Spicy Oven-Roasted Hot Pepper Bites

Ingredients

- 12 fresh hot peppers (jalapeños or similar)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Prepare the Peppers:
- Carefully slice the hot peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and membranes to reduce heat. Set aside.

3. Make the Filling:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well blended.

4. Stuff the Peppers:
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture generously into each pepper half.
- Gently press a small amount of the crumbled bacon into the top of the cheese filling.

5. Prepare the Crumb Topping:
- In a separate bowl, mix the panko bread crumbs with olive oil until the crumbs are well coated.

6. Top the Peppers:
- Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the stuffed peppers, pressing lightly to adhere.

7. Bake:
- Arrange the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the topping is golden and crispy.

8. Cool and Serve:
- Allow the peppers to cool slightly before serving to ensure the filling sets a bit and to avoid burns.

Total Time

PT30M
30 minutes

Type of Dish

Snack

Keywords

Spicy snack, Hot peppers, Oven-roasted, Stuffed peppers, Party food, Cheesy appetizer, Bacon bites, Easy snack, Game day food, Pepper poppers

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total: 1300 calories

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