This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may make a small commission if you purchase through the links. Thank you so much for supporting me!
These Bell Pepper Nachos are gluten free, low carb, and completely customizable. If you’re a nacho lover but looking for a lighter twist on a classic, these are about to become your new favorite! Instead of the usual tortilla chips, we’re using crisp, colorful bell peppers as the base. It’s a simple swap that makes all the difference, keeping things fresh, crunchy, and super satisfying. Plus, they’re baked to cheesy perfection so what’s not to love?
One of my must-have pantry staples is a packet (or three) of taco seasoning. I love having these pre-made blends on hand for effortless, easy, and delicious meals because these spices pack so much flavor you can take the simplest meals to another level! Usually, I just roast whatever vegetables are in the fridge, choose a protein I have and cook that with the taco seasoning, and I have an easy meal. Or I’ll prep protein with the seasoning and store it in the fridge so I can use it for multiple meals during the week like on salads, sweet potatoes, veggies, you name it!
Some of my favorite recipes that take no time to make are my Easy Air Fryer Fajitas, Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Vegetable Nachos, and now these Bell Pepper Nachos! All of these have less than ten ingredients and can be completely customized based on what you have on hand or are craving. Easy, nutritious meals with lots of flavor are a win in my book!
So why bell peppers for the base of these healthier nachos? They’re naturally sweet, full of flavor, and have the perfect crunch to replace the chips. They’re also packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, making them a great way to add a little more nutrition to your plate while still enjoying the flavors of a classic. Plus, bell peppers hold up well in the oven so they won’t get soggy or limp with all of the toppings you’ll add! We’ve all had nachos that just can’t take the toppings and lose their crunch 😅
The peppers give that great crunch, the cheese adds gooey, melted goodness, and all the fresh toppings bring a burst of flavor in every bite. Whether you’re making these for an easy meal, weekend snack, or game day appetizer, they’re sure to be a crowd pleaser!
Why You’ll Love These
- Minimal ingredients – The base of these nachos uses only five simple ingredients. You can always add more or less depending on what you’re in the mood for and what toppings you add!
- Ready in twenty minutes – From start to finish, this takes less than thirty minutes which makes it the perfect healthier lunch or dinner during the week day or when you don’t feel like cooking.
- Customizable– Some days you want nachos topped with extra cheese and others you want more veggies, salsa, protein, and the works. Luckily, with this recipe you can switch up the toppings and enjoy different nachos every time!
- Dietary friendly – This recipe is gluten free, low carb, and can easily be made dairy free and vegan depending on what toppings you add.
What You’ll Need
- Bell peppers – It’s best to use a variety of colors here! More colors = more nutrients 🙌
- Ground beef – You can also use ground chicken or turkey, or add your plant based protein of choice.
- Taco seasoning – I love using a pre-made blend but you have to be careful with ingredients because a lot of them like to sneak unnecessary additives and gums in them. That’s why I prefer to use an organic blend from Whole Foods or Siete.
- Black beans – I like these canned, pressure cooked beans for easier digestion but if I can’t find these, I always choose organic.
- Shredded cheddar – You can use any kind of shredded cheese you like! If you’re wanting to make this dairy free, use a dairy free cheese.
- Toppings of choice – Go crazy with the toppings or keep it simple. Some ideas are adding Greek yogurt, sour cream, avocado, green onions, chopped onions, pico, salsa, olives, jalapenos, tomatoes, etc.
How To Make
- Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large cooking pan, brown the ground meat and add the taco seasoning. (Tip: I always like to cook a full pound of ground beef with one taco seasoning packet and use half for this recipe then save the rest for leftovers to use for tacos, quesadillas, taco salads, etc.)
- Slice the peppers into “chip” strips, not too thin because we want them to be able to hold our toppings!
- Place the bell pepper strips on the lined baking sheet. Add the meat, beans, and cheese on top.
- Bake for ten to twelve minutes or until the cheese has fully melted and the bell pepper has softened a little.
- Once done, add additional toppings of choice, and enjoy!
Recommended Tools
- Large baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cooking pan – I prefer GreenPan or Caraway for non-toxic cookware.
- Cutting board
More Quick Meal Ideas
Cozy Chicken and Vegetable Sheet Pan (Gluten Free)
The Best Air Fryer Salmon (Gluten Free)
Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta (Gluten Free, High Protein)
Bell Pepper Nachos (Gluten Free, Low Carb)
Ingredients
- 3-4 bell peppers
- 1/2 lb ground beef (or ground chicken or turkey, omit or replace for vegan)
- taco seasoning (to taste)
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1 cup shredded cheddar (or cheese of choice, use dairy free for vegan)
Optional toppings – Greek yogurt, sour cream, avocado, green onions, chopped onions, pico, salsa, olives, jalapenos, tomatoes, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cook the ground meat and add taco seasoning (see written portion above for tip on cooking for leftovers).
- Slice the bell peppers into "chip" strips, not too thin to be used to hold the toppings.
- Add the bell peppers to the lined baking sheet.
- Top with meat, beans, and cheese.
- Bake for 10-12min or until cheese is melted.
- Add toppings of choice and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest!