Air Fryer Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers (Printable Version)

Colorful mini peppers filled with creamy cheese blend, air-fried to tender perfection. Easy vegetarian appetizer ready in 25 minutes.

# What You 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

# 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 medium bowl. Mix until smooth and well combined
03 - Fill each mini pepper half generously with cream cheese mixture, smoothing tops with 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 - Remove from air fryer and let cool for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to serving platter
06 - Garnish with fresh parsley and pinch of smoked paprika or red pepper flakes if desired. Serve warm

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer creates this incredible contrast between tender, sweet peppers and a golden, slightly crisped cheesy topping
  • They disappear faster than you can say "appetizer" but somehow feel impressive despite taking barely any effort
02 -
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket will make them steam instead of roast, so work in batches if needed
  • The filling can be made a day ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator, making assembly day of incredibly fast
03 -
  • If your peppers are particularly large, you might need to cook them an extra minute or two to get them completely tender
  • A small cookie scoop or piping bag makes filling the peppers faster and more uniform than using a spoon

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