How To Reheat Stuffed Peppers – I Try 4 Methods [Pics]

This article was updated on 13/07/2023 for clarity and to incorporate a new method; the skillet.

Have you ended up with one too many stuffed peppers? Or maybe you’re making next week’s meal prep a little fancy?

Whatever your reason, I’m here to show you the very best way to keep your leftover stuffed peppers (just about) as good as day one.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best way to reheat stuffed peppers is in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and arrange the peppers in a baking tray. Sprinkle a tablespoon of water over the peppers and cover them with foil. Reheat the stuffed peppers for 20-30 minutes, or until they’re piping hot throughout.

How I tested reheating stuffed peppers

I cooked a batch of stuffed peppers on my meal-prep Sunday and left them in the fridge overnight. The next day I took to my kitchen to test different ways of reheating them.

I tested:

• The oven: Best overall.
• The microwave: Best if you’re in a hurry.
• The air fryer: My favorite, but relies on you having an air fryer.
• In a skillet: Bonus method!

I used a traditional recipe for the stuffing made with minced beef, rice, courgettes, onion, garlic, and tomato sauce. But these reheating methods will work for any fillings. Just be aware that the denser your fillings and the more meat you have, the longer the stuffed peppers will take to reheat.

Reheating stuffed peppers in the oven

Time: 15-20 minutes
Rating: 8/10

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Nuke the stuffed peppers in the microwave for 20-30 seconds (optional step, recommended for bigger stuffed peppers).
3. Arrange the stuffed peppers in an oven-proof dish, sprinkle over a tablespoon of water, and cover with foil (or a lid).
4. Cook the stuffed peppers in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until they’re heated all the way through. If you skip the microwave step, the peppers can take up to half an hour to fully reheat.
5. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of heating to allow the cheese to crisp up.

Note: you can also reheat stuffed peppers from frozen in the oven. It should take around 40-45 minutes, depending on the size of the pepper.

To check the stuffed peppers are piping hot, use a food thermometer. You want the inside to reach 165°F (74°C). You can also stick a knife into the middle of the pepper and feel how hot it is when it comes out.

If your stuffed peppers are on the large side, they can benefit from 20-30 seconds in the microwave before moving them to the oven. The microwave will give the inside of the stuffed pepper a head start and ensure you don’t end up with the dreaded cold middle.

Results: The oven was a bit slow for my liking, but the pepper tasted great once it was done. The pepper was a little softer than before, but this didn’t bother me because the filling stayed moist and tasty

Reheating stuffed peppers in the air fryer

Time: 10 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Set the air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
2. Microwave the stuffed peppers for 20-30 seconds before putting them in the air fryer (optional but recommended for big stuffed peppers).
3. Arrange the stuffed peppers in the air fryer basket so they’re standing upright and not touching.
4. Heat the stuffed peppers for around 10 minutes in the air fryer, or until they’re heated all the way through. If you skip the microwave step, the heating time will be more like 15-20 minutes.

Note: You can also reheat your stuffed peppers from frozen in the air fryer. Simply increase the heating time by 10-12 minutes.

An air fryer is essentially a mini oven that’s blowing really hot air around. So the outside of the pepper will start to feel very hot very quickly, but don’t let this fool you into thinking the peppers are done.

Always check the internal temperature of the stuffed pepper before serving.

Again, the microwave step cuts down on the time you need in the air fryer because it gives the middle of the pepper a head start. It’s not a necessary step but is definitely worth it if you have huge and meaty stuffed peppers.

Results: The stuffed peppers tasted really nice out of the air fryer. The pepper was slightly softer, and the cheese was more browned, but those were the only differences. I was worried the filling would dry out too much, but this didn’t happen. That said, my filling was pretty moist to begin with.

Reheating stuffed peppers in the microwave

Time: 30-60 seconds
Rating: 6/10

1. Cut the stuffed pepper in half (optional). 
2. Place the pepper halves on a microwave-safe plate and cover the exposed rice with a damp paper towel.
3. Microwave the peppers on full power for 30 seconds. Then carry on heating them in 10-second intervals until they’re heated through.
4. Let the peppers stand for 30 seconds before serving.

I cut my stuffed peppers in half before I microwaved them so they would heat more evenly. It’s also much easier to tell if the peppers are hot all the way through.

The damp paper towel helps to create steam which keeps the filling moist. Without it, the filling could come out rather dry. If you want to brown the cheese, pop the peppers under the broiler for a minute or two before serving them.

Results: The stuffed peppers out of the microwave were surprisingly okay. I was worried the texture of the rice would suffer, but it was fine. The pepper didn’t have that just-roasted sweetness, but I can forgive them considering the speed of the method.

How to store stuffed peppers

To store stuffed peppers, let them cool to room temperature before putting them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you can’t find a container big enough to fit the peppers in, wrap them tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap and put them in the fridge like this.  

Can you freeze stuffed peppers?

Stuffed peppers freeze surprisingly well. The only differences you might notice are the pepper being a little softer and the filling having slightly more liquid in it. 

To freeze stuffed peppers, wait for them to cool to room temperature and then wrap each one in plastic wrap followed by foil. Place the wrapped peppers in an airtight container or big freezer bag, then put this in the freezer. The stuffed peppers will last for up to 3 months.

You can also freeze unbaked stuffed peppers in exactly the same way.

If you want to save on packaging, flash freeze the peppers on a baking tray before putting them in a heavy-duty freezer bag.  Arrange the stuffed peppers on a baking tray so they’re not touching each other and put them in the freezer for 2-3 hours until they feel solid. Then transfer them to a freezer bag and squeeze as much air out as you can. 

I use a straw to suck all the air out – it’s much more effective than squeezing! The less air that can access the stuffed peppers, the lower the chance of freezer burn.

If you know you’re going to freeze some of your stuffed peppers, don’t put the cheese on those ones. Wait until just before serving them to sprinkle the cheese over.

How to reheat frozen stuffed peppers

The best way to reheat stuffed peppers from frozen is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and put the stuffed peppers in an oven-safe dish. Cover the dish tightly with a lid or some foil. Heat the stuffed peppers for 40-45 minutes until they’re piping hot throughout.

These times are estimates based on medium-sized stuffed peppers. If you have huge stuffed peppers, they’re going to take a long time to reheat. To reduce cooking times, thaw the stuffed peppers before heating them by leaving them in the fridge overnight.

Also, consider cutting them in half (if they’re not already) before freezing them.

I don’t recommend using the microwave to heat stuffed peppers from frozen because they’ll become overly mushy. But you can use the microwave for 30-40 seconds to slightly thaw the inside of the stuffed pepper and reduce the heating time in the oven.

Read Next: How To Reheat Quinoa

BEST Way To Reheat Stuffed Peppers [Tested Methods]

Have you ended up with one too many stuffed peppers? Or maybe you’re making next week’s meal prep a little fancy? Whatever your reason, I’m here to show you the very best way to keep your leftover stuffed peppers (just about) as good as day one.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine All

Servings 1 person

Calories 140 kcal

Equipment

• Baking tray
• Foil

Ingredients

  

• 1 portion stuffed peppers
• 1 tbsp water

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Nuke the stuffed peppers in the microwave for 20-30 seconds (optional step, recommended for bigger stuffed peppers).
• Arrange the stuffed peppers in an oven-proof dish, sprinkle over a tablespoon of water, and cover with foil (or a lid).
• Cook the stuffed peppers in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until they’re heated all the way through. If you skip the microwave step, the peppers can take up to half an hour to fully reheat.
• Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of heating to allow the cheese to crisp up.

Keyword reheat stuffed peppers, stuffed peppers