How to Make the Perfect 3 Ingredient Mini Stuffed Peppers
American · Easy · 30 min · 6 servings
These 3 Ingredient Mini Stuffed Peppers fill sweet mini bell peppers with herbed cream cheese and crumbled cooked sausage for a colorful and satisfying bite. This 3 ingredient appetizer looks incredibly impressive while requiring almost no cooking skills whatsoever.
Why this recipe works
This 3 Ingredient Mini Stuffed Peppers recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 30 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 180 calories with 8g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 5 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 24 whole mini sweet bell peppers halved and seeded
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 0.5 lb ground Italian sausage cooked and crumbled
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp olive oil
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Cook the Sausage
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the ground sausage, breaking it into very small crumbles, until browned and cooked through with no pink remaining. Drain excess fat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Make the Filling
In a mixing bowl combine the softened cream cheese and cooled sausage crumbles, stirring until well mixed. Season with salt and taste to adjust. The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape when spooned.
Step 3: Fill and Broil
Spoon or pipe the filling generously into each pepper half. Arrange on a baking sheet and broil on high for 4 to 5 minutes until the tops are golden and the peppers are slightly tender. Serve warm.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- ground Italian sausage → cooked and crumbled chorizo for a spicier smokier filling
- cream cheese → ricotta cheese blended with a pinch of garlic powder for a lighter filling
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Not draining the fat from the cooked sausage makes the cream cheese filling greasy and causes it to slide out of the peppers
- Overfilling the peppers causes the filling to bubble over during broiling and create a mess on the baking sheet
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 180 calories, 8g protein, 7g carbs, 14g fat, 1g fiber.
Ready to cook?
Get the interactive recipe with adjustable servings, built-in timers, and ingredient checklist.
View full recipe →