Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (2024)

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Bursting with flavor, nutrition, and hearty red beans and rice, these Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers are just the thing for a light meal that can be made in advance. You'll recognize some Cajun flavors here, and you'll love having another thing to do with a can of red beans!

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (1)

If my love for beans and rice wasn't already apparent, we're about to stuff both into a bell pepper and mix with more spices and cheese before baking to reinvent them.

If you love my Black Beans and Rice, you will love this combination of red beans, rice and Cajun flavors. Topping everything with cheese just feels like the perfect icing on the cake.

Red beans not only provide healthy protein in this vegetarian stuffed peppers recipe, they are also some of the softest beans that still stay firm after baking. They're the perfect addition to rice stuffed peppers. I love their texture so much, so I add them to my Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili along with the black beans.

Ingredients

The ingredient list below has the same Cajun flavors you love from my Vegetarian Jambalaya. That container of Tony Chachere's seasoning is going to good use here! You can also bookmark by Red Beans and Rice recipe, if you're looking for a non-vegetarian recipe.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (2)
  • Bell Peppers. Vegetarian stuffed peppers can be made with any color pepper. I choose red the most, because I love the color and its crisp flavor, but use what you have on hand.
  • Onion. One small onion, diced finely.
  • Celery. Two stalks of celery, finely diced.
  • Garlic. Yes, we're adding 6 cloves of minced garlic to this recipe. It's the Cajun flavor I'm going after.
  • Cajun Seasoning. We also use a Cajun spice blend that contains salt, so that no other salt is needed for the recipe. The brand I like is Tony Chachere.
  • Dried Thyme.
  • Dried Parsley.
  • Worcestershire Sauce. A big dose of umami flavor, plus some moisture.
  • Crushed Tomatoes. Just 1 cup of crushed tomatoes from a can or box. Save the rest for my Ribollita recipe.
  • Cooked Rice. Since we only need 1 cup of cooked rice, this is a great way to use up leftover rice, especially if you have it leftover from my Buddha Bowl Recipe.
  • Red Beans. One can of small red beans are the best thing to use in this recipe, but you can use kidney beans if those are easier to find for you. Here is my whole category of recipes using red beans.
  • Green Onions. Also called scallions, green onions really bring great flavor to a dish that is baked with cheese.
  • Mozzarella Cheese. Any easy-to-melt cheese works for this recipe, but I use mozzarella because I love it's mild flavor and stretchiness when melted.

How to Make Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

First, gather all the ingredients above, and ensure your vegetables are rinsed and chopped, and your cooked rice is ready to go.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (3)
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (4)

First, in a small skillet, add the olive oil over medium heat, and stir in the finely diced onion and celery. Cook, while stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften, about 10 minutes or so.

Next, stir in the garlic and Cajun seasoning and saute for about 30 seconds, just to wake up the flavors in the spice blend. Turn off the heat.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (5)
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (6)

In a large bowl, combine the vegetables you just sauteed, along with all other ingredients, except for the cheese. We're adding the dried thyme, dried parsley, Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, rice, beans, and green onions now.

Stir everything together very well, and taste and adjust for seasoning. My Cajun seasoning has plenty of salt, but if yours is lacking, now is the time to add it, keeping in mind the cheese will add some saltiness to the dish.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (7)
Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (8)

Scoop the filling into the 8 pepper halves. Try to divide it as evenly as possible.

Top the peppers with the grated mozzarella, and cover it with a piece of foil that does not touch the cheese. Slide the baking dish into a preheated 350-degree oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5-8 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown.

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (9)

Recipe Variations on Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

  • Rice - Cooked white or brown rice both work well here.
  • Beans - I use small red beans here, because they're Cajun, but you can use black beans, kidney beans, or even white beans here.
  • Vegetables - To boost up the veggies, add ½ cup of corn kernels.
  • Cheese - Any mild melting cheese works great here.

Storage Tips

These vegetarian stuffed peppers are so great leftover! Just place in an airtight container and store in the fridge. To reheat, pop them in the air fryer or microwave until the cheese is melty again.

You can freeze these beans and rice stuffed peppers after baking. Wrap each pepper half in a layer of plastic wrap, place in a freezer-safe bag, and place flat in the freezer. Once frozen, you can stack them in a bag for easier storage. To reheat, place in fridge overnight to defrost and use the air fryer or microwave to warm through.

How can I make these vegan stuffed peppers?

The only ingredients here that are not vegan are the Worcestershire sauce and the cheese. Use soy sauce in place of the Worcestershire, and a plant-based mozzarella-style cheese.

What vegetables can you put in stuffed peppers?

This vegetarian stuffed peppers recipe has onions, garlic, celery, tomatoes and green onion. You could also add corn or grated carrots to boost the vegetables.

If you're not vegetarian, you should make my Stuffed Peppers with Chicken, rice and black beans!

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Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (10)

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Spicy red beans and rice stuffed peppers.

Ingredients

  • 4 large red bell peppers
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, finely diced
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Tony Chacherie’s Cajun seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 1 15-ounce can of red beans
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit. Rinse the peppers, and then slice them in half. Remove the insides and line them up in a baking dish.
  2. In a small skillet, add the olive oil and heat over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the finely diced onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes.
  3. Next, add all of the minced garlic and Cajun seasoning. Stir and cook for 30 seconds, just to release flavors.
  4. Scrape the contents of the skillet into a large bowl, and all all remaining ingredients (except for the cheese!).
  5. Divide the rice and beans mixture evenly between all 8 bell pepper halves. Sprinkle cheese on top of the peppers.
  6. Place a piece of foil that doesn't touch the peppers over the pan and bake for 30 minutes.
  7. Remove the foil and bake for another 5-8 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown.

