Remember when I shared the stuffed sweet peppers that my friend, Sarah, brought for an appetizer? I since have taken it to many parties and it is ALWAYS the first appetizer to go! Everyone, even kids love it. I have made it four different ways and thought I would share the options with you. Especially with Halloween coming up and you might need a quick, healthy appetizer to share. Trust me. It will be a favorite for you and guests.
I consider this a healthy recipe even though it has cheese and the inside is a dip. The vehicle is a vegetable (sweet peppers) so it eliminates the need for a chip! Healthy! And you can really get creative as to what you use inside the sweet pepper. It it just the concept that it is a FAST appetizer that can also be good for you.

Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers
Ingredients
- 20 sweet peppers
- 16 oz ground pork sausage cooked
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese of choice
Instructions
- Slice sweet peppers in half, you can leave seeds in or remove.
- Mix the sausage with the cream cheese.
- Fill each of the pepper halves with cream cheese mixture and top with shredded cheese.
- Heat oven to broil and broil peppers for about 3-5 minutes (I like them on the brown/ crispy side)
Notes
Let’s dig into the recipe! Literally let’s dig in! Go….
Sweet Pepper Appetizer Idea #1- Spinach Dip
- Slice Sweet Peppers in half.
- Add in your favorite Spinach Dip! (I did use Trader Joes Guilt-Free Yogurt Spinach Dip).
- Top with shredded Mexican cheese blend.
- Broil on high for about 3-5 minutes, just until cheese melts.
PS- This one was Kevin’s Favorite
Sweet Pepper Appetizer Idea #2- Onion Dip
- Slice Sweet Peppers in half.
- Add in your favorite Onion Dip! (I did use Trader Joes Onion Dip)
- Top with shredded Mozzarella cheese.
- Broil on high for about 3-5 minutes, just until cheese melts.
Sweet Pepper Appetizer Idea #3- Ricotta and Sausage
- Slice Sweet Peppers in half.
- In a separate bowl mix 1/2 cup cooked ground pork sausage with 1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese and 1 teaspoon Everything But the Bagel Seasoning.
- Add mixture to sweet peppers.
- Top with shredded Mexican cheese blend.
- Broil on high for about 3-5 minutes, just until cheese melts.
PS- This one was my favorite! So good! You could eat this as your dinner too with a side salad. This one was most similar to the original recipe but instead of the ricotta use cream cheese!
Sweet Pepper Appetizer Idea #4- Clam Dip
- Slice Sweet Peppers in half.
- In a separate bowl mix 1/2 cup plain cream cheese with 2 Tablespoons Canned Clams and 1 Tablespoon liquid from canned clams.
- Add mixture to sweet peppers.
- Top with shredded Mozzarella cheese or I used Almond Milk Cheese (from Trader Joes’s).
- Broil on high for about 3-5 minutes, just until cheese melts.
I made the labels for each dip with my favorite label maker HERE
Add some eyeballs for a fun Halloween Appetizer! EASY and it will help kids to eat some vegetable at a Halloween party!
Check out the other bloggers Fall Appetizers below-
Spinach Artichoke + Green Chile Dip by Ella Claire | Baked Garlic Knots by Sweet C’s | Savory Pumpkin Hummus by Zevy Joy | Spiced Warm Brie by Boxwood Avenue | Sea Salt Dinner Rolls and Herb Butter by House 214 Design
Roasted Stuffed Figs by Town and Country Living | Cranberry Sweet Potato Rounds by Tidy Mom | Gluten Free Baked Brie by Taryn Whiteaker | Healthy Pumpkin Dip by Tidbits | Fig Prosciutto Sweet Potato Bites by The Chronicles of Home
Beet Bruschetta with Goat Cheese and Basil by My Sweet Savannah | Cheddar Bacon Beer Dip by Inspired by Charm | Pumpkin Sheet Pan Nachos by Farmhouse of Boone | Everything but the Bagel Bubble Bread by Nest of Posies | Garlic Smashed Potatoes by Julie Blanner
Olive Pecan Cheese Log by anderson + grant | Stuffed Peppers by Nesting with Grace | Chicken Cranberry Meatballs by Shabby Fu Fu | Chicken Pot Pie Bites by Nina Hendrick | Cranberry Almond Mini Cheese Ball Bites by Summer Adams
Brooke I can’t wait to try these recipes. The ricotta and sausage is calling my name! I hope you are enjoying a lovely October.
Happy Tuesday,
Laura
Thanks Laura! That one was sooooo good! I really like ricotta cheese more than cream cheese so it was a treat!
These look so good; but some in our family can’t do cow dairy. Do you have any goat cheese options/blends?
When you make these for a party do you go ahead and broil them ahead of time? Or do you serve the dips cold with the pellets also? Looks yummy!!!
Good question! I have made them for a party and kept in the fridge them broil them when I get to the party or before guests come. We have eaten them an hour later after cooking.
I’ve made your original cream cheese & sausage recipe several times for guests. We all pretty much like the jalapeños the best. I make it ahead and just pop it in the oven when they arrive in order to serve it hot. Thank you for the new variations!!!
I love options! Every filling sounds more delicious than the next. So creative!
xo Michael
Where did you get those Little White dishes that you have the fillings in?? My mom used to have those and they are so nostalgic to me! Would love to get them myself. Thanks!
My Grandma gave them to me! I have seen them at second hand shops often!
Can’t wait to make these!
Brooke, thank you for these easy and creative ideas for a “feel good” snack or meal. I made the sausage ones last night for dinner and, if you can believe it, they are even better reheated for lunch today! Only recently started reading your blog and I’m a consistent follower already!
XO, Sydney
Oh yay! Thank you Sydney!!!