A full vegetarian main from the air fryer: sweet peppers packed with spiced rice, beans and corn, finished with melted cheese. Using leftover cooked rice makes the filling hold together and keeps the whole thing quick on a weeknight.
Everything you need
- 4 bell peppers
- 1½ cups cooked rice
- 1 cup black beans, drained
- ½ cup sweetcorn
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup passata or tomato sauce
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- to taste salt and pepper
Single layer, always. Crowding the basket steams food instead of crisping it. Tap any ingredient to open its converter.
Method
0 of 5 done-
Slice the tops off the peppers and remove the seeds. Cut a thin sliver off the bottoms if they won't stand up.
For this step
- 4 bell peppers
- to taste salt and pepper
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Mix the rice, beans, corn, passata, half the cheese, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper.
For this step
- 1½ cups cooked rice
- 1 cup black beans
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup passata or tomato sauce
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- to taste salt and pepper
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Spoon the filling into the peppers and pack it down.
For this step
- 4 bell peppers
- to taste salt and pepper
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Air fry at 180°C / 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes, until the peppers are tender.
For this step
- 4 bell peppers
- to taste salt and pepper
-
Top with the rest of the cheese and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until melted.
For this step
- 1 cup shredded cheese
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Air fryer notes
- Cook at 180°C / 350°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
Cook's tips
- Use leftover rice. It holds together better than freshly cooked sticky rice.
- Pick peppers with flat bottoms so they stand upright in the basket.
Make it your own
- Add browned minced beef or turkey to the filling for a meaty version.
- Swap the beans for chorizo, or the rice for cooked quinoa.
Storing & reheating
Keeps 3 days in the fridge. Reheat in the air fryer for about 4 minutes.
Frequently asked
Do I need to precook the peppers?
No. They soften as they cook in the air fryer. For very soft peppers, add 3 to 4 minutes.
Can I use uncooked rice?
Use cooked rice here. Raw rice won't soften in the short cook time, so leftover rice is ideal.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
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A note on cooking safely. Recipes are provided for informational purposes only and are not medical or nutritional advice. Cooking times, temperatures and quantities are suggestions: use your own judgement, and check that meat, poultry, fish and eggs are properly cooked before serving.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements.