What to Serve with Stuffed Peppers
Every wonder what to serve with Stuffed Peppers? They are sort of an all-in-one meal – but one pepper looks a little bare on the plate by itself! I’ve got 31+ side dish recipes that are a perfect fit for stuffed peppers including salads, carbs and veggies—basically everything that goes with stuffed peppers!
What to Serve with Stuffed Peppers
If you’re wondering what to serve with stuffed peppers, these easy side dish ideas will help you build the perfect meal. Stuffed peppers pair best with:
- light salads
- roasted vegetables
- rice or potatoes
- crusty bread
- simple desserts
Looking for QUICK side ideas:
- bagged salad
- tortilla chips
- garlic bread
- fruit salad
Stuffed bell peppers are great because they can be filled and customized to just what you like! My dad made stuffing out of rice, sausage, tomatoes and sauce – but I’ve also had taco stuffed peppers (made with ground beef), vegetarian and more! It’s all about the flavors that you like and what’s in your refrigerator!
What makes a good stuffed pepper? It’s all about the stuffing:
- Protein – shaved steak or ground meat (beef, pork, chicken or turkey)
- Carbs – rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, brown rice
- Vegetables – tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions
- Cheese – a great topper to bring it all together
Tips Tricks & FAQs
Here are some fun stuffed pepper ideas:
- Air Fryer Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers – sausage + cream cheese filling
- Smoked Stuffed Peppers – pop them on the Traeger for a smoky flavor!
- Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers – beef + rice filling
- Chicken Poblano Stuffed Peppers – shredded chicken + rice filling
- Air Fryer Stuffed Tomatoes – heck – stuff a tomato instead of a pepper!
OK – now that I’ve shared my favorite stuffed pepper recipes – let’s dive into the best sides for stuffed peppers:
What goes with Stuffed Peppers!
Vegetables
While the peppers are veggies – an additional veggie is a great side to go with stuffed peppers. I’m sure you’ll find something you love!
- Longhorn Steakhouse Brussels Sprouts – This is the most amazing Spicy Crispy Brussels Sprouts recipe that is EVEN BETTER at home!
- This Smoked Cheesy Corn is an easy dish loaded with bacon, cheese and smoky flavor—an easy side that pairs perfectly with stuffed peppers.
- Italian Green Beans – Green beans with tomatoes and garlic are a perfect side dish for any meal and they’re really easy to make!
- Air Fryer Cauliflower – Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower is so simple and delicious! Two ingredients and it’s done in 15 minutes. This healthy side dish is even better with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese!
- Air Fryer Cheesy Tomatoes – Jazz up plain tomatoes in your air fryer just by adding a little fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil! This delicious side dish brings out the best in the tomatoes and is ready in minutes!
- Longhorn Steakhouse Broccoli is the perfect side dish for nearly any meal! This copycat recipe will make you think you’re in the booth! Of course melted butter is a great way to make every vegetable taste better!
- Air Fryer Carrot Fries – Roasted carrots are great – but they take time – UNLESS you’re making them in your air fryer! These air fryer carrot fries are a tasty and quick side dish for any meal! They’re actually similar to sweet potatoes since carrots have a bit of sweetness – but even healthier – and keto-friendly.
- Air Fryer Asparagus is a crowd-pleasing side dish! You don’t need anything but the vegetable and your air fryer – delicious every time! And it only takes a few minutes!
- These air fryer breaded mushrooms will hit the SPOT for you any night! They’re crispy and delicious. A fun crunchy side that would be a great pairing with the stuffed peppers.
- Corn Ribs in the Air Fryer are delicious whether you’re snacking on them, serving as an appetizer or as a side dish! Sweet corn topped with barbecue seasoning and done in just 10 minutes in the air fryer!
- Air Fryer Jalapeno Fries – Air Fryer Jalapeno Fries are going to be your families new favorite!!! These are my new favorite! I ate 3 peppers in one sitting!!! (And they’re NOT spicy!)
Rice & Potatoes
- This Cheesy Mexican Rice Recipe is not only simple – but it goes with anything! It’s cheesy and a little zippy – you could even use it as a filling if you like!
- Grilled Herb Roasted Potatoes – Your grill is also great for roasting potatoes! A little olive oil, fresh herbs and baby potatoes make for a great easy side dish anytime!
- Copycat Chipotle Cauliflower Rice – this rice is a great side dish or can be used as a filling if you’re vegan!
