Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers

If you are looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer, these Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Pepper are the perfect bite. These are made with colorful sweet mini peppers, creamy herbed goat cheese, and fresh herbs, this simple recipe delivers big Mediterranean flavors with minimal prep.

Whether you are hosting a holiday gathering, planning a game-day spread, or needing a quick make-ahead snack, baked stuffed mini peppers are always a hit. They are colorful, vegetarian and naturally gluten-free, plus they bake quickly in the oven.

We love goat cheese in our house and I use it in a lot of recipes. If you like goat cheese try this Goat Cheese and Roasted Tomato Dip. You also might like this Goat Cheese Apricot Pizza, Brussels Sprout Apple Goat Cheese Salad, Sun-Dried Tomato Goat Cheese Frittata or these Sun-dried Tomato Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts.

Recipe Ingredients

You will love this easy recipe and the simple ingredients. It is one of my favorite recipes! 

• Mini Sweet Peppers: choose colorful, mini sweet peppers. Make sure to remove the seeds and insides before you stuff them. This recipe uses about 12 peppers cut in half but you can easily double this recipe.
• Goat Cheese Log: try to find a goat cheese log if you can as I find this is easiest to work with but if not goat cheese crumbles will work. Let it come to room temperature to make it easier to work with. The goat cheese creates a tangy flavor alongside the sweet peppers which works nicely.
• Spices: oregano adds a hint of earthy spice to the goat cheese.
• Balsamic Glaze: drizzle balsamic glaze just before serving for a nice hit of savory flavor that pairs well with the sweet peppers.

Recipe Tip: Bring the goat cheese to room temperature because softens it and helps blend it more easily spices and herbs and makes it easier to spoon into peppers.

Recipe Variations

• herb swap: replace the thyme with parsley, chives, rosemary, fresh basil or oregano for a different aromatic profile.
• spicy kick: add some heat by sprinkling crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper over the mini sweet peppers or adding diced jalapeños.
• honey: drizzle honey or hot honey over the finished sweet peppers
• swap cheese: you can swap the goat cheese with whipped feta cheese, ricotta cheese or cream cheese.
• crunch: top with toasted pine nuts, walnuts or chopped pistachios.
• protein: add protein like ground sausage, ground turkey, ground beef or bacon crumbles
• Mediterranean twist: add some of your favorite Mediterranean ingredients mixed into the goat cheese mixture like sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red pepper or a Greek-inspired filling with olives and whipped feta cheese.

If you like stuffed pepper recipes try these Mediterranean Stuffed Pepper Recipe with Couscous and Tuna, Stuffed Poblano Peppers Recipe, Grilled Stuffed Peppers or these Tabbouleh Stuffed Peppers.

How to Make Stuffed Mini Peppers

Step 1: Prepare Peppers: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wash the sweet peppers and let them dry. Cut the peppers in half and remove the seeds. Brush the peppers with olive oil and then sprinkle salt on them. Set aside.

Step 2: Create Goat Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl mix the goat cheese with the oregano and fresh thyme and mix until combined. Put parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Step 3: Stuff Mini Peppers: Use a small spoon to add a small amount of goat cheese to each pepper, enough to fill the pepper cavity. Arrange the stuffed peppers on the baking sheet.

Recipe Tip: You also can use a piping bag or snip the corner off of a ziplock bag and then add goat cheese into the bag.

Step 4: Bake Peppers: Bake the peppers for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is tarting to melt and the peppers are just softened but still hold their shape. If you want a slight char on them you can quickly broil them at the end for about 1-2 minutes. Garnish with fresh thyme and balsamic glaze.

Air Fry Option: You can air fry the peppers. Preheat the air fryer, spray the air fryer with oil and then air fry at 375 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly charred and soft.

How to Serve these Stuffed Mini Peppers

• party platters
• Mediterranean appetizer or mezze board
• game-day spreads
• as a holiday appetizer
• along with Lebanese hummus, pita chips and grape leaves

Make-Ahead Tips

• store cut peppers separately than goat cheese filling
• fill the peppers the day of your event
• bake right before serving
• garnish with fresh thyme and balsamic glaze

Storage Tips and Reheating

• Store the leftover peppers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. They will begin to soften over time.
• To reheat you can air fry them for about 5 minutes to heat them or you can heat them in the oven until heated through.