Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe (2024)

Home All Recipes Appetizer Stuffed Mini Peppers

By Jess Smith

4.3

Published Apr 27, 2023Updated Mar 06, 2024

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Stuffed mini peppers are filled with tender bites of cheesy, creamy filling, and require just three ingredients to make. This easy appetizer is a sweet and mild alternative to spicy jalapeno poppers, and is perfect for your next party or game day event.

Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe (2)

Stuffed mini peppers with cream cheese are the perfect appetizer. Not only is the sweet and mild flavor of the peppers a beautiful contrast to the rich and creamy cheese, but they are just so easy to make. All you need to do is cut the peppers in half, remove the seeds, fill the peppers with the cream cheese mixture, and bake!

When you arrange this savory snack on a platter, you will have an eye-catching array of colorful peppers stuffed with warm, melty cheese. Serve them right from the oven and watch your guests gobble them up!

What are Mini Peppers?

These are a type of pepper that is smaller than a bell pepper, and have a sweet, crisp taste. These little peppers usually come in a package that includes a colorful mix of orange, yellow, and red fruits. Mini peppers are great because their mild sweetness means you can stuff them with all sorts of ingredients, from cheeses and meats, to fresh herbs and spices.

Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe (3)

How to Make Stuffed Mini Peppers

  1. Prep the peppers. Slice the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds.
  2. Make the filling. Combine the cream cheese and Boursin.
  3. Stuff the peppers. Fill the peppers with the cream cheese mixture, and place on a pre-lined baking sheet.
  4. Bake. Bake for 20 minutes at 400°F. The cheese will be golden brown and bubbly.
  5. Serve warm.
Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe (4)

Ingredients

  • Mini Sweet Peppers – You will find the peppers in the produce section of your local grocery store next to the bell peppers. Grab a bag with a good mix of colors for a bright presentation.
  • Cream Cheese – Use cream cheese blocks, rather than cream cheese in a tub. Blocks of cream cheese tend to hold up better during baking.
  • Boursin Cheese – Boursin cheese is a luxuriously creamy Gournay cheese. This soft brand of cheese comes in flavors like herb and garlic and chive and shallot. You will need two rounds of cheese for this stuffed pepper appetizer.

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Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe (5)

Make Ahead

In order to qualify for “perfect appetizer” status, a recipe must be make ahead-friendly. When it comes to this recipe, follow the instructions until you’re ready to pop them in the oven, and bake. You can prep and fill the peppers up to 3 days before you plan to serve them by placing the peppers on a baking sheet covered with foil, or in a sealed container. Voila!

Recipe Tips

  • Don’t overfill the peppers. Take care not to overstuff or understuff the peppers. Stuff the pepper halves with just enough cream cheese to reach the top edge of the fruit.
  • Leave the pepper stems on. To prevent the filling from leaking out during baking, and to give your guests an easy way to pick-up their appetizers, keep the stems on.
  • Use a piping bag. To get just the right amount of cheese stuffed in the peppers, use a piping bag. This will also help to create a neat presentation.
  • Soften the cream cheese. Before mixing, remove the cream cheese from the fridge to allow it to soften up a bit. This will help you mix the two cheeses together for a smooth and creamy filling.

Variations

  • Add toppings and fillings – Top with melty mozzarella or shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, or green onions. For a meaty version, fill with Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground beef.
  • Try different cheeses – Mix in Parmesan or Asiago for a little saltiness.
  • Make it spicy – Chopped jalapenos or red pepper flakes give the cream cheese filling a little kick.
  • Use fresh herbs and spices – Fresh rosemary, thyme, or dill will give this appetizer layers and layers of flavor. Everything bagel seasoning goes great with cream cheese, as does cumin, and garlic.

FAQs

How do you store leftover stuffed mini peppers?

Store leftover stuffed mini peppers in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days. You can freeze the leftovers in an airtight container for up to three months.

How do you reheat stuffed mini peppers?

If the peppers were refrigerated, allow them to come to room temperature, and then reheat in the oven at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes. If the stuffed mini peppers are frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes.

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Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe (14)

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Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe (15)

4.30 from 41 votes

Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe

Stuffed mini peppers are filled with tender bites of cheesy, creamy filling, and require just three ingredients to make. This easy appetizer is a sweet and mild alternative to spicy jalapeno poppers, and is perfect for your next party or game day event.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

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Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl

  • Half Sheet Pan

Ingredients

  • 1 pound bag mini sweet peppers
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (it doesn’t have to be room temperature, but is easier to mix if it is slightly warmer than straight out of the fridge)
  • 2 (5.2-ounce) rounds Boursin cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.

  • Slice the peppers in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. (Note: Leave the stems on the peppers so that the cheese doesn’t spill out as they bake.) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Combine the cream cheese and Boursin until smooth and even. (Note: This is fairly easy to do in a bowl with a fork, but you can also do it with a standing mixer or hand mixer.)

  • Fill the peppers with the cream cheese mixture. Set them out on the baking sheet with the cut-side facing up.

  • Bake until the peppers are tender and the cheese is golden brown on the top, about 20 minutes.

  • Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1439IU | Vitamin C: 48mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $4.00

Calories: 77

Keyword: easy appetizer, make ahead appetizer, vegetarian

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Categorized as:
All Recipes, Appetizer, Feed a Crowd, Healthyish, Party and Entertaining, Vegetarian

About Jess Smith

Jess is the recipe creator and photographer at InquiringChef.com. She spent nearly a decade as the Chief Recipe Developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Her colorful, healthyish recipes have been featured in popular online publications including Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost.

Read More About Me

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Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do peppers need to be cooked before stuffing? ›

Should Peppers Be Boiled Before Stuffing? In this easy recipe for Stuffed Peppers, you'll boil your peppers for just two minutes before stuffing them. This softens them just a bit while allowing them to retain their sturdy shape.

Should you Precook peppers for stuffed peppers? ›

That said, the recipe is endlessly versatile; you can change up the meat, spices, grain, or cheese to give the dish a whole new spin. This version goes nicely with cornbread. The peppers need to be par-cooked before filling so that they cook through.

How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting soggy? ›

No Moisture In, No Moisture Out

Following the logic of precooking your peppers to safeguard against sogginess, you should also avoid watery ingredients in your stuffing. Let's say your filling calls for tomato sauce. Rather than spooning it directly into your hollowed peppers, reduce it on the stove until it's thick.

Are Mini Sweet Peppers and bell peppers the same? ›

You can use mini sweet peppers the same way you would bell peppers, but their extra sweet flavor makes them an arguably better addition to recipes than their larger counterparts! Read on to check out some of our favorite ways to use mini sweet peppers in your kitchen.

What are the ingredients for stuffed peppers? ›

Why do stuffed peppers take so long to cook? ›

For Uncooked Fillings in Whole Peppers:

It's possible to stuff peppers with a raw filling. If you're stuffing a whole pepper, it takes awhile to cook because the filling needs to reach a safe temperature. Out of all the stuffed peppers, this one takes the longest to cook because of its size.

What do you eat with stuffed peppers? ›

Roasted or sautéed veggies side dishes would pair nicely as a light side dish for the Italian stuffed peppers: Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Zucchini, or Sautéed Zucchini are three favorites. If you are roasting vegetables, you can place the sheet pan in the oven with the peppers. Salad.

How far in advance can you prep bell peppers? ›

Bell Peppers: Can be washed, cored, and seeded 2 to 3 days in advance. Store whole or sliced/chopped in a sealed bag or container with an airtight lid in the refrigerator. Broccoli and Cauliflower: Can be washed and cut into florets 2 to 3 days in advance.

Why do my stuffed peppers taste bland? ›

The thing about most stuffed bell pepper recipes is 3that they call for salt in the filling, not for the peppers themselves. Without salt, the peppers are flabby and bland, merely a filling case. With a sprinkle of salt, they transform into a sweet and powerfully savory part of the dish.

Why are my stuffed peppers bitter? ›

If your supposedly “sweet” peppers taste bitter, the most likely culprit is lack of water. Pepper plants need to be consistently moist. Drought-stressed peppers go into survival mode, hastily ripening fruits and seeds without putting much energy into flavor. The resulting peppers are thin-walled and bitter.

How do you keep stuffed peppers from falling apart? ›

Another way to pre-cook peppers for a less damp result is to roast them for a bit before stuffing. Once you've halved them and removed the seeds, lightly oil a baking sheet and place them open-side down. Let them cook on high heat for a tight ten or so minutes, then flip them over and roast for another five.

What are mini peppers good for? ›

Nutrition Benefits and Certifications

Due to their low-sodium nature, Mini Sweet Peppers may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Most importantly, they contain no saturated fat or cholesterol—factors which may help reduce your risk of heart disease.

Which color bell pepper is the healthiest? ›

Red peppers pack the most nutrition, because they've been on the vine longest. Bell peppers come in a range of colors, including red (the sweetest), orange, yellow, and green.

What are the tiny little red peppers called? ›

These small, round, red peppers are almost too cute to eat. Also called pimiento or pimento, the cherry bell pepper is sweet in flavor. You'll find it stuffed in green olives or in pimento cheese.

Why do you boil bell peppers before stuffing? ›

ANSWER: Some recipes call for blanching the peppers to soften them slightly; others do not. Green peppers at a local store were stuffed with a raw ground meat mixture and looked as though they were not boiled or blanched. If you bake peppers this way, they will take longer to cook and will hold their shape better.

Do you have to cook peppers before canning? ›

Instructions for Canning Sweet Peppers: The skins of bell peppers or sweet peppers are more tender, so they generally do not need to be blistered and peeled (thank goodness). Simple quarter or roughly chop bell peppers and cover them with water in a pot. Boil for 3 minutes, then transfer to pint or half-pint jars.

Do peppers need to be cooked? ›

Do You Need to Cook Bell Peppers? Bell peppers are safe to eat cooked or raw. They are crunchy and crisp with a very mild spicy bite when raw. Cooking tends to enhance the pepper's natural sweetness.

Should you cook or raw bell peppers? ›

Bell peppers, whether raw or cooked, are packed with vitamin C and various antioxidants. Eating them raw provides maximum vitamin C content, but cooking bell peppers can increase the availability of other nutrients. Roasting or grilling bell peppers enhances their natural sweetness and offers a delightful flavor.

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