Oh the wonders of cauliflower rice.
Perfect in stir fries, arancini, curries… The options are endless.
It was only a matter of time before I stuffed it inside peppers and called it dinner. (And spoiler alert: It’s oh-so delicious.)
This recipe was inspired by my classic Quinoa Stuffed Peppers. I made them for dinner one recent evening, and several bites in, I speculated as to whether a grain-free version would be doable. To the drawing board I went.
Origins of Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are enjoyed around the world- in places such as Spain, India, Tunisia, Hungary, Denmark, and more! In each of these places, they’re prepared with different ingredients and methods. You can learn more about the variations and history of stuffed peppers here.
This recipe is our plant-based take on the concept, inspired by cauliflower rice and ingredients and flavors common in Mexican cuisine.
This recipe is simple, requiring just 10 basic ingredients and easy methods that yield big, flavorful results.
A head of cauliflower is shredded into ‘rice’ and sautéed lightly with green onion (garlic is optional). Then add beans, salsa, lime juice, and plenty of smoky spices to create a savory filling that’s perfect when stuffed into sweet bell peppers. (I’m getting hungry all over again.)
Another perk of this recipe? It could easily be made ahead of time. Simply prepare up until the point of baking, refrigerate, and then bake when you need it.
Even if you don’t have time to prep beforehand, the whole thing comes together in about 1 hour with just 15 minutes of hands-on prep time. That gives you plenty of time to whip up a margarita (or two), prepare my Creamy Cilantro Sauce (if you dare) for serving, and read a book (or whatever brings a thrill to your evening).
See? Dinner can be that easy.
I hope you all love this recipe! It’s:
Simple
Savory
Healthy
Vegetable- + fiber-packed
Rich in protein (nearly 10 g protein per serving!)
Entirely plant-based + gluten-free
& So delicious
Stuffed peppers are great for serving a mixed crowd because they’re so filling and flavorful that no one will miss the meat. While they’re delicious on their own, I think they would be great paired with my Mexican Quinoa Salad and Ginger Beer Margaritas. If you need an appetizer, this Cheesy Jalapeño Corn Dip is a total win.
If you try this recipe, be sure to leave us a comment, rate it, and tag a picture #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see! Your photos always make my day. Cheers, friends!
Cauliflower Rice Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients
CAULIFLOWER RICE
- 1 medium head cauliflower, grated into ‘rice’ (see method here)
- 1 Tbsp olive or grape seed oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 cup diced red, white, yellow, or green onion (I recommend red)
- 1 pinch each sea salt and black pepper
PEPPERS
- 4 large red, yellow, or orange bell peppers (halved, seeds removed)
- 1 15-ounce can black or pinto beans (rinsed and drained // if unsalted, add additional salt to taste)
- 2/3 cup salsa (plus more for serving // very flavorful salsa, like Trader Joe’s Chunky Salsa)
- 2 tsp cumin powder (plus more to taste)
- 2 tsp chili powder (plus more to taste)
- 2-3 Tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 tsp each sea salt and black pepper (plus more to taste)
TOPPINGS optional
- 1 medium ripe avocado (sliced)
- Fresh lime juice
- Hot sauce
- Cilantro, chopped
- Diced red onion
- Creamy Cilantro Dressing
- Chipotle Red Salsa (or your favorite salsa)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C) and set out a 9×13-inch baking dish or rimmed baking sheet. Also brush halved peppers with a neutral, high heat oil, such as grape seed, avocado or refined coconut. Set aside.
- Prepare cauliflower rice by following these instructions. Then heat a large rimmed skillet over medium heat.
- Once hot, add oil, garlic (optional), onion, salt and pepper. Sauté for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Then add cauliflower ‘rice’ and stir to coat. Place the lid on to steam the rice for about 1 minute. Then remove from heat and transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl. You aren’t looking to completely cook the ‘rice,’ as it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Add remaining ingredients – black beans through salt and pepper – to the cauliflower rice and mix to thoroughly combine. Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly, adding salt, pepper, or more spices as desired.
- Generously stuff halved peppers with ~ 1/2 cup of the mixture until all peppers are full (you may have a little leftover filling, which can be added to salads or served on the side), then cover the dish with foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes covered. Then remove foil, increase heat to 400 degrees F (204 C), and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until peppers are soft and slightly golden brown. For softer peppers, bake 5-10 minutes more. Serve with desired toppings (listed above) or as is. I recommend avocado, lime juice, hot sauce, and cilantro.
- Best when fresh, though leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in a 350 degree F (176 C) oven until warmed through – about 20 minutes. See notes for instructions on making ahead of time.
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 whole stuffed pepper (two halves), of 4 total servings, calculated without additional toppings.
*This recipe could easily be made ahead of time. Simply prepare up until the point of baking, refrigerate (up to 3 days), and then bake when you need it.
Amanda says
Absolutely LOVE this recipe. So easy to make and so delicious.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Amanda. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Carol K says
I loved this entree. Delicious and lower in calorie content than most vegan recipes. I omitted the lime juice and topped it with the Creamy Cilantro Dressing. The Bomb! The recipe made more filling than my 4 peppers could take, so next time I will use a partial head. Thank you for another great one!
Thanks so much for the review, Carol. We’re so glad you enjoyed!
Janet Evpraxia says
This recipe is Delicious!!
I did lighten up on the cumin and chili powder, I’m not a hot spice person.
It is delightful and comforting. I’m thinking of doing the filling for a tortilla.
Yay! Thanks so much for the great review, Janet. So glad you enjoyed!
Anna says
Could I use cauliflower rice or couscous for rice which I can not eat. I wanted to make unstuffed cabbage.
Hi Anna! We haven’t tried that but we think it would work!
Marie says
I made this today (followed the recipe exactly but for 2 peppers not 4) and it tasted weird, like a taco with boiled cauliflower, mushy and soggy. I didn’t like it at all.
Sorry to hear that, Marie! Perhaps you would enjoy our version with quinoa better?
Carole says
Delicious! Doubled the beans to have more stuffing. Kids loved the stuffing in burritos with cheese and we enjoyed topping them with your vegan queso! This is my first time trying cauliflower rice- will keep this one for sure!
We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed it, Carole! Thanks so much for sharing!
Emily says
This recipe was so tasty! We’ve been known a recipe rut and wanted to try something new but really healthy. This was fast and delicious! Thanks!
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Emily! Thanks so much for sharing!
Caitie says
Made these for my non-vegan family and they loved it!! Thank you for the best recipes!!!!
Jenny says
We made this recipe tonight, and it is yummy. Both of us are looking for a little something in the filling spice-wise, but we aren’t sure what yet! Next time we will make with some taco seasonings too. The dish is lovely. Thanks for the recipe!
Aaron says
I thought up something along these lines on my own, but I thought “Hey this is too simple. Someone must have done this before,” and voila I found your recipe. I hadn’t thought about the Mexican twist but I riffed on it a bit, skipped the salsa and added a can of flaked light tuna, chopped green olives, a little grated cheddar and a few extra spices to do a keto friendly “Snapper Veracruz“ style version over a simple spring mix salad. Super good and super filling. Thanks for the recipe and the ideas.
Thanks for sharing, Aaron!
madison says
hi! when prepping ahead but not baking, do you you mean cook the cauliflower mixture, stuff the peppers, but do not bake the peppers until ready to eat and the cauliflower mixture will still be good? (within 3 days?) Thanks!
Yes. Though it is best when fresh!
Joanna Eppler says
Delicious. I realized this is easily a vegan recipe, but it is delicious with sour cream.
I did modify this recipe a bit, but it only demonstrates how versatile it is. I don’t like cilantro, so left that out. I used what I had in the house, so lemon juice instead of lime, and a mixture of white onion and green onion (mostly green) in the mix. I even used frozen rice cauliflower instead of fresh, and can only imagine how delicious it would be without fresh.
Absolutely delicious, topped with sour cream, salsa and fresh avocado. Don’t leave off the avocado! Yum.
So glad you enjoyed these, Joanna! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Joann says
absolutely delicious and so healthy!
Angie says
Delicious in the bell peppers or for any other use, burritos, nachos, etc.
Jennifer says
I changed this up a bit and wanted to throw it out there to anyone interested.
I made this Italian style with garlic, onion, grated Parmesan (if you’re completely vegan, use vegan parm!), green peas, spinach and parsley.
I also made toasted seasoned panko bread crumb topping and added it on about ten minutes before the end of cooking time.
It was amazing!
Thank you so much for all of these incredible ideas. I am s-l-o-w-l-y going vegan and cheese is the last thing to give up so the more ideas I have to make delicious food without animal products, the better!
Iulian Croitoru says
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Abigail says
Made this today. I added a cup of corn to the filling. Then topped it all with your Vegan Green Chili Queso after baking it. OMG! It was so tasty!! I will definitely be making this again!
Daisy says
As will all the recipes I have made from this site and her book, it is fantastic!!!! For my taste, I will reduce the lime juice to about 1 Tablespoon but that’s just me. Just the right amount of seasoning, great combo of ingredients and enough leftover filling for another bell pepper, or burrito!
Thanks for all the great recipes using things I have in my pantry; that my whole family enjoys (and they aren’t vegan!).
Anya White says
Thanks, Dana! My peppers came out great. I processed cauliflower in the magic Bullet with garlic, red onion, cilantro, salt, and spices. I stuffed red bell peppers with the raw cauliflower puree and baked for 45 minutes. Ahhh it came out great. Plus I made salsa following your recipe and garnish it with avocado and nutritional yeast. Fabulous! And uber healthy.
Marie says
I boil the peppers so they are nice and soft and don’t need to bake as long, and added cheese just because! Awesome
Linda Hay says
Made this recipe last weekend for myself and a couple of friends for lunch. What a hit this dish was! I had some leftover stuffing so the next day I made them again only this time I added some ground beef as hubby likes his meat! Thanx for sharing this recipe.
Glad it was a hit, Linda!
Marya Casartello says
Does this meal prep well? and if so how many days out before it’s past its prime?
KareninStLouis says
I made this last night and it was a big hit, but takes a long time, even though I used the bagged cauliflower rice from Trader Joe’s (which I highly recommend by the way). Next time I make this recipe, I am going to deconstruct it. Rather than stuffing the peppers, I am going to dice one or two peppers, sauté the whole dish, and serve it that way. I think it will save me at least 40 minutes! I may even microwave the cauliflower first. Thank you for this fantastic recipe. The flavors are such a nice change of pace and my husband was really happy. He is the one who recommended “unstuffing”!
Anna says
I made this today – I stuffed 3 peppers and 3 tomatoes. Taste as you season, it’s fairly bland so I used a lot more chili powder and cumin – about 5 tablespoons chili powder and 2 tablespoons cumin. I also used 4 cloves of garlic. I used Herdez salsa. It was really good. The peppers were good but the tomatoes were fantastic. A great grain free meal, super easy. This is going to be added to the weekly meal rotation.
Kristen says
Hey this looks amazing! Is there a time to use a crock pot? I love using it over my oven since the temp is never accurate. Thanks! Definitely gonna try this at some point though, hopefully sooner with crock pot times!
Kristen Rogers says
My mom and I made these for family dinner the other night and they were great! I wouldn’t change anything about the recipe. I think one important note is to make sure the grater you use isn’t too small, so that when your cauliflower cooks it won’t be mushy. But the flavors were great and I served them topped with salsa, herb cashew sour cream and fresh cilantro. Dana, you never fail when it comes to easy, yet tasteful, plant-based recipes the whole family will love :) Thanks!
DomLemonka says
I made it for my New Year’s Eve party. Everybody besides me eats meat, but this peppers disappear so fast, everybody loved it ! I heard so many compliments ;) Amazing recipe ! Flavorful ,colorful , easy , cheap and delicious ! It was my first recipe from this website and I;m captivated. Can’t wait to try something more. Thank You.
