Stuffed peppers are super delicious, but can be rather fiddly if you’re only trying to serve yourself. Hence the creation of this stuffed pepper recipe that serves just one person and is made completely in the microwave!
Obviously, you could stick to using your microwave for ready-meals and leftovers – after all, surely people usually cook stuffed peppers using an oven for a reason, right? But where’s the fun in that?! Being able to cook healthy dinners from scratch in the microwave is such a useful skill too; what if you’re having your kitchen re-decorated or your oven replaced – you still need to eat! That’s part of why I’m working on more healthy meals for one that can be made exclusively in the microwave. The other reason is the washing up – the number of pots and pans you need for some stuffed pepper recipes is just ridiculous. Nobody wants to deal with that!
I’m starting to discover that it’s easier than you think to cook single-serving dinners like these microwave stuffed peppers. For one thing, you end up throwing away fewer leftovers. Plus it helps portion control! A key example of that is my single-serving brownie in a jar. After all, if you only cook one portion you don’t have to feel guilty about eating the whole batch!
I decided to stuff my pepper with cheesy spinach and basil rice. After all, what’s life without a little cheese? However, if you have any leftover Mexican veggie rice or spicy turmeric rice then those would be great fillings! Alternatively, you could use my microwave risotto with fresh herbs – it should make the perfect amount to fill one pepper!
Please do let me know in the comments if there are any specific types of single-serving or microwave recipe you’d like to see! Perhaps you really need a single-serving gluten-free lunch, or a vegan microwave dinner – I’m open to suggestions!
Microwave Stuffed Peppers for 1
A single-serving stuffed pepper recipe made completely in the microwave! The peppers are stuffed with a delicious cheesy, buttery rice mixture, with optional add-ins including chilli peppers for spice or extra mozzarella on top for more gooey cheesiness.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp diced onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 35 grams (3 tbsp) basmati rice
- 120 ml water
- 30 grams (1/8 cup, 1 oz) baby spinach
- 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) grated parmesan
- 2 tbsp chopped basil
- 1 red bell pepper, hollowed out
Instructions
- Add 1 tbsp butter to a medium microwave-safe bowl and melt (approximately 20 seconds).
- Add the garlic and onion and stir. Microwave 30 seconds to soften.
- Add the rice and water. Cover with microwave-safe clingfilm and pierce several times. Microwave in 2 minute increments until all the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked (around 10 minutes total).
- Add the spinach. parmesan, basil and remaining 1 tbsp butter. Stir to combine and re-cover with clingfilm. Microwave 1 minute until spinach is wilted.
- In a separate bowl, place the pepper top-down in around 1" of water. Cover with clingfilm and pierce several times. Microwave until the pepper is softened to your liking - around 5 minutes.
- Remove the pepper from the water and fill it with the rice mixture. Cover with pierced clingfilm and microwave until everything is hot and cooked to your liking, around 2-3 more minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes
Optional add-ins:
- diced chilli pepper - add with the garlic and onion. I'd recommend 1/2 a chilli pepper per serving
- mozzarella - top the filled pepper with slices of mozzarella and in the final step, microwave until it is melted to your liking
- bacon - add in 2-3 tbsp cooked diced bacon with the spinach, basil and parmesan
Our microwave is 700 watts. You may need to adjust cooking times depending on your own.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 382Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 568mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 9g
All nutrition information is an estimate and may vary.
If you’re looking for a delicious, easy side dish for this recipe, I really recommend my cheesy garlic butter pinwheels, although the peppers are pretty filling so perhaps split one pepper between two if you plan on adding a side dish.
For an easy, single-serving dessert, try my brownie in a jar – it’s a perfect portion and is soooo rich and fudgy it’s just irresistible! Enjoy!
Linked to #CookBlogShare
These look really quick and easy- and healthy. Tasty recipe.
I’m so glad you like the look of them! They’re super quick and easy – and healthy is always important too!
I too sometimes make a whole dish using M/W, these peppers looks delicious and flavourful.
