Bacon Wrapped Mini Peppers
These Bacon Wrapped Mini Peppers are stuffed with cream cheese that's been mixed together with Everything Bagel seasoning. Prepped and baked in under 1 hour, this easy appetizer features the perfect combination of flavor and texture.
Servings: 10 mini peppers
Ingredients
Peppers:
- 10 long thin-cut bacon slices
- 5 large mini sweet peppers
- 2.5 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup 28 grams finely shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Tablespoons + 2 teaspoons ~27g Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning, (do not use traditional storebought Everything Bagel seasoning; see Notes section below for homemade salt-free version)
Everything Bagel Dip:
- ¼ cup 60 grams cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons 90 grams sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon 15 milliliters heavy cream
- 3 Tablespoons ~30 grams Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare And Start Cooking Bacon: Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay bacon slices on prepared baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes.
- Prepare Mini Peppers: Meanwhile, cut peppers in half lengthwise, de-seed, and de-vein.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: Mix together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and salt-free seasoning.
- Fill Each Pepper Half With Cream Cheese Filling: Using a small spoon, fill peppers with filling. (If you have extra filling, set it aside for now.)
- Take Bacon Out Of Oven: Remove bacon from oven. Don’t turn oven off. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and allow it to cool slightly.
- Wrap Slightly-Cooked Bacon Around Stuffed Mini Peppers And Bake: Wrap peppers with a slice of bacon and securing with a toothpick. Make sure the toothpick is inserted horizontally then set each filling side-up (to ensure the filling remains inside of the pepper while baking) atop same baking sheet used to cook bacon. Transfer baking sheet back to preheated oven at 425 degrees, then bake until bacon is crispy, which may take anywhere from 18-25 minutes, depending on thickness of bacon slices. (If bacon is still not crisped to your liking after this amount of time, carefully transfer baking sheet to the top oven rack, turn on oven broiler, and broil for 1-2 minutes. Watch them very carefully if you do this because they can quickly burn!)
- Prepare Everything Bagel Dip: While peppers bake, prepare dip by stirring together all ingredients in a mixing bowl. If you have extra filling, mix it in with the dip (see note below). Transfer dip to refrigerator to chill while peppers finish baking.
- Final Steps Then Serve: Remove peppers from oven, allow to cool slightly, remove toothpicks, and serve with dipping sauce.
Notes
Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning Substitution: I buy mine from Amazon. If you don’t want to purchase it online, you can make your own salt-free seasoning at home. Note that you need to use Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning, otherwise the peppers will be entirely too salty. If you do not want to order that or would prefer to make your own seasoning at home, follow the instructions below to make your own.
Homemade Salt-Free Everything Bagel Seasoning: To make the Everything Bagel Seasoning for both the filling and for the dip (storebought is easier, but if you have to make it at home): 1 Tablespoon + 2 teaspoons plain sesame seeds, 1 Tablespoon + 2 teaspoons black sesame seeds, 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon dried minced onion, 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic, 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
If You Have Extra Filling: This is typically because your peppers were on the smaller side. Save it and mix it in with the Everything Bagel Dip you prepare. Just be sure that none of the uncooked bacon is mixed with it.
Refrigerator Storage: While these peppers are best when eaten fresh, you can store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days and then reheat them.