Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers

Got your next girl’s night/wine-night-posing-as-a-book-club/movie night/legit any occasion must-try totally addicting little appetizer recipe – Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers (dying!)

If you like the idea of jalapeno poppers but don’t enjoy getting your face blasted off after eating a few, these goat cheese, cream cheese, and bacon stuffed MILD mini peppers drizzled with sweet chili sauce are going to become your new go-to appetizer. We’re talking savory, sweet, cheesy, and 20 minutes or less from fridge to mouth. YES!

Patio season is quickly approaching and a platter of sweet pepper poppers is the perfect accompaniment for a good fresh air sesh. I, for one, am dying to get out the outdoor cushions, turn up the tunes, and kick up my heels flats. The warm cheese, crisp peppers, and savory/sweet combo of bacon and sweet chili sauce would go perfectly with a cold glass of Sauv Blanc or a beer. And seriously? Such little effort going into making a batch. Ooo, ooo also, sweet mini peppers are totally healthy – high in vitamin C and fiber – so you get a little health boost from eating, say, half the batch? That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

You’ll need 8 mini sweet peppers to make these addicting little poppers! The peppers taste like regular sweet red, orange, and yellow bell peppers shrunk down to miniature size. You can find them right in the regular produce aisle – they’ve been the perfect addition to our weekly veggie box!

Slice the peppers in half then scoop out any seeds/membranes with a small spoon – there shouldn’t be too many in these little guys.

Finally, place the mini pepper halves face up on a foil lined baking sheet.

Filling time! In a bowl, mix together 4oz plain goat cheese, 4oz 1/3 less-fat cream cheese – both softened to room temperature – 1/4 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Next stir in 3 strips cooked/chopped bacon. I like to use the microwave method for cooking bacon – sandwich strips between a couple layers of paper towels then microwave for 2 – 2-1/2 minutes. Easy.

Scoop the filling to the tops of the pepper halves then smooth with the back of a spoon or your finger.

Finally, place an oven rack in the center position then broil on high for 3-4 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and the pepper halves are a tiny bit tender. If the cheese doesn’t start to brown in a minute or so, move the rack up so the pepper halves don’t become too tender. You still want them to have a little bit of bite.

Transfer the stuffed mini pepper poppers to a platter then sprinkle with another slice of chopped bacon and serve with a cup of sweet chili sauce for dunking. What’d I tell you – 20 minutes and you’re in and out!

Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers

• Print
• Pin It

gluten free20 minute meal

5/5 (3 REVIEWS)

Description

Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers are an addicting, 20 minute gluten-free appetizer recipe. Perfect for parties, patios and get-togethers!

Ingredients

makes 16 poppers

• 8 mini sweet peppers, sliced in half lengthwise then seeded
• 4oz goat cheese, softened
• 4oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• salt and pepper
• 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled and divided
• 1/2 cup sweet chili pepper sauce

Directions

1. Place oven rack in center position then preheat broiler. Cover a baking sheet with foil then arrange sweet pepper halves on top.
2. In a medium-sized bowl stir together goat cheese, cream cheese, garlic and onion powders, salt and pepper until smooth. Add 3/4 of the bacon then stir to combine. Fill pepper halves to the top with the cheese mixture, smoothing with your finger or the back of a spoon.
3. Broil for 3-4 minutes watching very carefully to avoid burning then transfer poppers to a platter and sprinkle with remaining bacon. If cheese doesn't begin to brown within a minute or two, move rack up (you just don't want to overcook the pepper halves.) Serve with sweet chili sauce for dipping.

Notes

• I like Sky Valley Sweet Chili Sauce >

Adapted from Food Network Magazine

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Video

This is also a great appetizer recipe to take over to a friend’s house to cook on the spot since they only take a few minutes. Just cover the stuffed peppers on the baking sheet with saran wrap then pop under the broiler once you arrive. Voila – hot, fresh, and tooooootally addicting Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers. Enjoy!