Make Taco-Stuffed Bell Peppers for something different at your next taco night and save the calories of a taco shell at the same time!
Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers are a delightful fusion of classic taco flavors and nutritious bell peppers, creating a perfect low-carb taco meal that the whole family will enjoy. This healthy taco recipe combines lean ground meat, black beans, and your favorite taco toppings, all nestled within vibrant bell pepper halves. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that’s both satisfying and wholesome.
My Recipe
A few weeks ago we tried Poblano Peppers with a Taco Filling and they were way too spicy for me. So we decided to learn from that recipe and make some that are milder. This time we made Taco-Stuffed Bell Peppers.
I know there are some, such as Justin and my mom, who love all the spicy things. But for me, I like it mild. I like powerful and bold flavors, but not spicy. There’s a big difference.
So, we started with bell peppers since they are a much more mild pepper than poblanos. I also made the filling different so it wouldn’t be so spicy. The filling is made almost the same as how I make it for regular taco night.
Since the filling is made so similar to a taco, you could also use any leftover filling to make tacos to go with this. Or, if you’re like us and have picky eaters at home, then make yourselves the stuffed pepper and make the tacos for the kids.
You can use a prepackaged taco seasoning mix, or make your own. If you use homemade seasoning, you’ll want about two tbsp of the seasoning. For the bell peppers, you can use any color that you prefer. We got a bunch of orange peppers in our co-op basket, so that’s why we used those.
When we ate our bell peppers, I topped mine with a bit of sour cream. It’s completely optional, but I like the flavor of sour cream in my tacos, so wanted to add a bit to these, too.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with lean ground turkey or chicken, black beans, and fresh vegetables, this dish is a healthy dinner option.
- Versatile Ingredients: Customize with your favorite toppings, like shredded cheese, sour cream, or hot sauce, to suit your taste.
- Easy Preparation: Using simple ingredients and a large skillet, you can have this meal ready in no time, making it ideal for busy nights.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Store leftovers in an airtight container for a quick and delicious next-day meal.
Simple Ingredients Overview
- Bell Peppers: Choose large bell peppers—red, green, or yellow—for a colorful presentation.
- Ground Meat: Opt for lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken to create the flavorful taco meat.
- Beans and Grains: Black beans and brown rice or cauliflower rice add texture and fiber.
- Seasonings: A homemade taco seasoning blend with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper enhances the flavor.
- Toppings: Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and lime juice are great choices for finishing touches.
Cooking Tips
- Sautéing: Cook the diced onion and ground meat in olive oil over medium-high heat until browned.
- Simmering: Add tomato sauce and seasonings to the meat mixture, allowing it to simmer over medium-low heat to meld the flavors.
- Baking: Place the halved peppers on a baking sheet or in a baking dish, fill them with the meat mixture, and bake in a preheated oven until the peppers are tender.
- Air Fryer Option: For a quicker method, use an air fryer to cook the stuffed peppers until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serving Suggestions
- Taco Tuesday: Serve these taco stuffed peppers with tortilla chips and your favorite salsa for a fun twist on taco night.
- Complete Meal: Pair with a side salad or zucchini boats for a balanced and complete meal.
- Leftovers: Store any leftover filling in an airtight container for use in wraps or over rice the next day.
Taco-Stuffed Bell Peppers Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 onion (chopped)
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 8 bell peppers (any color)
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 4 tbsp sour cream (optional)
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375F and cook rice according to the directions.
In a medium skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onions. Add the taco seasoning and stir to coat.
Meanwhile, slice the tops off of the bell peppers and clean out the seeds inside. Place the peppers in a casserole dish with the cut sides up. I find that bakeware with higher sides helps so they don’t fall over as easily.
Put a small scoop, about one tbsp, of cooked rice at the bottom of each bell pepper.
Then add a layer of the meat and onion.
Place a scoop of the shredded cheese on the meat.
Bake for about 15-20 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Garnish with sour cream if desired.
