Cooking one food, in this case, a beany rice-and-cheese filling, inside of another food (red bell peppers) looks fiddly, but making stuffed peppers is actually really easy. Bell peppers are already hollow, so it’s like nature created a delicious, edible bowl that we could stuff with cheesy, tomato-y filling. YUM.
These vegetarian stuffed peppers are meat-free but what they lack in beefiness, they make up for in big flavor. Flavored with our Homemade Taco Seasoning (or store-bought is fine) and loaded with black beans and pepper jack cheese, think of them as a healthy way to indulge your craving for Mexican food. For a meaty version, check out our Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers, or our cheesy Lasagna Stuffed Zucchini Boats.
4 Reasons to Try Healthy Stuffed Peppers TONIGHT
In case you need a nudge, we can think of at least four terrific reasons to make these cheesy stuffed peppers ASAP:
- They’re really healthy. These bell peppers are essentially veggies cooked in veggies—so you could probably already tell this recipe was a healthy one, right? Rice, black beans, peppers and tomatoes conspire to make these stuffed peppers an excellent source of fiber, and the beans and cheese mean that they have plenty of protein, too.
- They’re SO easy. Frozen corn and canned beans make this recipe such a breeze! Although stuffed peppers take about an hour to bake, you can do something else (like put your feet up) while they do.
- They’re good for the planet! We all know that one of the biggest, easiest steps we can take towards taking better care of the planet is eating a little less meat. Delicious vegetarian recipes like this prove that eating less meat is actually pretty painless. Need even more vegetarian inspiration? Our round up of the 60 Best Vegetarian Meals should keep you busy (and full).
- Our vegetarian stuffed peppers are also gluten-free, without even trying! We didn’t set out to make these gluten-free, but isn’t it nice when it just works out that way? Major bonus!
How to Make Stuffed Peppers
Our oven-baked, easy stuffed peppers are quick, healthy and crowd-pleasing. They’re kind of fun to make, too, which isn’t the only reason to make them but it sure helps, doesn’t it? Here’s the step-by-step:
- Cook the bean and rice pepper filling in a skillet to meld the flavors. Note: this stuffed pepper filling is also great on it's own!
- Prep the red peppers! Slice them in half, and scoop out the membranes and seeds so you’ve got sweet little red bell pepper “bowls”, ready to hold that hearty filling.
- Fill! Mound big spoonfuls of that tomatoey, bean-speckled rice mixture into the peppers, and top with cheese. Place them in a baking dish.
- Bake! Just long enough to really soften the peppers and for the cheese to melt into the filling—about 30 minutes.
Variations + Recipe Tips
- Make them vegan by swapping in a vegan cheese (there are lots of good pre-shredded vegan cheeses at the grocery store, usually in the dairy section.)
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days, or you could freeze them! Wrap them individually in a few layers of plastic wrap, and freeze them for up to two months.
- If you want to prep the filling ahead of time, you could definitely do that! Make the seasoned rice a day or two ahead of when you want to eat the peppers, and then the day you want to serve them, simply stuff the peppers and bake.
- Feel free to add additional veggies to the filling, if you want to make them even more nutritious! Diced, roasted veggies of any kind (think: zucchini, cauliflower, or even asparagus) would be delicious in the mix. Simply add them when you add the beans and corn.
What To Serve With Stuffed Peppers
One of the joys of stuffed peppers is that they’re a pretty complete meal! Carbs, veggies, and protein from the beans and cheese mean you don’t really need to add anything much on the side. We’d keep it simple with something like:
- A big salad. A green salad or a Corn Salad would be summery and nice.
- A loaf of nice bread (homemade Sourdough, if you’re up for it)
- Something snacky, like Tortilla Chips and Guacamole.
Four More Easy Vegetarian Recipes:
Gluten-Free, Healthy, Vegetarian (Nearly Vegan!) Stuffed Peppers that Taste Good, Too?
For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!
