What to Serve With Stuffed Peppers

From veggies to carbs to gluten-free, here’s what to serve with stuffed peppers. 

Choosing the perfect side dish can elevate your stuffed peppers from a simple meal to a culinary experience. In this blog post, we’ll explore a variety of side dishes that complement the rich, savory flavors of stuffed peppers, and discuss how these pairings can bring balance, contrast, and an extra burst of deliciousness to your dinner table.

Salads to Serve With Stuffed Peppers

Ceasar Salad

This classic salad offers a refreshing, tangy contrast to the robust flavors of stuffed peppers. Crisp romaine lettuce is tossed with a creamy Caesar dressing, garlic-infused croutons, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, creating a dish that’s as texture-rich as it is flavorful. The sharpness of the dressing and the crunch of the lettuce and croutons pair beautifully with the hearty stuffed peppers, adding a light and lively element to your meal.

Tomatoes and Cucumber Salad

This salad is a great healthy side dish that brings a refreshing crunch to your stuffed pepper meal. Combining ripe tomatoes and crisp cucumbers, it is tossed with a light vinaigrette and topped with crumbled feta cheese, adding a creamy, tangy element that elevates the whole dish. The addition of fresh herbs like dill or basil infuses the salad with an aromatic touch, making this Tomato Cucumber Salad a perfect balance of textures and Mediterranean flavors.

Zesty Lemon Arugula Salad

l with stuffed peppers. Packed with peppery arugula leaves, the salad is dressed with a vibrant blend of fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and a touch of honey or agave for a perfect balance of tart and sweet. The lightness of the salad and the invigorating citrus notes offer an ideal contrast to the rich, savory flavors of the stuffed peppers, making your meal delightfully well-rounded.

Vegetables to Serve With Stuffed Bell Peppers

Roasted Carrots

These oven-baked carrots transform into a tender, flavorful side dish perfect for complementing your stuffed peppers. As they bake in the oven, the carrots caramelize, unlocking a depth of sweetness that contrasts beautifully with their earthy nature. Tossed in a light seasoning before roasting, these tender carrots become a beautifully simple yet incredibly satisfying side, offering a delightful blend of textures and flavors to your meal.

Air Fryer Blooming Onions

This delightful rendition of the classic appetizer is a great side dish that can elevate your meal with stuffed peppers. The blooming onion, seasoned and coated with a crispy batter, is air-fried to golden perfection, resulting in a spectacular presentation and a tantalizing combination of textures. The layers peel away easily for sharing, revealing a soft, sweet interior that contrasts beautifully with the crunchy exterior, making for a fun, flavorful addition to your meal.

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

This side dish brings a new level of flavor and texture to Brussels sprouts, making it a perfect companion to your stuffed peppers. Using an air fryer, the sprouts are cooked until they’re irresistibly crispy on the outside, while remaining tender and sweet inside. Tossed with a touch of olive oil and your choice of seasonings, these Brussels sprouts deliver a delightful crunch and a robust, caramelized flavor that will complement and enhance your main dish wonderfully.

Grilled Zucchini Salad with Corn and Tomatoes

This salad is a vibrant celebration of summer’s bounty, pairing beautifully with the hearty flavors of stuffed peppers. Grilled zucchini, juicy tomatoes, and sweet corn come together in a delightful medley of textures and tastes, accentuated with a light dressing and fresh herbs. The smoky notes from the grilled zucchini, the sweetness of the corn, and the tangy burst from the tomatoes create a balance that’s refreshing yet satisfying, providing a colorful and flavorful contrast to your main dish.

Crack Green Beans

This reinterpretation of the classic Crack Green Beans takes the savory flavor to new heights, transforming it into a satisfying casserole dish. Fresh green beans are mixed with a rich and creamy sauce, featuring garlic, and hints of soy sauce before being baked to perfection. The harmonious blend of the creamy sauce and the crisp beans offers a delightful contrast to stuffed peppers, yielding a meal that’s as varied in textures and flavors as it is comforting.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

 This oven-roasted cauliflower stands as a testament to the transformative power of slow, careful roasting. Whole cauliflower is generously seasoned and then roasted in the oven until it reaches a beautiful golden brown, its natural sugars caramelizing to create a slightly sweet, deeply savory flavor. The result is a side dish that’s tender and richly flavored on the inside, crispy on the outside, and perfectly suited to balance the robustness of stuffed peppers.

Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions

These sautéed mushrooms offer a delightful balance of earthy flavor and buttery richness that makes them an excellent accompaniment to stuffed peppers. Gently sauteed until golden brown, the mushrooms release their natural juices, mingling with the aromas of garlic and fresh herbs to create a side dish that’s as flavorful as it is simple. The unique umami flavor of these sauteed mushrooms not only complements the stuffed peppers but also adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to your meal.

Bread and Carbohydrates 

Garlic Bread

The timeless combination of garlic and butter shines through in this classic accompaniment, perfect for pairing with stuffed peppers. Each slice of crusty bread is generously slathered with a rich, aromatic blend of melted butter, minced garlic, and optional herbs, then toasted until golden and irresistible. The warm, robust flavors of the garlic bread not only complement the stuffed peppers but also offer a decadently soft and crunchy texture to the overall meal. Also, try our balsamic vinegar and olive oil dip.

Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad

This vibrant, zesty pasta salad serves as a refreshing contrast to the warm, spiced flavors of stuffed peppers. The zingy lime and aromatic cilantro bring a lively freshness, while the al dente pasta offers a satisfying bite. This salad is the perfect way to introduce a cool, tangy element to balance the robustness of the stuffed peppers.

Ranch Potatoes

These Ranch Potatoes make a delicious side dish that can easily steal the show from your stuffed peppers. Chunks of potatoes are tossed in a tangy ranch dressing, then roasted until golden and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The final touch of Parmesan cheese adds a delightful savory note, enhancing the flavorful profile of the potatoes and bringing a comforting, cheesy twist to your meal.

Seeded Oat Bread

Hearty, rustic, and delightfully chewy, this seeded oat bread brings an extra layer of depth to any meal. It is loaded with healthful seeds and oats that create a dense, satisfying loaf, perfect for mopping up the delicious sauces from your stuffed peppers. This bread’s nutty, wholesome flavor will elevate your stuffed peppers into a restaurant-quality meal.

Sweet Potato Fries

As one of the most enticing and easy side dishes, sweet potato waffle fries are a fabulous addition to your stuffed peppers meal. These fries are cut in a waffle pattern, allowing for maximum crispness and flavor absorption. Their natural sweetness provides a delicious contrast to the savory peppers, and when baked to golden perfection, they deliver a delightful crunch, adding an unexpected and welcome twist to your dining experience.

Instant Pot Side Dishes for Stuffed Peppers

Instant Pot Loaded Potatoes

A delightful side dish that plays with creamy and crispy textures, Instant Pot loaded potatoes are the epitome of comfort food. They are baked to perfection in the Instant Pot and loaded with savory cheese, crisp bacon, and refreshing sour cream and chives. These potatoes not only complement the hearty stuffed peppers but also add a rich, indulgent twist to your meal.

Busy Day Soup

This simple and comforting soup is your perfect ally after a hectic day. A medley of nutritious veggies, lean protein, and soothing broth, it offers a comforting balance of flavors to pair with your flavorful stuffed peppers. Quick to prepare, it’s the ideal solution when you’re in a rush but still crave a wholesome meal.

Best Stuffing Recipes for Stuffed Peppers

Classic Ground Beef

These are a timeless favorite, offering a comforting and hearty meal packed with flavor. Bell peppers are filled with a mouthwatering mixture of ground beef, onions, garlic, and a blend of spices, then baked until the peppers are tender and the filling is juicy and savory. Served with a topping of melty cheese, these classic stuffed peppers are a satisfying meal that combines a range of textures and tastes in every bite.

Mexican Corn Stuffed Peppers

These stuffed peppers offer a mouthwatering exploration of Mexican cuisine, featuring a vibrant medley of ingredients. The filling is a flavorful mix of sweet corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, jalapenos, and a blend of Mexican spices, all encased in a tender bell pepper. Once baked, these Mexican Corn Stuffed Peppers present a delightful contrast of flavors and textures, making them a captivating and hearty dish that’s sure to spice up your mealtime.