Shy says
In love with cauliflower rice after making this.
My only issue was how spicy it was. I think the chili powder and salsa combo I chose was a bit too much. I would recommend cutting the chili powder in half or using a very mild salsa. Next time.
Good tip for those that don’t like it quite as hot. Thanks, Shy!
Natasha says
Super good, CAULIFLOWER rice is my new fav.
Michele L. says
I made this tonight! I wish I could post a photo! It was full of flavor and a definite hit! I always have to alter recipes! That’s just me! I added in organic fire roasted corn, cilantro, and peeled, chopped raw tomatoes. After baking, I topped with avocado, lime juice, green onions, and cilantro! Thanks, Dana!
Michele L. says
My 5 stars didn’t show up! Here they are! *****
Barb Zee says
I made this recipe tonight, using bell peppers from my garden. I cut the olive oil in the recipe down to half a Tbsp . We are not vegetarians, so also I added 8 oz cooked ground turkey breast. Both my husband and I thought it was awesome! I topped each half with a tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese about 3 min before coming out of the oven.
Yahu says
I made this last night for the whole family and it was beyond delicious! Thank you!!!
Rori Gilliam says
Made this today, using lean ground turkey and salsa!! My husband didn’t know I used riced cauliflower(he’s not a fan) and he loved it. Thank you
Nancy says
This is delicious!!! Made it tonight and it was so good. I took a cue from your Spanish stuffed peppers and added a bit of vegetable broth to the cauliflower rice for more flavor. Love it!
maggie phang says
Made these last night along with your hummus recipe – both were delicious.
I have only just “found” you and can’t wait to try more of your recipes .
Thank you.
Maggie
sbordeaux says
delicious!
cherie hudson says
Super good! Comes together easily.
Gemma says
I made this after googling cauliflower and pepper and was surprised how tasty this was. Really good stuff, will make again! Top marks.
Nalini Kalavacharla says
I made this today! So yummy
Michelle Cooper says
This was an awesome recipe. My kids loved it (well, they weren’t in love with baked pepper… but they loved the inside!)! I loved that this is plant-based — the flavor was perfect. The only thing I would say is…. I think 15 minutes for prep is slim! I may be slow in the kitchen in between 4 kids — but even if I had no distractions, I don’t think I could have had all of this put together ready for the oven in 15 minutes. Especially if you’re figuring in starting with the cauliflower from scratch. Still an easy recipe though! And so YUM!
Lisa says
Just started eating Vegan food about two months ago and was getting sooooo bored with rice and beans … thankfully I found your website, made a few recipes already and they all have been life changing!!!
These stuffed peppers were AMAZING ..made them with the cilantro dressing exactly as stated and wow!!!
Also loved the recipes so much I went out and bought both your books :)
Can’t wait to cook now that I have so many wonderful options!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH DANA!!!!!!!!
Altoya says
Just prepared this last night and can’t wait to try it. Very simple and it smells so good!.
Amy Jeffers says
These look so yummy! If I buy riced cauliflower at Trader Joe’s how much would I use for the recipe?
jennifer B says
Made these today and WOW! Just so flavorful, healthy and easy to make! I lovvvvve cauliflower rice too!
Karra says
Do you brush the oil on the inside or outside of the pepper? Or both?
You can do both I just do the outside.
mimi says
The lime and avocado make a huge difference. Thank you again. Increasing veggie intake is easy with your great ideas.
Merci beaucoup!!
Judy says
I just wanted to say thank you for this recipe. I made it this evening and it turned out divine. Grating the cauliflower was a bit messy but the recipe was worth the effort. I had made a green tomato salsa earlier in the day and I used that in the recipe. Delicious. I appreciate you providing recipe tips – can make all the difference in a recipe being a success or a failure if you’re not used to working with certain ingredients. Keep up the great work. I’ll be coming back for more of your tasty creations.
Judy xo
Angie says
Do you think mini peppers could be used in place of large ones, to make this an appetizer? If so, would you alter the baking temps/times at all? Thank you for all of your delicious recipes…you have made me a favorite person to invite to potlucks.
Sara says
Very delicious! I have never tried baked peppers, so this was my first time, and I loved it! :)
Deborah Spillan says
Every single recipe I make from your blog or your book turns out amazing. This was so good especially since there is an abundance of peppers!
You really took my Vegan lifestyle to a whole new level.
Thank you!
Debi
SO kind! Thanks Deborah!!
Rose says
SO delicious! We’ve already made it twice with red peppers. We made no changes to the recipe at all, it’s fabulous as is. The second time we made it, it was for some friends who came by for dinner. One of them was really not excited about the cauliflower in place of actual rice, but he ended up loving it so much that he ended up stealing all the leftovers to take home.
Leilani says
Recently became vegan and this recipe is one of those recipes that make me so happy with my decision. Very easy and so much flavor! I’ve made it twice now and one of three times I used quinoa instead of cauliflower rice. Highly suggest this recipe!
Courtney Campbell says
Gave the recipe a go tonight and surprisingly the family was thrilled! No leftovers! Anytime I even hint at a dinner thats even remotely healthy, I get nothing but groans! But tonight the positive feedback was overwhelming! Thanks Dana!
Jessica says
Prepared this last night, and it was so delish!!! Ate the leftover rice and beans on a tortilla with your Greek guacamole!
Sarah says
These look so incredibly colourful and delicious!
Jessica says
I’ve made these twice already (though I had to skip the beans, which makes me v. sad) Another winner!!
Camilla says
Thank you for this delicious recipe! I hate cauliflower but with salsa and cilantro and avocado, I can’t taste it all. I did caramelize my onions prior to adding the cauliflower, I like the sweetness that it adds.
Marina says
Looks yum! Need to try this out.
Justin says
Made this last night and WOW! This will be one of my go-to recipes.
The cauliflower rice was super simple to make in the food processor and tasted amazing compared to rice. Considering the calorie difference, this is now one of my favorite substitutions. I also microwave one ear of corn/charred on my stove top before adding the kernels to the mix. Anyone else reading this, please do yourselves a favor and make the cilantro dressing she linked to in this recipe. What a beautiful addition!
Dana you’re a genius. Thank you for everything you do. No exaggeration, you’ve changed my life with your cooking :)
So kind! Thanks Justin!!
lisa says
fyi trader joe’s now has vegan marshmallows and i think they’re just as good if not better than dandies.
Ah! I can’t find them! Hoping they come in stock near me soon.
jodie says
This recipe couldn’t have come at a better time with a cauliflower and two red peppers sitting in the fridge, desperately needing to be used up.
Thanks Dana, once again you have come to my rescue with your tasty, fabulous grub x x
Jodie
Aleksandra says
I loove stuffed peppers! I’ve never tried cauliflower in them, maybe it is time to give it a go :)
Akino says
I’ve never actually tried cauliflower rice before (thought I’ve heard about it), but these look so incredible, I’m tempted! Thanks for always having such amazing content :D
Akino |
Jason says
Cool idea, can’t wait to try this stuffing mix out with a range of veggies!
Aibreàn says
Hi Dana, this looks absolutely delicious and I must give it a try. I actually started to drool whilst reading the ingredients. Thank you for sharing!
Naturally Healthy says
This looks delicious ! I’m going to try it for sure !
Truc says
This looks so yummy! I’m so excited to make it for dinner! It look very flavorful and filling!
Rachel says
This looks so great! It’s going on the next meal plan for sure!
Celeste | The Whole Serving says
Looks delish! I grabbed a bag of cauliflower rice the yesterday, not knowing what I was going o do with it, now I know.
Tom ~ Raise Your Garden says
Just got on the cauliflower rice train and realized it could be purchased at the store! Wife tried to make it at home and it was a bust.
Eye popping color. Gorgeous. Like the stems left on.