Bell Pepper Nachos

5 from 228 votes

These easy bell pepper nachos are a great low carb alternative to your favorite Mexican appetizer. Easy to make and ready to serve in 30 minutes.

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If you’re looking for a low-carb substitute to crunchy nachos, try these Loaded Bell Pepper Nachos. The sweet and crisp bell pepper base is so colorful, nutritious and flavorful that you won’t really be missing the nachos. Top them with salsa, guacamole, sour cream or any other toppings and you’ll be making these on the regular!

Bell pepper nachos on a baking sheet ready to eat
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This recipe is from Joy Bauer’s Superfood cookbook. She is the health and nutrition expert for NBCā€™s Today show and the author of 12 bestselling books. The book is full of 150 recipes with wholesome food containing one or more nutrients.

How do you make bell pepper nachos

Cook the ground beef until it’s cooked through. Stir in the tacos seasoning and water then mix in the black beans, corn and jalapeƱos, if you’re using.

Three shots to show how to make the ground beef filling

Cut the bell peppers and place on a baking sheet. If found it easiest to core the stem first, then cut into 6 even strips.

Slices of bell pepper on a baking sheet

Spoon the beef mixture over the bell pepper slices. It’s ok if they don’t fit in perfectly.

The filling on top of the bell peppers

Sprinkle shredded cheese on top, and bake until the cheese has melted.

Shredded cheese topping the bell pepper nachos

Tips for making bell pepper nachos

  1. Make them vegan by replacing the meat with more beans and skipping the cheese. This dish is incredibly versatile and easy to adjust based on any dietary restrictions.
  2. Try them with mini bell peppers. For even smaller bites, you can use mini bell peppers. Just slice them in half and remove the stem and seeds.
  3. Don’t cut the bell pepper slices too thinly. You want them to be able to hold a good amount of the taco beef and any extra toppings you want to add, like guacamole or salsa.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make them ahead of time?

These bell pepper nachos are best served when they are warm, but you can make the meat mixture up to 3 days ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge. You can prep the nachos several hours ahead of time and keep them covered in the fridge until you are ready to cook them.

What toppings can you add?

You can add all of your usual toppings to these nachos. Guacamole, sour cream, salsa and pickled jalapeƱos all work so well!

Can you make these with other meat?

Ground beef works really well with these nachos, but you can also use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.

Close up of the baked bell pepper nachos

For a low carb option, these loaded bell pepper nachos sure hit the spot and give you a nice crunch without the chips.

More Easy Mexican Recipes

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Bell Pepper Nachos

These easy bell pepper nachos are a great low carb alternative to your favorite Mexican appetizer. Easy to make and ready to serve in 30 minutes.
5 from 228 votes
Servings 6 servings
Course Appetizer
Calories 243
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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Video

Ingredients
  

  • 6 large bell peppers
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • Ā¾ cup canned black beans rinsed and drained
  • Ā¾ cup sweet yellow corn thawed
  • 1 jalapeƱo sliced, optional
  • Ā½ to 1 cup reduced-fat shredded Mexican cheese blend

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375Ā°F. Coat a large baking sheet (or 2 standard sheets) with nonstick oil or line with parchment paper.
  • Use a small sharp knife to core the stem from the pepper. Then slice the pepper in half and then slice each half into 3 equal parts. Each pepper will create 6 ā€œchipsā€. Lay the bell pepper chips on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer with the insides facing up.
  • In a large heated skillet, stir the ground beef until its cooked through and crumbled. Add the taco seasoning, along with 2/3 cup water and stir. Add the black beans, corn and jalapeƱos, if using. Mix until well combined and heated through.
  • Spoon the mixture over the bell pepper pieces. Sprinkle the cheese on top and bake until the cheese melts, about 10 minutes.
  • Serve warm with your favorite toppings

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers of the meat mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you have any assembled bell pepper nachos, you can store them in the fridge as well for up to 3 days, but the peppers may soften.
Loaded Bell Pepper Nachos Excerpted from Joy Bauer’s Super Food: 150 Recipes for Eternal Youth. Copyright Ā© 2020Ā 

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 133mg, Potassium: 563mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 3880IU, Vitamin C: 157mg, Calcium: 29mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine Mexican
Course: Appetizer
5 from 228 votes (221 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Shannon says:

    These were wonderful! Great way to use up the peppers from our garden and a healthy meal! We had extra meat so I filled some little tortilla cups too. My husband and I agreed we enjoyed the peppers more! Will be making more of these throughout our garden season and in the future!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Yum, I bet those garden peppers were so good!! Glad you and your husband loved the recipe. Thank you, Shannon!

  2. Carrie says:

    Very tasty. I found cutting the peppers wider helped keep the toppings on. May cook the peppers for a few min in the oven next time before adding toppings just to help make them more tender.

    1. Yumna says:

      Great tips!

  3. Dawn says:

    These were absolutely delicious! Even my kids loved them. I loved how the peppers still had a bit of crunch. We used pepper jack cheese and served with guacamole & sour cream. Thanks for sharing!!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      You’re so welcome!

  4. Shelley says:

    Would love to see recipes allowable after bariatric surgery. I’m 16 years out, but still eating within restrictions. Also, would live to fund substitutions making regular healthy recipes accessable again.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Hi Shelley! Thank you for the feedback, I do not specialize in recipes around bariatric surgery. I do not know enough about it to feel comfortable making recipes or stating that a recipe is “good” for someone on a restrictive diet. I hope you understand!

  5. Arif Yousuf says:

    Black pepper benefits:How much black pepper should you eat a day?

  6. Tiffany says:

    Delicious and so easy! Love you and all of your recipes.

  7. Barbara says:

    How would this work on the grill? Itā€™s over 100 here today so no ovens

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      Oh good questions! After you cook the meat mixture, I would just place it on a grill on aluminum foil and just let it cook for 5-10 minutes until the cheese melts. I’ve never tried it.

  8. Audrey says:

    Good appetizer and it was fun to prepare. Will definitely make it more often.

  9. Vaishali Patel says:

    Absolutely loved making these yesterday and they were delicious.

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you!!