Air Fryer Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers (Printable Version)
Crispy mini peppers filled with a three-cheese blend, air-fried until tender and golden.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 16 mini sweet peppers (about 1 lb), halved and seeded
→ Cheese Filling
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - 1 garlic clove, minced
07 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
08 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Optional Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
12 - Pinch of smoked paprika or red pepper flakes
# Directions:
01 - Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, Parmesan, chives, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Mix until smooth and well combined.
03 - Fill each mini pepper half generously with cheese mixture, smoothing tops with a spoon.
04 - Arrange stuffed peppers in single layer in air fryer basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes until peppers are tender and tops are lightly golden.
05 - Carefully remove from air fryer. Let cool 2-3 minutes, then transfer to serving platter.
06 - Garnish with fresh parsley and pinch of smoked paprika or red pepper flakes if desired. Serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of sweet peppers and savory creamy filling is absolutely addictive and somehow feels fancy despite being ready in under 30 minutes
- Theyre perfect for feeding a crowd because you can prep them ahead then air fry them right when guests arrive so theyre warm and melty
02 -
- Don't skip letting the cream cheese come to room temperature because cold cream cheese creates a lumpy gritty filling that won't pipe or spread smoothly
- If your peppers are particularly large you might need to cook them an extra 2 or 3 minutes to get them completely tender
03 -
- Use a small cookie scoop or piping bag to fill the peppers quickly and evenly without making a mess
- If the peppers roll around in your air fryer basket you can cut a tiny slice off the bottoms to make them sit flat