Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers with Ground Meat, Cheese, and a Crispy Panko Topping Recipe
A delicious and easy recipe for stuffed mini sweet peppers filled with a savory mixture of ground meat, cheese, and spices, topped with crunchy panko breadcrumbs and baked to perfection.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 12 mini sweet peppers
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Proteins
- 450 grams ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken)
Dairy
- 240 milliliters cheese (cheddar or cream cheese)
Spices & Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Toppings
- 120 milliliters panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F) to prepare for baking the stuffed peppers.
- Prepare peppers: Slice mini sweet peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds carefully to create space for the stuffing.
- Sauté aromatics: In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the finely chopped onions until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Cook meat: Add the ground meat to the skillet and cook until browned all the way through, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add spices: Stir in ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook and stir until the mixture becomes aromatic and well combined.
- Melt in cheese: Remove the skillet from heat and fold in the cheese until it has fully melted and blended smoothly into the meat mixture.
- Stuff peppers: Fill each halved pepper with the meat and cheese mixture, arranging them cut-side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet to keep them steady.
- Add topping: Evenly sprinkle panko breadcrumbs over the stuffed peppers to create a crunchy crust during baking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes until the peppers are tender and the breadcrumb topping is golden brown.
Notes
- Use any type of ground meat you prefer such as beef, turkey, or chicken for versatility.
- Cheddar cheese adds sharpness while cream cheese gives a creamy texture; both work well.
- Adjust spices according to taste or add chili powder for some heat.
- For extra crispiness, broil the peppers for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking.
- Mini sweet peppers can be substituted with small bell peppers if unavailable.
