Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers

By Inger Aug 28, 2022 Appetizers 16 Comments

Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers are filled with savory Italian Sausage and garnished with mozzarella and pizza sauce! An easy 4 ingredient recipe that’s a perfect appetizer for Game Day or anytime!
I love fall appetizers! It seems to be the one time of the year when seriously tasty meets up with actually healthy. Zero fighting in the room.

Yes just stuff a cute little pepper half with some decadently juicy Italian sausage and you have the start of something special. Top with a sprinkle of cheese and dollop of pizza sauce and it’s over the top.

The appetizer has an air of both fun and elegance. So whether it’s a cocktail party or a tailgate party, Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers should be on the menu!

What are Mini Peppers?

It’s hard to think that there was a time when mini peppers weren’t everywhere! But growing up, it seemed to there were bell peppers (in all colors) and hot peppers. Period. But hooray for the (relative) newcomer which is so tasty and versatile!

Specialty produce says “Mini sweet peppers, botanically classified as Capsicum annuum, are small, edible fruits that are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Originally from Central and South America and believed to be a hybrid from the wild bird pepper and bell peppers, Mini sweet peppers are grown on small bushes and are favored for their small size, bright colors, and sweet flavor.”

When the new mini peppers started showing up in the CSA box, I realized I liked them even more than ripe bell peppers. Can’t beat their sweet crunch and beautiful color assortment! It was time to dip them in hummus, sprinkle on salads, and add them to quiche!

Why You’ll Love This!

Tasty. Every ingredient from the savory peppers to the juicy sausage to the flavorful cheese and pizza sauce gives it’s all.

Easy. Just cut the peppers in half, stuff, bake and top with cheese and pizza sauce. And did I mention it’s just 4 ingredients?

Healthy. How often do you get a meal’s worth of protein and a veggie from your appetizer!

Versatile. Go fancy, go casual. Works everywhere. You could probably even use a meatless sausage and serve vegans!

What You’ll Need

Ingredient Notes

Italian Sausage. This provides a rich savory flavor. You can use homemade sausage, bulk sausage or remove sausage links from their casings.
Mini peppers. These form the base of the appetizer and add flavor and nutrition.
Grated mozzarella or other meltable cheese. This adds a creamy overtone. I like to use something that would go on pizza like mozzarella or provolone.
Pizza sauce. This adds another flavor hit.

Special Tools

No special tools are needed.

Step by Step Directions

Cut mini peppers in half.

Top with about a tablespoon of sausage.

Bake until cooked through. Top each pepper with a sprinkling of cheese, then return to oven until melted.

Top with a dollop of pizza sauce.

Serve

How to Serve

These are a seriously tasty appetizer and would be at home served elegantly on a nice platter or tossed helter skelter into Tupperware for a tailgate.

They’d be beautiful on a buffet table and personally, I’d eat them for brunch (especially a game day brunch)!

But can you keep a secret? If you just want to serve a table of appetizers for dinner, this is a great candidate! With protein in the sausage and a vegetable in the pepper, there are entrees with less nutrition! And don’t forget a little cheese for calcium and some bonus pizza sauce.

Variations

If you like the flavor of stuffed peppers, consider my Unstuffed Banana Pepper Soup. It’s one of my most popular fall recipes.

Of course if you’re looking for dinner, there are other pepper options. First, there’s the classic stuffed bell pepper in traditional meat or vegan quinoa stuffed pepper versions. Or go easy with a Stuffed Pepper Casserole!

Before and After

Make Ahead Tips If you were in a time crunch, you could stuff these with sausage the day before, keep airtight in the refrigerator, then finish them when you need them. Don’t forget to check the temperature.

Leftovers. Truthfully we’ve never had even one of these left! But they can be kept covered in the refrigerator for a few days, then reheated.

Tips & FAQs

The flavor of pizza sauce can vary a lot from a bland glorified tomato paste to kick ass tasty. Try to go with the latter. My favorite is Pastorelli (affiliate link).

Kicking it Up with Spicy Recipes

Buffalo Chicken Wraps from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Chicken Pepper Soup from Pandemonium Noshery
Hatch Chile Masala Bhath from Magical Ingredients
Hatch Green Chile Corn Fritters from Palatable Pastime
Jalapeno Popper Crostini from The Spiffy Cookie
Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers from Art of Natural Living
Skillet Taco Pasta from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Spicy Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sliders from Jen Around the World
Spicy Sage Breakfast Sausage from That Recipe

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