Air Fryer Cream Cheese Stuffed Peppers (Printable)
Colorful mini peppers filled with creamy cheese blend, air fried to perfection. Easy vegetarian appetizer ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll 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 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 -
- They disappear faster than you can say 'appetizer ready' and people literally ask for the recipe while still chewing
- The air fryer creates this restaurant quality blistered pepper effect that you just can't get from an oven
02 -
- Don't skip letting the cream cheese soften or you'll be fighting lumps and potentially ripping delicate pepper walls
- Overcrowding the air fryer basket means steaming instead of roasting so work in batches if needed
03 -
- Look for peppers that are relatively flat instead of curved because they sit better in the air fryer
- A small cookie scoop or piping bag makes filling so much faster and neater than using a spoon