Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers are the perfect appetizers for big game parties and holiday gatherings. These are stuffed with an amazing mixture of cream cheese and bacon and do not have to be baked! So quick and easy to make.
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Why You’ll Love These Cream Cheese Peppers
This recipe is one of my go-to’s for easy entertaining. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Only 5 ingredients!
- Ready in minutes
- No cooking or baking required
- So easy that the kids can make them
For all these reasons, these cream cheese stuffed peppers also make a great snack. Low in carbohydrates with a good bit of protein, vitamin A and calcium, these are a tasty treat you can nosh on without guilt. They’re gluten-free, low-carb and keto friendly!
What Kind of Peppers Should Be Used?
This recipe works best with the colorful baby bell peppers. They’re perfectly sized for an easy party food.
Since this appetizer isn’t cooked the mini sweet peppers taste the best. Regular bell peppers have a stronger flavor and are not as good in this particular recipe.
I love that the mini sweet peppers are conveniently bagged at the store and all ready to go.
Ingredients Needed
This finger food recipe only has 5 ingredients. It is inexpensive to make and I feel good knowing I am eating some veggies too!
- Mini Sweet Peppers – usually sold in a bag in the produce section
- Cream Cheese – make sure it’s room temperature to make mixing easier
- Bacon – Either crumbled cooked bacon or store bought bacon bits
- Shredded Cheese – sharp cheddar works great
- Mayonnaise – this helps make the texture extra creamy (see below for substitutions)
Substitutions and Additions
If you donโt like mayonnaise, you can substitute sour cream, plain Greek yogurt, Ranch dressing, or goat cheese.
Omit the bacon for a vegetarian version. Add some diced vegetables like mushrooms or cucumbers if you prefer.
For added color, flavor and texture, add some chopped green onions. You can also enhance the flavor of your cream cheese filling with herbs and spices like garlic, onion, paprika or italian seasoning.
If you want to add a little kick, add some fresh diced jalapenos to the mixture. Add some ground beef or ground turkey seasoned with taco seasoning to make a Mexican version.
Chopped walnuts add a wonderful crunch when sprinkled on top of the stuffed peppers.
How to Make Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers
If you have 5 minutes then you have time to make these Mini Peppers Stuffed with Cream Cheese. It is a great recipe to keep on hand when you need to make a snack in a hurry.
Step 1: Prepare Peppers
Take the package of mini bell peppers and slice the peppers in half. Deseed the peppers.
Step 2: Make Filling
Take a medium or large bowl and add the softened cream cheese, chopped bacon, shredded cheese, and mayonnaise.
Stir or mix to combine these ingredients well.
TIP: Store-bought real bacon bits work great in this recipe and save you the time of having to cook bacon strips. I do not recommend using Miracle Whip in this recipe. Regular mayo gives the cream cheese mixture a better flavor.
Step 3: Stuff Peppers
Spoon the cream cheese mixture into each of the pepper halves. Place the stuffed halves on a baking sheet and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes to chill.
After the stuffed mini peppers are chilled you can garnish with additional chopped bacon or parsley flakes if you desire.
PRO TIP: If you want a more polished look for your filling, use a piping bag to fill the peppers.
Serving Suggestions
Cream cheese stuffed peppers can be served as a snack, appetizer, or side dish. As an appetizer, serve them with a dipping sauce like hummus, ranch, or salsa. As a fun family dinner, serve as a side to chicken wings.
Cream cheese stuffed peppers can be served cold or hot. If you prefer them warm, bake them for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.
I know you are excited to make this easy appetizer recipe. Peppers with cream cheese have a classic and timeless taste that everyone loves.
You can print off this delicious appetizer recipe via the recipe card below.
๐ Recipe
Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers
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Ingredients
- 1 package mini sweet bell peppers cut in half and deseeded
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 5 strips bacon cooked and chopped or real bacon bits
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Place the cream cheese, bacon, cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise in a large medium bowl. Stir to combine.8 ounces cream cheese, 5 strips bacon, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- Spoon or pipe the mixture into the pepper halves. Place in refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.1 package mini sweet bell peppers
- Garnish with chopped bacon and parsley flakes before serving (optional).
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Nutrition
FAQ
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Could you use Ricotta or goat cheese?
Absolutely, you can substitute ricotta or goat cheese for the cream cheese in your recipe. Both will give a different flavor and texture but should work well. Using ricotta will make the filling a bit lighter and creamier, with a slightly grainier texture compared to cream cheese. You might want to adjust the amount of mayonnaise if the ricotta makes the mixture too runny. Goat cheese will add a tangy flavor and a creamy texture. Itโs a bit softer and more spreadable than cream cheese, so you might need to use a little less mayonnaise to achieve the right consistency.
Great recipe! I love the idea of using cream cheese as a filling for the peppers. It’s such a unique and delicious twist on traditional stuffed peppers. Can’t wait to try it out!
I’m glad you like the idea. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for commenting.
How soon ahead of time can you make the filling?
You can make the filling the day before, just be sure to store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Do you think it’ll still turn out fine if I do want to bake these? Do you think the texture will be affected?
If you want to serve these as a hot appetizer, place the peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Preheat the oven and bake at 400ยฐF for 5-7 minutes.
These are delicious! As much as I love bacon, I didn’t use any only because I didn’t feel like cooking it. They don’t even need bacon to be delicious!
I’m so glad you liked these! That’s the great thing about recipes, you can modify them according to what you want to include or leave out. Thanks for commenting.
This is definitely a keeper! We guessed 5 strips of bacon at 2/3 cup and that worked well … could adjust down if not a bacon fan. Filled 9-10 peppers in bag and had some filling left over and enjoyed on crackers. Great flavor !!!
I’m so glad you like the recipe! Thanks for letting us know how much bacon you used and for the suggestion on what to do with any leftover filling.
How many in 1 serving
The recipe says it makes 10 servings and looks like there’s at least 18 appetizers in the picture, so about 2 are in a serving.
Thank you so much for this amazing recipe! So easy to make and tasted really delicious! Highly recommended, will surely have this again!
I’m glad you liked the convenience of the recipe and the taste. Thanks for commenting.
How many peppers are in the recipe and how many to a serving? 549 calories is a lot for only one serving.
The nutrition facts are for 1 serving. I use an automatic nutrition calculating tool when I type up the recipe, so if you aren’t sure about the information, you can always look up the nutrition facts yourself or look on the labels on the packages you’re using.
How many stuffed pepper halves can I eat for 549 kCal. That seems like a lot of calories.
The nutrition facts are for 1 serving. I use an automatic nutrition calculating tool when I type up the recipe, so if you aren’t sure about the information, you can always look up the nutrition facts yourself or look on the labels on the packages you’re using.
Could you use whipped cream cheese in a pinch
Since it’s not heated, you can use whipped cream cheese if you substitute by weight.
Do you yhink adding a little garlic powder would alter the flavour too much?
That sounds like a good addition. I think it would enhance the flavor and taste delicious!