal that the whole family loved! The only problem was they took almost 45 minutes to cook. So after we got an air fryer I decided I wanted to try to see if we could decrease that cooking time... and I did!
The air fryer makes these air fryer stuffed peppers possible in FIFTEEN minutes. So they are now the perfect weeknight meal.
Can I cook these in the oven?
Yes! Stuffed peppers are traditionally cooked in the oven so there is absolutely no reason these lentil stuffed peppers can't be made in the oven. The only difference will be they will take longer! All you have to do is preheat the oven to 375F, place the stuffed peppers in a glass baking dish, cover with tin foil and bake for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes is up, remove the tinfoil and bake for another 15 minutes. To get that crispy layer of cheese on top I'd recommend broiling the peppers for the last 5 minutes!
What Ingredients do I need for Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers?
Bell peppers- Any colour will do! I personally like red peppers the best but the choice is entirely yours. Try to choose fairly large, symmetrical peppers (look for ones that will stand on their own). This just makes it easier to stuff them. If you found the perfect pepper but it doesn't stand up straight- don't fret, just slice a thin layer of the bottom off to even it out.
Lentils- I personally use canned lentils because I just find them so convenient. I'd recommend looking for the lower sodium cans if you can. We typically will just buy a 12 pack of them at Costco and keep them in the cupboard. Dried and cooked lentils will work as well, just follow the package instructions and you will need about 1.5 cups (of prepared lentils).
Cheese- I like to use cheddar or marble cheese because I like the taste of sharper orange cheddar in dishes such as this one however any cheese will work just fine!
Italian seasoning- The only seasoning you need for these air fryer stuffed peppers! I love Italian seasoning because it is SO easy and bring such a great flavour to Italian inspired dishes.
Rice- White, jasmine or brown rice are all fine, just prepare ahead of time following the package instructions. Feel free to substitute this with another grain such as quinoa if you want. I personally love the combination of lentils and rice with a bit of corn, however use whatever you have on hand!
Tomato sauce- My very favourite tomato sauce is this one! We buy it at costco in a 2-pack so we are always stocked and even my Italian friends say it's tastes pretty authentic. I love the classic flavour, the minimal ingredient list and the lower sugar and salt content- all things I look for in a good tomato sauce.
Corn kernels- frozen, canned, or fresh all work! I personally typically use canned or frozen because like I said, I'm lazy and love a quick option. If you are using frozen just make sure you thaw and drain the corn ahead of time. If you are using canned corn just give it a quick rinse and drain in the sink.
Veggies- I added zucchini, tomatoes and spinach to these air fryer stuffed peppers. These are all veggies my family always has on hand making them an easy addition to a weeknight meal. If you want to try subbing some (or all) of the vegetables out for a different one- feel free these are very customizable!
Air fryer- This isn’t an ingredient but to make these air fryer stuffed peppers you will also need an air fryer (unless you follow the oven instructions above). I personally have heard amazing things about this one! However any air fryer will work!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you make these air fryer stuffed peppers don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or leave a comment below!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 4 medium bell peppers any colour
- 1 can (425g) lentils rinsed and drained
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- red pepper flakes to taste, optional
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup corn kernels fresh, canned or frozen all work!
- ½ cup tomatoes chopped
- ½ cup zucchini diced
- ½ cup cheese plus a bit more for sprinkling
- 1 handful spinach chopped
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F * see below for oven instructions.
- Rinse peppers, and carefully slice off the top of each pepper. Remove seeds and membranes and set aside.
- In a medium skillet add oil, lentils, rice, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, tomato sauce, corn, tomatoes, and zucchini and cook covered for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until mixture is warm and zucchinis are cooked. Add cheese and spinach and cook until cheese is melted and spinach has wilted (about 3 minutes).
- Stand peppers upright in the air fryer basket and stuff each pepper with the lentil mixture. Add additional cheese for topping. (You will have extra filling, I like to save it and serve it on the side or keep it for leftovers!)
- Air fry for about 10-15 minutes or until pepper is soft and cheese has browned.
- Serve with sour cream, salsa, and a side salad!
Notes
Nutrition
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