Air Fryer Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers (Printable View)

Colorful mini peppers filled with a creamy, savory cheese blend, perfectly roasted in the air fryer for a delightful appetizer or snack.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Combine cream cheese, cheddar, Parmesan, chives, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until smooth and well combined.
03 - Fill each mini pepper half generously with the cream cheese mixture, smoothing the tops with a spoon.
04 - Arrange stuffed peppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8–10 minutes until peppers are tender and tops are lightly golden.
05 - Carefully remove from air fryer and let cool for 2–3 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter.
06 - Sprinkle with fresh parsley and a pinch of smoked paprika or red pepper flakes if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sweet pepper pop against creamy filling is one of those flavor combos that just works every single time
  • You can prep them ahead and hit the air fryer button when guests walk through the door
  • They disappear from platters faster than any other appetizer I make
02 -
  • Overfilling the peppers sounds like a good idea until cheese spills onto your air fryer basket and burns
  • Letting them cool for those few minutes is not optional unless you want to burn your mouth on molten cheese
  • The filling can be made a day ahead, but stuff the peppers right before air frying or they get soggy
03 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese blends much smoother than cold straight from the fridge
  • Pat the peppers dry after halving them to prevent excess moisture in the air fryer

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