Air Fryer Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers (Printable Version)

Tender mini peppers filled with creamy, cheesy goodness and air-fried to perfection. An irresistible bite-sized appetizer or snack.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar, Parmesan, chives, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. 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 the stuffed peppers in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8–10 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the tops are lightly golden.
05 - Carefully remove from the air fryer. Let cool for 2–3 minutes, then transfer to a serving platter.
06 - Garnish with fresh parsley and a pinch of smoked paprika or red pepper flakes, if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer gives you that perfect tender-crisp texture without heating up your whole kitchen
  • These little bites vanish faster than you can arrange them on a serving platter
  • You can prep everything ahead and air fry them right when guests walk through the door
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket or the peppers will steam instead of roast, working in batches if needed
  • The filling melts down slightly as it cooks, so do not be afraid to mound it generously in each pepper half
03 -
  • A small spoon or piping bag makes filling the peppers so much easier and less messy than using your fingers
  • If your peppers are particularly large, you might need to air fry them for an extra minute or two to get them completely tender

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