Cheesy Stuffed Mini Peppers
These Cheesy Stuffed Mini Peppers deliver party-worthy flavor in just 15 minutes, no cooking required.
The combination of tangy goat cheese, whipped cream cheese, and Everything Bagel Seasoning creates an appetizer that’s impossibly easy yet impressively delicious.
Watch these colorful bites disappear faster than you can refill the platter. Fair warning: you might catch guests trying to sneak the last one when they think nobody’s looking.
Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe Highlights
- Ready in 15 minutes with zero cooking required
- Only 4 ingredients transform into party magic
- Perfect make-ahead appetizer for stress-free hosting
- Naturally gluten-free crowd pleaser
- Kid-friendly with grown-up appeal
Ingredient Notes
Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.
PEPPERS – Mini bell peppers work best here because their natural sweetness balances the tangy cheese filling. Look for firm peppers with bright colors, and choose ones that can stand upright when halved. Regular bell peppers cut into strips work in a pinch, though you’ll lose that adorable boat shape.
CREAM CHEESE – Whipped cream cheese spreads more easily than block style and creates a lighter texture. Let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before mixing for the smoothest results. The whipped variety also incorporates better with the goat cheese.
GOAT CHEESE – Plain goat cheese adds sophisticated tang without overwhelming the mild peppers. Choose a creamy, spreadable variety rather than crumbly aged goat cheese. The combination with cream cheese creates the perfect balance of rich and tangy.
EVERYTHING BAGEL SEASONING – This blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, onion, and salt brings incredible flavor complexity. Store-bought works perfectly, or make your own by combining equal parts of each ingredient. The seasoning sticks best when sprinkled immediately after filling.
How To Make Stuffed Mini Peppers
Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Slice peppers lengthwise and arrange cut side up.
- Mix cream and goat cheeses.
- Fill each pepper half with cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning on top.
Leftovers and Storage
STORE – Keep your Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers in a single layer in an airtight container, ideally on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any moisture the peppers naturally release. They’ll maintain their best texture for 2 days, though they’re still perfectly enjoyable on day 3. The filling actually develops deeper flavor as the everything bagel seasoning melds with the cheeses overnight.
MAKE AHEAD – Here’s where you can work some real magic. Whip up your cheese filling 3 days ahead and store it covered. The flavors actually improve with time. Prep your peppers up to 24 hours ahead by halving and deseeding them, then storing between barely damp paper towels in a sealed container. When party time arrives, filling takes under 5 minutes. This staged approach means you’re calm and collected when guests arrive.
TRANSPORT – Taking these to a party? Pack the Stuffed Mini Peppers in a single layer in a rimmed container, filling side up. Sprinkle the everything bagel seasoning just before serving to maintain maximum crunch and visual appeal.
Serving Suggestions
TEMPERATURE MAGIC – Pull the Stuffed Mini Peppers from the fridge 10 minutes before serving. This slight tempering brings the cheese to the perfect consistency where it’s firm enough to hold its shape but creamy enough to melt on your tongue. The peppers stay crisp while the filling becomes luxuriously smooth.
PRETTY PLATTERS – Arrange these colorful peppers on a white platter to make those reds, yellows, and oranges really pop. A bed of fresh parsley or baby spinach underneath looks gorgeous and gives you something green on the plate. For fancier parties, those little appetizer spoons make each pepper feel extra special.
PERFECT COMBOS – Set these next to Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers for guests who can’t decide between mild and spicy. The cool cream cheese in these balances out the heat from the jalapeño poppers perfectly. Set them near Classic Spinach Artichoke Dip makes another great partner since some folks prefer dipping while others like grab-and-go appetizers.
DRINKS THAT WORK – A crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc tastes amazing with these. For beer folks, anything light and refreshing works great. Even sparkling water with a lemon slice cleanses the palate nicely between bites.
More Easy and Delicious Recipes
Recipe Success Tips
PICKING THE BEST PEPPERS – Look for mini peppers that feel firm and heavy for their size. The really shiny ones with thick walls taste the sweetest. If your peppers won’t sit flat, just trim the tiniest sliver off the bottom to help them balance. Don’t cut too deep or your filling will leak through.
GETTING SMOOTH CHEESE FILLING – Let both cheeses sit on the counter while you prep the peppers. Room temperature cheese mixes like a dream, while cold cheese stays lumpy no matter how hard you try. A quick 30 seconds with a hand mixer makes the filling extra fluffy and easy to work with.
THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FILLING – Don’t overstuff these or they’ll tip over and make a mess. Fill each pepper just above the edges for the perfect bite. You want enough filling to taste creamy and rich, but not so much that it overwhelms the sweet pepper.
MAKING THE SEASONING STICK – Here’s a trick I learned: fill all your peppers first, then let them sit for about a minute before adding the everything bagel seasoning. The cheese surface gets just tacky enough to grab onto all those seeds and spices instead of having them roll right off.
Expert Tip – Save any leftover cheese mixture because it makes the most incredible bagel spread. Just stir in some fresh chives or green onions and you’ve got fancy cream cheese that beats anything from the store. It keeps for almost a week in the fridge.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I Make Stuffed Mini Peppers Without Goat Cheese?
Absolutely. The goat cheese adds sophisticated tang, but boursin, mascarpone, or even Greek yogurt cream cheese create equally delicious variations. Each brings its own personality: boursin adds herbs and garlic, mascarpone lends Italian richness, while Greek yogurt cream cheese keeps things lighter with subtle tang.
Why Won’t My Peppers Stand Upright?
Nature rarely creates perfectly flat-bottomed peppers. Professional caterers know the secret: create a small bed of coarse salt on your serving platter. Nestle each pepper into the salt for invisible support. Alternatively, slice a paper-thin piece from the bottom, being careful not to pierce through to the cavity.
What’s The Best Way To Transport These?
Pack filled peppers in a single layer in a container with sides at least 2 inches high. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the peppers (not stretched across the top) to prevent shifting. Pack everything bagel seasoning separately and sprinkle just before serving for maximum visual impact and crunch.
Can I Use Hot Peppers Instead?
Jalapeños work beautifully when you’re craving heat. The cooling cheese filling tempers their fire while maintaining that satisfying kick. Remove all seeds and membranes for mild heat, or leave some for the brave souls. Mini sweet peppers mixed with one or two jalapeños offers guests choice.
More Easy Crowd-Pleasers
Romesco Sauce – nutty Spanish red pepper sauce/dip that makes everything taste better
Tabouli – fresh parsley salad with the same bright lemon and herb flavors
Elote – grilled Mexican street
Million Dollar Deviled Eggs – fancy version with bacon
Fried Green Tomatoes – crispy cornmeal coating on tomatoes you can’t stop eating
Stuffed Mini Peppers
Ingredients
- 10 mini bell peppers
- 4 ounces whipped cream cheese softened
- 2 ounces goat cheese plain, softened
- 2 tablespoon Everything Bagel Seasoning
Instructions
- Slice the peppers in half lengthwise and arrange them cut side up on a tray or flat surface.
- In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese and goat cheese until smooth and fully combined.
- Fill each pepper half with the cheese mixture using a butter knife or the back of a spoon.
- Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning evenly over the tops.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Cheerful Cook team members are not trained nutritionists or medical professionals. Calorie information and nutritional values are estimates. If you have nutritional concerns, we recommend using a nutritional calculator.
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.