Mini Loaded Bell Pepper Nachos (Air Fryer)
Packed with protein, some sweetness and a little spice, these mini-loaded bell pepper nachos (air fryer) are the perfect quick, healthy, and low-carb gluten-free meal.
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From the oozing melted cheese to the sweet and tangy BBQ ground turkey these mini-loaded bell pepper nachos (air fryer) are irresistibly tasty.
Whether you are looking for a meal, an appetizer, or a snack, these hit the spot. It is our go-to lunch, easy to make, and perfectly cooked in the air fryer.
This mini bell pepper nachos overflow with protein-packed ground turkey, cheese, olives and jalapenos. The nachos are then topped off with a garnish of green onion and sour cream.
If you are looking for some other awesome gluten-free recipes try our quinoa salad and cucumber tomato salad.
INGREDIENT NOTES
Mini Bell Peppers: The base of the nachos, and the perfect size with some added sweetness, making these pepper nachos the best!
Ground Turkey: for some added lean protein and flavour.
BBQ Sauce: to add some sweetness to the ground turkey.
Tex-Mex Cheese: to add a little spice and creaminess.
Black Olives: for some bold flavour and texture.
Jalapenos: for some added spice and heat.
Green Onion: for a little crunch.
Sour Cream: to tone down the heat and add creaminess to these loaded pepper nachos.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat a medium-sized skillet on medium heat. Add fresh ground turkey and season with some salt and pepper. Cook ground turkey for 5 mins until almost cooked through, continually breaking the pieces apart to ensure even cooking.
- Add in BBQ sauce and stir it in until combined. Cook ground turkey for another 5 minutes, until the meat is cooked through.
- Rinse and dry the mini bell peppers, cut off the stem, cut the pepper in half lengthwise and remove the seeds.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Add in bell pepper slices, without overlapping.
- Air fry the bell peppers for five minutes at 350 F.
- While the ground turkey and peppers cook, prepare the remaining ingredients and set aside.
- Once the bell peppers are precooked and tender remove them from the air fryer, and layer in your ground turkey, don’t be shy, you can get almost 1 lb of ground turkey on the peppers.
- Follow with the cheese, black olives, and jalapenos (optional).
- Place the nachos into the air fryer and set the temp to 380 F for 5 minutes.
- Remove nachos from the air fryer, drizzle with sour cream, and add your green onion for garnish.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
EXPERT TIPS
1) Ingredient layers: for the best bell pepper nachos, ensure you layer your protein on top of the peppers, followed by the cheese, and then any remaining ingredients on top.
2) Overload: you can certainly overload these ground turkey nachos. Just know that they are a little messier, like ours, when fully loaded.
3) Cooking time: It is important to note that ALL air fry brands do differ when it comes to cooking time. Our best advice is to always reduce by 2 mins and then continually add 2 mins at a time until cooking is complete.
SERVING TIPS
These mini pepper nachos are best served up right away, once garnished, don’t forget the sour cream, or Greek yogurt and the fresh scallions, yum!
You could also squeeze some fresh lime juice over the top and pair these with one of your favourite beverages. Our choice is sparkling water or an iced cold mojito.
Air fryer bell pepper nachos are great as leftovers. You can simply reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 mins.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
This pepper nacho recipe works because it is an easy healthy alternative and versatile. This recipe makes for a great snack or lunch, satisfying the cravings and even kid-friendly.
There is so much to love about this nacho recipe. You can customize this recipe to meet your own needs, wants and cravings.
We have done many variations of this bell pepper nacho recipe and this recipe is by far our favorite.
VARATIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS
Don’t be afraid to add your spin to this nacho recipe. Try different meats, cheeses, vegetables, or sauces. Here are some ideas:
- Taco seasoning
- Fresh tomatoes
- Ground beef, chicken or pork
- Shredded chicken
- Monterey jack
- Cheddar cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Beans
- Pickled red onions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)
Yes, you absolutely can! However, we prefer mini bell peppers for shape, cooking time and size.
Yes, they sure are! They are naturally gluten-free. Just ensure any additives that you may be adding, like the BBQ sauce are also gluten-free.
While it is recommended that you prepare these nachos as you assemble them, you can easily have all the ingredients needed to assemble them ready to go the day before to save you time once you are ready to cook them.
RELATED RECIPES
Mini Loaded Bell Pepper Nachos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 bell peppers mini, tri colour
- 1 lb groud turkey lean, or extra lean
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 cup tex-mex cheese shredded
- 2 tbsp black olives sliced, drained
- 6 jalapeno jarred, drained (optional)
- 2 green onion sprigs, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp sour cream light
Instructions
- Preheat a medium skillet on medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil or cooking oil. Add fresh ground turkey and season it with some salt and pepper. Cook ground turkey for 5 mins until almost cooked, continually breaking the pieces apart to ensure an even cook.
- Add in BBQ sauce and stir it in until combined. Cook ground turkey for another 5 minutes, until the meat is cooked completely.
- Rinse and dry the mini bell peppers, cut off the stem, cut the pepper in half lengthwise and remove the seeds.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Add in bell pepper slices, without overlapping.
- Air fry the bell peppers for five mins at 350 F.
- While the ground turkey and peppers continue to cook, prepare the remaining ingredients and set aside.
- Once the bell peppers are precooked and tender remove them from the air fryer, and layer in the ground turkey, don’t be shy, you can get almost 1 lb of ground turkey on the peppers.
- Follow with the cheese, black olives, and jalapenos (optional).
- Place the nachos into the air fryer and set the temp to 380 F for five minutes.
- Remove nachos from the air fryer, drizzle with sour cream, and add your green onion for garnish.
OMG! These are SO good! I can’t wait to make them again!
This makes me so happy! Thank you!