Notes

Store leftovers tightly wrapped in fridge. Reheat in air fryer or toaster oven.

You can freeze these beans and rice stuffed peppers after baking. Wrap each pepper half in a layer of plastic wrap, place in a freezer-safe bag, and place flat in the freezer. Once frozen, you can stack them up. To reheat, place in fridge overnight to defrost and use the air fryer or microwave to warm through.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 228Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 441mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 5gSugar: 5gProtein: 10g

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with Red Beans and Rice - Bean Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What kind of bread goes with red beans and rice? ›

Some insist on squares of homemade cornbread with their red beans and rice, while others prefer a light, airy, and crusty French bread made by local New Orleans' purveyors such as Leidenheimer's or Reising's. And still others are happy with either or both on their plate.

What pairs well with red beans and rice? ›

The best side dishes to serve with red beans and rice are corn on the cob, pulled pork, brats, shrimp boil, green beans with bacon, London broil, country style ribs, coleslaw, fried okra, cornbread, Cajun shrimp skewers, deviled eggs, collard greens, biscuits, chicken wings, and Andouille sausage.

What protein goes with red beans and rice? ›

Red beans and rice is a hearty one pot meal that's of course delicious over rice, but you can also serve the beans over grits, eggs, or toast. It can be prepared with a variety of large or small red or even black beans, with the addition of protein like sausage, chicken thighs, or shrimp.

Are red beans and kidney beans the same? ›

No, red beans and kidney beans are actually different types of beans. The main difference? Red beans are smaller and rounder (like pinto beans), but red in color. However, these beans still are fairly similar and can generally be used interchangeably in recipes that call for either dried or canned beans.

What does red beans and rice do for your body? ›

Rice and Beans Are Protein-Packed Foods

They provide you with healthy plant-based protein, coming in at around 12 grams of protein per cup. These winning sides contain amino acids that blend together to make complete proteins. Most people do not get enough complete protein in their diets.

What is rice and beans together called? ›

Gallopinto, the rice-and-beans combination, is known by many names across Latin America, some charming like casamiento (wedding) others rather dated and decidedly politically incorrect like moros y cristianos (Moors and Christians).

What to add to rice and beans for flavor? ›

By using aromatics like onions, garlic, bay leaves, and spices, you can add extra flavor to your beans.

Why did Popeyes stop selling red beans and rice? ›

In a statement, the company said the move was based on customer feedback and “looking for ways to improve our menu.”

What thickens red beans and rice? ›

Mix the cornstarch and cold water together in a bowl then pour it into the red bean mixture and stir well. You will start to see the texture become thicker and creamier. Once done, remove the bay leaves and serve over rice.

Is red beans and rice a complete meal? ›

Both are easy to grow, plentiful, and filling. The combination of beans and rice creates a complete protein. Beans alone and rice alone both lack certain essential amino acids. If eaten together, however, each contributes what the other is missing to form a complete protein.

Is red beans and rice high in cholesterol? ›

Each serving contains about 274 calories, 11 g protein, 5 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 48 g carbohydrates, 10 g fiber, and 6 mg sodium.

When to add meat to beans? ›

If it's sausage or bacon, you'll want to cook it through before adding it to the pot. Brown the meat in a bit of oil at the bottom of the pot to start, then remove it with a slotted spoon or spider and cook the aromatics in the meat fat. Add the meat back in when you put the beans and liquid into the pot.

Are canned red beans cooked? ›

Canned beans are already cooked. They cost a little more than dried beans, but are still a great buy because they are fast and convenient. Just remember to rinse them first to wash away some of the sodium (salt) or buy canned beans with no added salt.

Which is healthier, red beans or kidney beans? ›

While both varieties are fiber-rich, small red beans may have a slightly higher fiber content. However, the difference is minimal, and both contribute significantly to digestive system.

What beans are good for kidneys? ›

It would depend on the kidney problems you are having. If you need to avoid foods high in phosphorus, then wax beans, peas and green beans would be the safest to eat. If you are having problems with kidney stones, then all legumes would be beneficial.

What makes New Orleans French bread different? ›

Compared to denser, hard-crusted artisanal baguettes, these purpose-baked loaves are mostly air and as such, don't age particularly well. A day or so after baking, the soft interior takes on a crackly consistency, making it unsuitable for sandwiches, but perfect for another New Orleans classic—bread pudding.

Do you eat beans with bread? ›

Simple, amazing ingredients make a terrific combination, so crispy and deliciously fresh. To maximize the flavor, toast your bread and cook your beans. It takes minutes. But if you're in a rush, you can also simply mix the beans in a bowl with the rest of the ingredients.

Is beans with bread good? ›

It's also very balanced. Protein from the beans, fiber from the bread (use whole grain for healthier carbs) and the vitamins and minerals from the tomato sauce, how can you even go wrong with this?

What is the traditional day for red beans and rice? ›

Red beans and rice became a traditional dish on Mondays in New Orleans because it made use of the ham bone left over from Sunday dinner. Monday was typically wash day, and the beans could be simmered for a long time on the back of the stove while the laundry was being done.

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