Taco-Stuffed Bell Peppers Leftovers
Storage: Place cooled stuffed peppers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through, adding extra cheese if desired.
Freezing: Wrap individual pepper halves in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag.
Recipe
Originally Published On: December 5, 2018
Last Updated On: April 11, 2025
Taco-Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 onion (chopped)
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 8 bell peppers (any color)
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 4 tbsp sour cream (optional)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F and cook the rice according to the directions
- In a medium skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the onions
- Sprinkle in the taco seasoning and stir until coated
- Cut the tops off of the bell peppers and clean out the seeds and insides
- Place the peppers on a high-sided baking dish with the cut sides facing up
- Place a scoop, about one tbsp, of rice in each pepper
- Add a scoop of the meat and onions on top of the rice
- Layer with a small amount of cheddar cheese
- Bake for about 15 minutes, until the cheese has completely melted
- Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, if desired
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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Ooh, these look so yum! Tried your Cheesy Chicken/Pasta recipe last night (yum!), so will pin this to try sometime too! 🙂
Awesome, I’m glad to hear you are enjoying the recipes!
These would make such a great diner for us during the week. We need to add some stuff to our rotation
I know what you mean. We sometimes get stuck in a rut and just need that one or two new meals to get us going again.
This looks unbelievably amazing. This is something I’m definitely going to bookmark, so I can make for my family.
They are good and so easy to make.
I am totally down with these taco stuffed bell peppers. I love spicy and chili is on the menu for tonight, but well try these stuffed peppers next time.
You can easily add as much spice as you want to these. Just kick up the seasonings a bit 🙂
I am a massive pepper fan and the best thing is you can use mince meat or veggie mince – scrummy xx
Yes, you could easily switch the meat out with others, whatever you prefer!
I love stuffed bell peppers and I totally need to remember this recipe when I am struggling to eat. Sounds perfect for moments like that.
It’s a great meal for something a bit different!
This looks delicious, I have mever tried The peppers recipes which will be interesting for my first attempt of this recipe, thank you for sharing!
This was the first time I tried stuffed peppers, too. It was really yummy!
This would be great to serve in parties! I haven’t tried this yet but I know this is awesome tasting! I love bell peppers. It’s easy to make this recipe so Ima give it a try.
You’re right, these would be a great appetizer for a party. They have some substance to them, but still are small enough to be a quick snack.
Oh my gosh! I haven’t had stuffed peppers in so long. We used to have them so often when I was growing up.
This was actually my first time having stuffed peppers!
My family absolutely loves stuffed peppers. I have never thought to do a filling like this though. Taco would probably be so good!
It was such a great flavor in the peppers! I hope you enjoy it, too.
Yum!!! I love all spicy things and these look so good. And I’m hungry right now! LOL I have not made stuffed peppers in so long – going to have to try this!
Sounds like it’s a great time to try making them again!
stuffed peppers are one of my favorite things to make! We have done something similar to this a few times and its so good!
This was the first time I had tried them! Now I know why so many people enjoy them.
I like that you’ve included the taco seasoning as well. Perfect for the stuffed bell peppers.
I love making my own seasonings. They are so much better than storebought!
Those peppers look so bright and delicious. I might add a veggie mix in but either way I bet it tastes divine.
You could easily add anything else into the peppers to make them exactly what you want.
Yum, this is such a delicious dish! It was one that my kids really enjoyed as well. Love the taco seasoning!!
I’m so glad your kids enjoyed this! My boys weren’t so sure, but they were at least willing to try a bite!
I love stuffed peppers but haven’t made them in ages! This recipe looks like the perfect one to try this week.
They are so fun to make, you can stuff them with so many different things. I hope you enjoy!
With all the home-cooking we are all doing websites like yours are a must bookmark! Thanks for sharing such yummy recipes. I love this recipe has 187% vitamin C. That’s a key vitamin for the immune system.Def making these soonest ha!
Yes! We haven’t had a meal out in over a month here. Getting those veggies in is so important for your body!