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Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

Bell peppers filled with seasoned beef, Parmesan, and herbs cook through in the air fryer with browned tops and tender walls—no long oven bake.

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Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers plated air fryer meal

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Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers

Yield4
Prep20 min
Cook20 min
Total40 min

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Ingredients

0 of 15 gathered

Step by step

Method

5 steps

  1. 1

    Halve 4 medium green or red bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes (or keep whole and cut the tops off). Soften them: microwave 2–3 minutes or blanch 3 minutes in boiling water, then drain and dry so the filling isn't sitting in water.

  2. 2

    Gently mix 1 lb ground beef (85–90% lean) with ½ small finely chopped onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 lightly beaten egg, ⅓ cup grated Parmesan, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (or 2 teaspoons dried), 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, optional red pepper flakes, and ¼ cup of the tomato sauce until just combined — don't overwork.

  3. 3

    Stir optional 1 teaspoon brown sugar and ½ teaspoon Worcestershire into the remaining ½ cup tomato sauce.

  4. 4

    Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. Spoon the meat mixture into the peppers, mounding slightly. Spoon a little sauce over each and add shredded mozzarella if you want a cheesy top.

  5. 5

    Air fry 18–22 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling hits 160°F. Rest 3 minutes and serve with extra warm sauce. You want tender stuffed peppers with a browned savory beef filling — not crunchy raw pepper walls or a grey undercooked middle.

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