Quick and Easy Air Fryer Tuna-Stuffed Bell Pepper

This easy Air Fryer Tuna-Stuffed Bell Pepper makes a wholesome, nutritious dinner. And the best part is, you can make it in the air fryer without much mess in less than 30 minutes!

Any dish made with bell peppers, no matter what they are, I either add it straight to my favorites or try to learn how to make it myself. Friends and family often catch me sneaking bell peppers into potato wedges or pizza because why not?

So imagine how thrilled I was when I realized I could just cut the top off and stuff them with anything I wanted.

For this recipe, I thought, why not add tuna instead of ground pork, beef, chicken, or turkey? Tuna is good for the heart and overall healththanks to its omega-3 fatty acids, it’s low in fat and calories, and packed with protein. On top of that, tuna is generally budget-friendly!

So, if you’re craving some tuna, or have some canned tuna in your pantry, here’s the best Air Fryer tuna-stuffed bell peppers you’ll ever try.

Why you’ll love this recipe

You’d better start loving and learning how to make Air Fryer Tuna-stuffed Bell Pepper. This is especially if you love eating bell peppers like me. But if it’s your first time making and tasting this dish, here’s what you’ll love about them.

• Healthy: If you’re health-conscious or just want to get into it, these Air Fryer tuna-stuffed bell peppers are perfect for you. It’s gluten-free, high in protein, keto, and low in carbs. Meanwhile, the bell peppers themselves are low in calories and rich in nutrients.
• Easy and quick to make: Air-frying meals and dishes is much more convenient than stove-cooking. At the same time, air fryer cooks food much faster than an oven.
• Customizable: Stuffed Bell Peppers are known to be customizable and versatile. Feel free to remove some of the ingredients in this recipe and swap new ones. Fancy some rice with your bell peppers? Sure! You may also include some shredded chicken, or ground meat. Well, it’s all up to you.

Are bell peppers spicy?

Sweet bell peppers are known for their bell shape, hence the name. Much like any other pepper, they have white membranes and seeds inside. However, the difference is that they’re not as spicy as other chili peppers. In fact, they’re not spicy at all! Sweet bell peppers have a sweet and mild flavor.

Since they lack a chemical compound called capsaicin, you’ll barely feel any spiciness or burning sensation.

Whats the best Bell Pepper for stuffed bell pepper

Now, you might be wandering inside the grocery store in hopes of making these air fryer tuna-stuffed bell peppers, and you see several bell peppers in different colors. It might make you wonder, which one of these is a bell pepper? Well, they pretty much all are.

Bell peppers come in different colors: red, orange, yellow, and green. They are the most common, but you may sometimes come across purple and white ones.

When cooking stuffed bell peppers, it doesn’t really matter which ones you pick. Whenever I cook stuffed bell peppers, though, I often pick up one of each color. But if bitterness and sweetness matter to you, here’s what you need to know about them.

Green bell pepper is the least ripe among all of them, so you can expect a slightly bitter taste. Meanwhile, red, orange, and yellow have a sweet taste.

Besides the taste and color, another crucial thing when picking out a bell pepper is to get one that can stand upright. This way, you won’t struggle cooking it in the air fryer, and the bell peppers and their fillings cook evenly.

Ingredients for the best Air Fryer Tuna-stuffed Bell pepper

Get ready, pick up these ingredients and make the best Air Fryer Tuna-stuffed Bell Pepper.

• Sweet Bell Peppers: Get bell peppers that can stand upright so it doesn’t tip over. It also can be any color.
• Tuna: Canned tuna, soaked in water and oil, is recommended. Before making the filling, make sure to drain the liquid as it will ruin your stuffed bell pepper.
• Vegetables: Carrots, green onions and red onions make it healthier and more flavorful. Dice them up, and prepare to mix them in the filling.
• Parsley: Parsley for the green color and grassy, minty, peppery taste.
• Seasonings: Cooking Stuffed Bell Pepper or any dish without seasonings should be a sin. Sprinkle salt and pepper, and adjust according to your preference.

