These Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers are the best! They’re stuffed with a delicious quinoa and turkey filling and take only 35 minutes to make.
Thanks to the air fryer, these flavour-packed peppers cook up quickly. They’re great for easy weeknight dinners, meal prep, or whenever you want a simple, wholesome meal without a lot of fuss.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Big on flavour, low on effort: The quinoa-turkey filling is loaded with savoury spices and cooks up fast in the air fryer.
- A lighter twist on comfort food: All the cosy stuffed pepper vibes you love, made a little healthier without sacrificing taste.
- Great for busy schedules: Minimal prep, quick cook time and easy cleanup—perfect for those hectic weeknights.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Bell peppers – use any colour bell peppers like red, yellow, orange or green peppers.
- Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like canola or avocado oil.
- Ground turkey – ground chicken or ground beef would also be good in this recipe.
- Yellow onion – swap out for white onion or shallots instead.
- Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best but jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch.
- Chili powder – make your own using a blend of paprika, cumin and cayenne.
- Fresh salsa – your favourite jarred salsa would also work here.
- Spinach – substitute for another dark leafy green such as kale.
- Cheddar cheese – feel free to use any shredded cheese blend of your choice.
- Parsley – garnish with chervil or leave this off altogether if you don’t have any parsley on hand.
- Quinoa – quinoa is the healthier option, but you can use rice instead if you’re not a fan of quinoa.
How to make stuffed peppers in the air fryer
Step 1: Prep the peppers.
Cut the tops of bell peppers and scoop out seeds and pithy parts while cooking quinoa.
Step 2: Cook the peppers.
Add peppers to the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Cook the ground turkey.
Cook the ground turkey, and add onion and garlic until light browned.
Step 4: Make the stuffing.
Add salt and pepper, chili powder, salsa and cooked quinoa, then drop in spinach and remove from heat.
Step 5: Stuff the peppers.
Add filling to bell peppers.
Step 6: Top with cheese and cook.
Top with shredded cheese then air fry for 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired, then serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Variation
Here are a few tips to make sure your stuffed peppers turn out perfectly, along with some easy ways to customize the filling to fit your tastes.
- Use similar-sized peppers: This helps them cook evenly in the air fryer.
- Switch up the grains: Swap quinoa for brown rice, couscous or cauliflower rice if you prefer.
- Try different proteins: Ground chicken, beef or even lentils work great in place of turkey.
- Add more veggies: Stir in corn or zucchini to bulk up the filling with extra nutrients.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep the peppers from tipping over?
Slice a small piece off the bottom of each pepper to create a flat base before stuffing.
Can I make these peppers vegetarian?
Absolutely! Swap the turkey for cooked lentils, black beans, or your favourite meat-free crumble.
How do I prevent the filling from drying out?
Don’t overcook the filling before stuffing. You can also stir in a little broth, tomato sauce or shredded cheese to keep it moist.
Can I make mini stuffed peppers instead?
Yes, use mini bell peppers for bite-sized versions. These are perfect for appetizers or snacks, just adjust the cook time to about 6–8 minutes.
What to serve with this dish
These air fryer stuffed peppers are a complete meal on their own, packed with veggies, grains and protein. If you want to round out the meal, here are some great side ideas:
- Side salad
- Crispy green beans
- Roasted veggies
- Brussels sprouts
- Baby potatoes
- Crusty bread
How to store and reheat
Store: Keep cooked stuffed peppers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Warm in the air fryer at 350°F for 5–7 minutes or microwave until heated through.
Freeze and reheat from frozen: Freeze cooked peppers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the air fryer or oven until hot.
More easy air fryer dinners
Meal prep tools
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these stuffed peppers into leftovers.
- I own and love the Philips Digital Airfryer XXL.
- A rice cooker is invaluable for saving time, and it cooks other grains, too!
Easy Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
- 4 bell peppers any colour
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 cup fresh salsa
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped parsley optional, for garnish
Quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup quinoa
Instructions
- Add quinoa and water to a rice cooker or pot on the stove and cook until liquid has absorbed.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 F for 5 minutes. Cut the tops of bell peppers and scoop out seeds and pithy parts. Add to the air fryer, spray with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper to taste. Air fry for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, breaking up with a spoon and seasoning with salt & pepper to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned, then add onions and garlic, sauteeing another 2-3 minutes.
- Add salt and pepper, chili powder, salsa and cooked quinoa, sauteeing another couple of minutes until combined. Stir in spinach, then remove from heat.
- Add filling to bell peppers then top with shredded cheese. Air fry for another 5 minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired, then serve and enjoy!
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