Cooking for Comfort: Spicy Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers Recipe

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Cooking in the kitchen makes me happy. My kitchen is a safe space to be creative and relax. Last week, I made up these Spicy Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers with ingredients that were hanging out in the fridge. Coming up with this recipe gave me time to escape the things that were stressing me out: daycare closures, work demands, winter storm watches, and the list goes on.

This recipe turned out to be simple to make, and I’m excited to share it with you all. The combo of spicy sausage and cheeses stuffed in tiny sweet bell peppers is comforting. The warmness of the sauce and spicy sausage are perfect for a frigid winter day.

Here’s how to make my Spicy Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers…

Mise En Place:

• 1 lb hot Italian sausage – cooked and crumbled
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 block cream cheese 8 oz – softened
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 lb mini sweet bell peppers – cut in half lengthwise and seeds removed
• 1 cup marinara sauce or your favorite pasta sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan

How to make the stuffed mini bell peppers:

1. Cook sausage: Over medium-high heat, you’re going to brown the spicy ground sausage until it’s cooked though. Drain and set it aside until cooled down enough for you to handle with your hands.
2. Prep Peppers: While the sausage is cooling, prepare the peppers. You’ll do this by slicing each one in half length wise. Remove and discard the seeds and set the cut peppers aside.
3. Make the filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cooked sausage, oregano, and onion powder. Season the with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Prep the baking dish: Evenly spread 1 cup of pasta sauce in an oven safe baking dish.
5. Stuff the peppers: Begin stuffing the bell peppers with a generous amount of the sausage and cheese mixture using a spoon. As you stuff the peppers, place them in the tomato sauce in a single layer. It’s ok if they are close together. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the stuffed peppers
6. Bake and serve: Bake peppers in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and the filling is warmed through. Serve warm. If desired, garnish with additional freshly cracked black pepper.

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All in All

This was the perfect comfort food to brighten my day! There’s nothing more warming than a baked, cheesy dish like this one. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Stay warm out there!

If you enjoyed this dish, check out these warm dishes:

• Roasted Grapes and Baked Brie
• Baked Spinach, Artichoke and Feta Dip
• Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce

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