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Easy Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers Appetizer

ByMarina Rizhkov Posted onSeptember 26, 2023September 26, 2023

In just 30 minutes you’ll be enjoying a smooth and salty cream cheese mixture encased in the satisfying crunch of a mini bell pepper! This cream cheese stuffed peppers appetizer combines simple ingredients to create an all-time favorite game-day snack!

cream cheese stuffed bell peppers on a plate with garnish behind them

Table of Contents

Why I Love These Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers

It doesn’t get much better than veggies with a savory cream cheese filling! I even tucked some turkey bacon into the filling and it’s such a fun (and delicious!) surprise. I’ve served this appetizer on Christmas, at baby showers, and for game day, and everyone loves it!

Veggie appetizers are the perfect addition to your party because they are a great way to incorporate some nutrition where there usually isn’t much. I make these stuffed peppers and roasted zucchini fries all the time and with the way they fly off the plate, you’d never know they were vegetables.

Sweet mini peppers are the perfect vessel for this appetizer that’s filled with bacon-infused cream cheese, hot sauce, and a sprinkle of green onions! This simple recipe can be put together beforehand, baked, then served right out of the oven within 30 minutes!

Key Ingredients

mini bell peppers, sour cream, hot sauce, turkey bacon, green onions, fresh garlic, cream cheese, and shredded cheese all laid out on a white surface to make stuffed bell peppers.

Mini Bell Peppers – Classic base for this easy appetizer. They’re rich in vitamin C and can help to lower blood pressure. I don’t get picky about the kind of peppers used in this recipe, but of course, I recommend mini-sweet peppers. They’re the perfect size for a simple appetizer.
Cream Cheese – For the creamy portion of this recipe! I find the regular Philadelphia cream cheese works best. I don’t like to use herb cream cheese since it already has its own flavors.
Hot Sauce – Adds in the kick of spice. You’ll need about 1 Tablespoon, but of course, if you like it spicy, go ahead and put in as much as you’d like.
Sour Cream – Combines with the cream cheese to add creaminess. You’ll only need about 1/4 cup of it.
Fresh Garlic – delicious and great for boosting immune system function. While garlic powder may be an option for this recipe, I recommend adding in the real deal for the best flavor.
Turkey Bacon – this may surprise you, but it goes very well with the cream cheese and hot sauce in this tasty recipe.
Green Onions – Chopped up for the topping sprinkle on these mini sweet peppers.
Cheddar Cheese – You could also use Monterey jack cheese for an extra, extra kick.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make Stuffed Bell Peppers

Step 1: Preheat

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2: Make Cream Cheese Mixture

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the hot sauce, sour cream, minced garlic cloves, chopped (cooked) turkey bacon, and green onion with the cream cheese.

cream-cheese-filling-for-bell-pepper-appetizer-in-a-clear-bowl-with-a-spoon

Step 3: Fill Peppers

Fill the bell peppers with the cream cheese mixture.

mini-bell-peppers-stuffed-with-cream-cheese-on-a-baking-tray

Step 4: Sprinkle Cheese

Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of each half of bell pepper.

cream-cheese-bell-peppers-unbaked-on-a-baking-tray

Step 5: Bake

Bake your bell peppers for 20 minutes. Allow them to cool and then enjoy this yummy appetizer!

cream-cheese-bell-peppers-on-a-baking-tray

Recipe FAQs

Are bell peppers healthy?

Yes, bell peppers are a very healthy vegetable! I personally love to eat bell peppers because on top of the standard health benefits that come from being a vegetable, they boost the immune system. The immune boost mainly comes from the large amount of Vitamin C, but there is the most vitamin C in the red peppers. A lack of vitamin C in the body is called vitamin C deficiency and the symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, bleeding gums, and joint and muscle aches. A severe deficiency could lead to a rare disease, scurvy. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), men are recommended 90mg of vitamin C per day, and for women, 75mg per day. One serving of this recipe already provides you with 127% of your daily recommended value for vitamin C! Enjoy!

What goes with stuffed bell peppers?

You can enjoy this stuffed bell pepper appetizer with nearly anything you’d like. I would recommend eating them as a part of a smorgasbord of other apps (like the ones I’ve listed below), but if you want to make them a meal then you can eat them alongside something like this Chicken Skewer Salad or Chickpea Veggie Buddha Bowl. They’d also be a good side for a burger or sandwich.

Do you eat stuffed peppers hot or cold?

You can eat these stuffed peppers hot or cold! They’re baked at the end of the recipe and I love them fresh out of the oven, but if you have to throw them in the fridge for a little bit and enjoy them the next day they’re also a yummy snack when cold.

How long do stuffed peppers last?

You can store these peppers in an air-tight container in the fridge for about three days. However, I do recommend you enjoy them fresh.

More Appetizers To Try

More Bell Pepper Recipes

If you tried this Easy Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers Appetizer or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

Marina Rizhkov

I’m Marina, a Mother, Culinary Nutrition Expert, and Blogger. I am so glad you took the time to stop by and treat yourself to some of my recipes. My goal is to give you the knowledge and courage to get out of your comfort cooking zone and cook from scratch! You’ll find a bunch of pictures, nutritional information, and step-by-step instructions to help you achieve tasty homemade meals.