- Copycat Taco Johns Potato Oles – Skip boring french fries and go for Taco Johns Potato Ole seasoning on tater tots or crispy crowns. They are a little spicy, a little salty and so delicious! This copycat recipe for the potato oles is spot on!
- Spanish Rice and Beans – this is another recipe that could be a great side – or could be the filling for your peppers!
- Dijon Parmesan Potatoes – I love having easy side dishes that go with pretty much any meal and these Dijon Parmesan Potatoes are perfect any day of the week! It’s such a quick and easy idea and they taste so much better than just plain potatoes!!! You can bake these in the oven or make them in your air fryer.
Salads
Another way to load up on veggies is to make a salad! I’ve got a few options that are perfect side dishes for your cheesy chicken main dish.
- Copycat Olive Garden Signature Salad – Olive Garden has the best house salad – with all my favorite toppings like olives and tomatoes and topped with that delicious Italian dressing and I have the recipe!
- Apple Goat Cheese Salad – I love this salad – especially with stuffed peppers – because the crunch of the apples really stands out and pairs perfectly with the creamy goat cheese – so yum
- Copycat Taziki’s Tomato Cucumber Salad – One of the dishes at Taziki’s that captured the attention of my growling stomach was their Tomato-Cucumber salad. It’s got fresh flavors and is full of zing and feta cheese – plus pickled red onions!
- This Copycat Panera Southwest Chili Lime Ranch Salad is my absolute favorite!!! I made this arugula & romaine lettuce salad three times this past week!!! Once you have all the ingredients – (yum! avocado) – you can’t help but make it every day! (Leave out the chicken if you have meat in your peppers.)
- Greek Salad – Panera might be known for bread but I love their salads!!!! The Panera Greek Salad is a classic and so delicious – their Greek dressing is also super simple to make!
- Butternut Squash Spinach Salad – I had to come up with a last minute holiday side dish and then I remembered that I had a butternut squash in the fridge! Boom! I popped the squash in the air fryer and then made a delicious salad with fresh spinach and it was the favorite dish of the night!
- Caprese Salad – I can’t get enough of a caprese salad – it’s so simple and goes great with anything! Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and balsamic – you’ve got it in five minutes!
Breads
There’s something so comforting about bread as a side dish. There’s just hardly anything better – and I’ve got a few options for you!
- Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread is amazing and one of my favorite side dishes!!! Every bite has the crispy edge, the garlic butter and all that cheesy goodness! This Italian Cheese Bread will not disappoint – and is a perfect side for those stuffed peppers!
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread is so easy and delicious!! I promise you will never ever buy the premade kind again! It’s crazy simple and cheap – and it’s ready in less than 5 minutes. How can you improve on that? Plus ++ I have a SECRET ingredient – you’ll love it!
- Okay – this isn’t bread – but it’s the butter that goes with it! Texas Roadhouse Butter is my absolute favorite and a must-have whenever I hit the road for their super delish steak! Just grab some of those delicious yeast rolls and heat them up! Easy peasy!
- The sweet folks at Ruby Slipper shared their Buttermilk Biscuit recipe with me and taught me how to make it. It’s a great side for any dish!
- Making Cornbread without Eggs is simple! There are also options for what to use as an egg substitute. In the end, you’ll make a pan of thick, moist cornbread that will delight the whole family!
Dessert
After all the savory bites of stuffed peppers – I’m always looking for something sweet after my dinner – so I’ve got some yummy desserts that will be a great match as well!
- Air Fryer Grilled Pineapple – Once your chicken is done – you can rinse out the air fryer and pop in some pineapple to make the best dessert in just minutes!
- Chuy’s Tres Leches Cake is by far and away my absolute favorite restaurant dessert. Stuffed peppers are fairly healthy – so splurge a little with this indulgent cake!
- Carnival Cruises are known for their Warm Chocolate Melting Cake and now you can make it at home – and it’s so easy!!!!! The cake is light and the inside is rich and decadent perfection!
- Honeybaked Ham Cinnamon Apples – I’ve been looking for a simple baked apples recipe – I love enjoying them at the first sign of fall – especially with a big dollop of whipped cream on top!
- 10 Minute Pumpkin Tiramisu – So I LOVE LOVE LOVE Tiramisu – but it’s a bit labor-intensive – there are many ingredients and all these steps. So I decided to come up with my own recipe for a quick and easy Tiramisu!
I hope you are all set and ready for your Stuffed Peppers – however you fill them! These sides and desserts will make everybody happy – and you leave you with more Stuffed Pepper leftovers to enjoy the next day!
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