I cook full meals using the microwave fairly often too – it’s so useful and amazing what it can do! I’m really glad that you think they look good!
Never stuffed a pepper but always feel I should have! Your filling sounds just so tasty!
You have to try it – it’s really delicious! There are so many different fillings, but often less is more – unless you have leftover chilli in which case that’s probably always the best filling (plus a ton of cheese!)
I am not very good with the microwave but your instructions are very clear and even I get them! You’ve used great flavours in your pepper, thank you for bringing your lovely recipe to #CookBlogShare.
I’m really glad you like the look of this recipe and the instructions are clear enough!
Single serving recipes are a great idea! I could have done with these while I was at uni. I was the only person I know that made batches of food. These would have been great.
I’m so glad that you think they’re useful! I try to make a mix of batch recipes and single-serving ones for variety since otherwise you can end up living off the same pasta bake for a week! I like to make them microwave-friendly too since not everyone has access to a stove and oven – it’s nice to have a mix in case one breaks either way!
Total genius! I’ve never seen a recipe for microwaved stuffed peppers, nor indeed a recipe for a single serving of stuffed peppers. What a great idea. Bet they taste delicious too!! Eb x
I’m so glad you like the look of them – they really are absolutely delicious! It’s always useful to keep some single-serving recipes on-hand, plus a few proper microwave ones (not just frozen ready meals!) in case the oven breaks too!
This recipe sounds great! I love stuffed pepper but have never thought to cook them in the microwave – a great way to save time!
It definitely saves time! Plus, it makes it so much easier to cook just one if you’re only feeding yourself – cooking just one the traditional way always feels like too much effort for too little result!
Wow! This looks easy. I do love stuffed peppers too!
It really is super easy – they taste just as good as when they’re made the usual way as well! What do you usually like to put in them?
Great recipe, except, food should not be microwaved. Microwaving food, kills the nutritional value of the meal.
Hi Laurie! This recipe is mainly aimed at students and other groups of people who might not have access to a stove or other cooking equipment yet don’t want to have to rely on takeaway (it’s expensive!).
It’s also true that any other form of cooking destroys nutrients – many vitamins and other nutrients are heat-sensitive and may be destroyed when heating food using any method, whereas other nutrients are made easier for the body to access when food is heated. If you’re interested in reading more then this article may be a good place to start.
I’m very glad that you thought the recipe was great anyway though!
Hola Hannah: I came across your recipe, while looking for the one I thought I had saved. After softening the sweet bell peppers, in water, I removed and let ’em drain, while I prepared my cooked red/white quinoa and bacon stuffing. Your recipe didn’t say to empty the water from the m/w safe container, although I did, before putting the stuffed sweet peppers in the m/w safe pan and completing the cooking in the m/w. Everything turned out fine and I was able to freeze two complete meals, after enjoying my dinner. I have ensure I’ve bookmarked your site. Gracias, y buena suerte with creating new recipes! Cuidate, CL
I’m so glad you enjoyed them – using quinoa instead sounds delicious! And sorry the recipe didn’t say to empty the water out – I’ll correct that right away! I’m so happy that they turned out well for you!
You’re a phenom, Hannah! Given the age of your recipe posting, I didn’t think you’d respond. Looking forward to trying more recipes – I too have food allergies and sensitivities to fruits, veggies, along with herbs and spices. I had to give up salami and bologna, because of the other items added to the proteins. Happy nearly summer!!
Cora, Northern California
You sound a lot like me – I can’t eat any fruit or almost all veggies, although luckily I’m ok with herbs and spices! I’ve had to give up a lot as well – even things like tomato pasta sauce or pot noodles with dried veggies! I hope you enjoy my recipes – feel free to leave a star rating by clicking on the stars in the recipe cards – I’d love to know what you think of all my recipes!
I’m working on plenty of new ones at the moment too, so if you ever need a specific type of recipe or version of a recipe that doesn’t contain a common ingredient that you’re sensitive too then feel free to email me – you can find my email on my contact page! Or, just message me on social media – whatever’s easiest!