Easy Rice-Stuffed Peppers

This recipe is perfect for those seeking a flavorful, easy-to-make meal. Bell peppers are generously stuffed with a vibrant mixture of cooked rice, vegetables, and seasonings, creating a satisfying vegetarian option or a great base for adding your preferred protein. Quick to prepare and endlessly customizable, these rice-stuffed peppers deliver a delicious, well-rounded meal that’s as simple as it is delicious.

Spinach and Ricotta

This recipe is a delightful fusion of fresh, bright flavors and creamy, satisfying textures. Bell peppers are filled with a scrumptious mixture of spinach and creamy ricotta cheese, offering a healthy and flavor-packed alternative to traditional stuffed peppers. Baked to perfection, these spinach and ricotta stuffed peppers serve up a meal that’s not only visually appealing, but also rich in nutrients and bursting with flavors that are sure to please any palate.

Best Toppings for Stuffed Peppers

Green Onions

Adding green onions as a topping to your stuffed peppers brings a mild, yet refreshing onion flavor and a pop of vibrant green color. Their fresh, zesty taste helps cut through the richness of the stuffed peppers, adding a delightful contrast and enhancing the overall flavor profile.

Sour Cream

A dollop of sour cream on your stuffed peppers adds a creamy, tangy element that balances the heat and savory flavors beautifully. It also provides a smooth and indulgent texture, enhancing the overall mouthfeel of your dish.

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is a healthier alternative to sour cream, delivering a creamy texture and a slightly tangy flavor that complements the robust flavors of the stuffed peppers. It also adds a refreshing coolness, creating a perfect balance of flavors.

Bitchin’ Sauce

This almond-based sauce adds a unique, creamy, and savory twist to your stuffed peppers. With its bold and flavorful ingredients, Bitchin’ Sauce provides a delightful complexity that enhances and complements the flavors of your stuffed peppers.

Ranch Dressing

Drizzling Ranch dressing over your stuffed peppers introduces a tangy, herby flavor that pairs wonderfully with the peppers’ savory filling. Its creamy texture adds richness and helps tie all the flavors together, making every bite even more satisfying.

Stuffed Pepper FAQs

What is a good side for stuffed peppers?

A good side for stuffed peppers should complement the flavors of the peppers while also providing a contrasting texture or taste. For a refreshing contrast, consider serving a cool salad, like a zesty lemon arugula salad or a tomato cucumber salad with feta cheese. If you prefer something warm, roasted vegetables like carrots or Brussels sprouts, or a comforting dish like Instant Pot loaded potatoes, make a great match. Grain-based sides like garlic bread or cilantro lime pasta salad can also provide a satisfying balance to your meal. For a fun twist, even sides like sweet potato waffle fries or air fryer blooming onion can add an exciting dimension to your stuffed pepper meal.

What is good to eat with bell peppers?

Bell peppers, especially when stuffed, pair well with a variety of side dishes. Depending on your preference, you could opt for a grain-based side like quinoa, rice, or pasta, or a protein like grilled chicken or a lean cut of steak. Light, crisp salads, whether green or grain-based, also complement stuffed bell peppers nicely, as do roasted vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts or carrots. Bread, particularly garlic bread or seeded oat bread, can be another great side, as can creamy or cheesy dishes like loaded potatoes or a savory casserole. The key is to balance the flavors and textures of your peppers with those of your side dish.

What cuisine is stuffed bell peppers?

Stuffed bell peppers are a versatile dish that can be found in various forms across numerous cuisines worldwide. Here are a few examples:

1. In American cuisine, stuffed peppers typically contain a filling of ground beef, rice, and a tomato sauce, often topped with cheese.
2. In Italian cuisine, the peppers might be stuffed with a mixture of rice, ground meat, herbs, and cheese.
3. The Greek version, called “gemista,” is typically stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes ground meat.
4. In Mexican cuisine, “chiles rellenos” are large chili peppers stuffed with cheese or meat, battered and fried.
5. The Eastern European and Middle Eastern versions often involve peppers stuffed with a combination of grains like rice or bulgur, mixed with ground meat and spices.

This diversity speaks to the adaptability of stuffed bell peppers; they can be filled with a wide range of ingredients, making them an integral part of many different culinary traditions.

Have questions or suggestions about what to serve with stuffed peppers? Leave them in the comments below.