Description
Colorful mini peppers nestled with creamy cheese create a perfect party appetizer. These zesty bites blend rich cream cheese with herbs, offering quick, delightful flavor you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (453 g) mini sweet peppers
- 8 ounces (226 g) cream cheese (softened)
- 3/4 cup (85 g) cheddar cheese (grated)
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons chives (more for garnish, or use minced green onion)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper. Carefully halve mini peppers lengthwise, thoroughly removing seeds using a small spoon or fingertips.
- In a mixing bowl, blend softened cream cheese with cheddar, chives, salt, and pepper until uniformly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning, being mindful of the cheddar’s inherent saltiness.
- Gently fill each pepper half with cream cheese mixture, ensuring a level fill without overflowing. Aim for a neat, contained stuffing that won’t spill during baking.
- Arrange stuffed peppers on prepared baking sheets, maintaining slight separation between each piece. Bake for 15 minutes, monitoring until cheese becomes hot and develops a light golden hue. The peppers should retain a slight crispness while the filling becomes thoroughly heated.
- Remove from oven and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with additional fresh chives for visual appeal and enhanced flavor. Serve immediately while warm, though they can also be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
- Use mini peppers with uniform size for consistent cooking and even filling distribution.
- Pat peppers dry after seeding to prevent excess moisture during baking, ensuring crisp texture.
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for smoother, easier mixing and better blending with other ingredients.
- For a low-carb option, replace cream cheese with herbed goat cheese or dairy-free alternatives.
- Prevent cheese from burning by covering peppers with foil if they brown too quickly during baking.
- Prepare filling ahead of time and refrigerate for quick assembly when entertaining guests.
- Add protein by mixing in cooked crumbled bacon, shredded chicken, or diced ham into cream cheese mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 164
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg