Sausage Stuffed Sweet Mini Peppers: Low Carb Appetizer Winner
Inside: Looking for a low-carb winning game day appetizer or holiday party finger food? These easy sausage-stuffed mini peppers are full of flavor with a delicious combination of cream cheese, savory sausage, and shredded cheese stuffed into a bite-sized sweet pepper!
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Why does it seem like healthy eating and New Year’s resolutions always fall by the wayside a few weeks after the new year?
I have a theory. I think Super Bowl Sunday is scheduled at the precise time and with the total intent of making people fail on their diets. I mean, all of the delicious carbs are in full force at a Super Bowl party. And it’s cold outside. And we’ve tried to be good for weeks.
If you’re invited to a Super Bowl party, there’s a good chance you’ll need to bring an appetizer to share. And if you’re trying to be good, maybe you don’t want to only nosh on the raw veggie tray. Well, I have a great finger food appetizer that is delicious. And pretty. And that will keep you on the right side of your low carb or keto diet.
Make sure to print the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Sausage Stuffed Sweet Peppers Ingredients.
You’ll need:
- 16 oz. Bag of Sweet Mini Peppers
- 16 oz. Breakfast Pork Sausage (mild or hot), or hot Italian sausage
- 8 oz. Block of Cream Cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1/4 Cup Shredded Cheese of Your Choice (Cheddar Cheese, Colby Jack Cheese, or a Mixed Cheese Blend), plus extra for topping
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Dry Parsley
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
Instructions for Making Easy Sausage and Cheese Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers.
Prepare the Peppers.
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut the peppers in half lengthwise, leaving the stems on. Stand them on the narrow side to cut them so that the halves are as large as possible and will hold more filling.
Remove the seeds and membranes with your fingers while rinsing the peppers.
3. Pour a tablespoon of olive oil onto a baking sheet and toss the pepper halves in the oil.
4. Turn all of the peppers cut side up and bake them for 6-8 minutes at 400 degrees to soften.
Prepare the Filling.
- Brown the ground sausage in a large skillet on medium-high heat and drain.
I love this meat chopper tool for breaking up meat easily while I brown it. And this strainer for draining meat and pasta.
2. In a large bowl, mix the room temperature cream cheese (it needs to be very soft), shredded cheese, and spices. We had cheddar on hand when I made these but I’ve used different shredded cheeses or cheese combinations in this recipe and they are all delicious.
3. Stir in the cooked sausage and combine it all well.
Stuff the Peppers.
Stuff each pepper half with the cheese and sausage mixture and sprinkle with extra cheese. (I usually have a few peppers left over that I save to use in something else.)
Bake.
Place peppers on a sheet pan and put them back in the oven and bake for an additional 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the filling is warm.
These are still delish after they cool but even better fresh out of the oven and warm!
If I’m taking them somewhere and I’m not going to serve them warm, I like to flower them out on a round platter:
Storage.
If you have any left, store the poppers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to five days.
Stuffed Sweet Mini Peppers Printable Recipe:
Sausage and Cheese Stuffed Sweet Peppers
Ingredients
- 16 oz bag sweet mini peppers
- 16 oz roll breakfast pork sausage, mild or hot
- 8 oz block cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/4 cup shredded cheese of your choice (cheddar, colby, or any shredded cheese blend), plus extra for topping
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°.
- Cut the peppers in half lengthwise, leaving the stems on. Stand them on the narrow side and cut so that the halves are as large as possible and will hold more filling. Remove the seeds and membranes with your fingers while rinsing the peppers.
- Pour a tablespoon of olive oil onto a baking sheet and toss the cut peppers in the oil. Turn all of the peppers cut side up and bake them 6-8 minutes to soften.
- Brown and drain the sausage. In a bowl, mix the room temperature cream cheese (it needs to be very soft), shredded cheese, and spices. Stir in the sausage and combine all well.
- Stuff each pepper with the sausage cheese mixture and sprinkle with extra cheese.
- Put the stuffed peppers back in the oven and bake for an additional 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the filling is warm.
This is the perfect appetizer because it’s a winner not just for taste and presentation, but being low carb is special bonus.
We watch the Super Bowl with friends every year and everyone brings a dish—there’s always a ridiculous amount of delicious food, but most of it is not low carb and keto friendly.
Now this is one of my go-to easy appetizer recipes that gives us an option to be good. Not sorry Super Bowl date schedulers/diet wreckers😂.
What are some of your best appetizers for Super Bowl Sunday?
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Love these! And so does my family. Found this recipe years ago on the back of mini sweet peppers bag. Family request I make these every get together
These always seems to be a hit don’t they?
Could I sub cottage cheese for the cream cheese?
i’ve never done this but if I was going to try it, I might puree it first so it is smooth like cream cheese. If you try it will you let us know how it comes out as a substitution?
Do they freeze well? I have an over abundance of sweet cherry peppers.
There’s no reason you can’t freeze them. Just make sure they’re dry. I wouldn’t freeze them more than 3-6 months.
These are delicious Brought to a picnic They were gone in no time. Everyone loved them!!!!!
Can these be made ahead of time?
Hi Judy! You could prepare them all the way up to the final bake after they’re stuffed, then sprinkle the final cheese and bake right before you want to serve them.
If you’re serving the dish cold, do you still cook them (especially if you’re making them the day before)?
You’ll want to still cook the peppers before stuffing them to soften them up. The meat is already cooked so technically you don’t have to bake the stuffed peppers, but I would recommend it to further soften the peppers and melt the cheeses. And they are much better either warm or at room temperature.
Everyone loves this recipe! When I take it to any lunch or etc… I always get compliments.
That makes me so happy to hear Marlene!
I am post bariatric surgery and always looking for a delicious way to stay healthy and carb free. These were great – husband and teenagers enjoyed them! Loved finding a snack we can all share.
That’s great to hear Katie! That’s been my experience too—everyone seems to like these.
Soooo good and perfect for a keto diet!
My husband loves them when he’s doing low carb. They’re always a hit with everyone!
This is awesome. I would love it if you would share this on The Fabulous Friday Link Party this Friday. https://www.peacockridgefarm.com/category/fabulous-friday-link-party/
Hugs to you.
I love your link party! I’ll make sure to put it on there!!
Oh my goodness, these look SO delicious! Definitely going to try this one. Pinned!
Thank you my friend!!