How to make the best Airfryer Tuna-stuffed Bell Pepper

Making the best tuna-stuffed bell peppers in the air fryer is easy and delicious. Here’s how.

• Wash the bell peppers under cold running water to remove any dirt or dust. Then, pat them dry to eliminate excess moisture. When making stuffed bell peppers, it’s important that the peppers stay dry to prevent them from becoming soggy.
• Cut off the top part with a knife to create an opening for the filling. Use a spoon or clean hands to scoop out the seeds and scrape off the white membranes inside. If the bell peppers are slightly tilted, trim the bottom until they can stand upright. Just be careful not to cut too much, or you might end up with a hole at the bottom.

• Sprinkle some salt along the inner walls of the bell peppers. This will not only enhance the flavor but also help absorb any remaining moisture inside. Let them sit and air dry for at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, chop and dice the vegetables and herbs, such as carrots, green onions, red onions, and parsley.
• Take the tuna and shred it into small pieces. If using canned tuna, drain the liquid thoroughly as one of them golden rules of making stuffed bell pepper is there must not be any liquid in the fillings to avoid the risk of making soggy bell peppers. Gently press the tuna with a spoon to ensure there’s no excess moisture that could make the stuffed bell peppers mushy.
• In a bowl, combine the tuna, parsley, carrots, diced red onions, green onions, salt, ground pepper, and cream cheese. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper to taste.

• Preheat the air fryer to 180°C or 360°F for three to five minutes, or follow your air fryer’s specific preheating instructions.
• Place the bell peppers on a plate or tray, then scoop the tuna and cream cheese mixture into each one. Using clean hands or a spoon, gently press the filling down to ensure there are no empty spaces. Be careful not to press too hard, as you don’t want to pierce the sides or bottom of the peppers.

• Transfer the stuffed bell peppers to your air fryer basket and lightly spray them with olive oil.
• Set the timer for 12 minutes and cook until the peppers are tender and the skin begins to blister slightly.

• When there are six minutes remaining, open the air fryer and sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the filling until the tops are fully covered. Close the air fryer and continue cooking until the timer ends.

• Serve on a plate and garnish with parsley!

How to Store Air Fryer Tuna-stuffed Bell Peppers

You can store your leftover air fryer tuna-stuffed bell peppers in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life and delay spoilage.

Let the stuffed bell peppers cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating. Placing them in the fridge while still hot can either damage your appliance or cause steam to form, leading to excess moisture and sogginess.

Keep it in the refrigerator and it will be safe to consume for the next three to four days. However, if you’ll keep it frozen, it can last for up to two months.

If the stuffed bell peppers give off a sour or foul odor, or if they feel unusually mushy, they may no longer be safe to eat. It’s best to discard them.

Can You Make Make-Ahead Tuna-Stuffed Bell Peppers?

Got some extra time but don’t want to eat them right away? You can make some make-ahead tuna-stuffed bell peppers and just cook them when you need them.

Just follow the recipe up until the filling part, then place the peppers in an airtight container or wrap them in foil or plastic wrap. Keep them in the fridge for up to two days. Add the mozzarella cheese on top when you’re ready to cook them, as some cheeses don’t maintain their quality after refrigeration.

How to Reheat Air Fryer Tuna-stuffed Bell Peppers

You can reheat your Tuna-stuffed Bell Peppers in many ways, whether it’s chilled or frozen.

• Air Fryer: Preheat to 170°C or 340°F for three minutes. Place the stuffed bell peppers, and reheat for 7 minutes.
• Microwave: Place on a microwave-safe plate and heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes.
• Oven: Preheat to 175°C or (350°F), and bake for 15 minutes until warm.

Estimated Nutrition

Note: The nutrition details provided are based on general calculations and may not reflect exact results. Actual values can differ depending on the ingredients used, portion sizes, and how the food is prepared. Use this as a general guide, not a medical or dietary recommendation.

Tried this recipe? Let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I’d love to hear your twist on it! Also, feel free to check out more Air Fryer recipes!