BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers
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BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers make for an easy, delicious, low-carb appetizer. These stuffed sweet peppers are rich in protein, and zesty and sweet flavors. Sweet peppers stuffed with juicy ground chicken, sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, caramelized onions, and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Fun for any occasion such as game day, a dinner party, or even a cookout. These are a crowd pleaser and great to make all year round.
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers
If you’re looking for a quick and easy, low-carb appetizer that’s rich in flavors, look no further than these BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers. Sweet peppers are stuffed with sweet and zesty bbq ground chicken cooked in sweet and caramelized onions. Then topped with fresh shredded mozzarella cheese. Fun for any occasion such as game day, a dinner party, or even a cookout. Perfect crowd pleaser and great to make all year round. Sprinkle with some extra cheese at the end for an extra cheesy top.
Ingredients needed to make BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers:
- Ground Chicken– You can also use ground turkey.
- BBQ Sauce– Any kind. I personally like using unsweetened.
- Apple Cider Vinegar– Dilutes the poultry taste in the chicken and elevates the flavors.
- Avocado Oil– For Cooking.
- Coconut Sugar– Adds some sweetness.
- Garlic– Fresh garlic adds so much flavor.
- Red Onion– Caramelizes adding a hint of sweetness.
- Green Bell Pepper– You can also use a jalapeño pepper to add some spiciness.
- Smoked Paprika– Gives the peppers a nice smokey taste.
- Pink Sea Salt– Elevates flavors.
- Thyme- Fresh or dried.
- Sweet Peppers– Try to use similar sized sweet peppers for even cooking.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese– For a nice cheesy top layer.
Equipment needed to make BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers:
- 12 inch cast iron skillet– To cook the ground chicken trough with the rest of ingredients to make the stuffing.
- 9×13 inch baking dish– To bake your stuffed sweet peppers in.
- Spatula– For serving.
How to make BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers:
- Step 1– Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.
- Step 2– Start by prepping ingredients; thinly dice red onion and green bell pepper, mince garlic, and cut sweet peppers in half lengthwise. Remove the inside from sweet peppers and place each side on a 9×13 baking dish facing up. Line sweet peppers up next to each other and set side.
- Step 3– Place a 12 inch cast iron pan on stovetop and bring avocado oil to a heat on medium-high heat.
- Step 4– Add minced garlic and sautee for about 30-45 seconds. Toss in red onions and continue to sautee for about 2 minutes until onions start to soften. Add coconut sugar and continue to sautee for another 1-2 minutes. Toss in green bell pepper and sprinkle salt, smoked paprika, and thyme. Continue sauteeing for another 2-3 minutes until green bell pepper starts to soften and onions have caramelized.
- Step 5– Move cooked veggies to the sides creating sort of an opened circle leaving the middle of the pan open. Add in ground chicken and drizzle apple cider vinegar over chicken. Begin to cook through until chicken starts to brown. About 7 minutes. Combine chicken with veggies as you sautee it. Pour in bbq sauce and continue to sautee for anouther 1-2 minutes.
- Step 6– Remove ground chicken from the stovetop and set aside next to the prepped sweet peppers. Using a small teaspoon, start scooping the mixture into each halved sweet pepper. Making sure each half is decently stuffed but not over stuffed. You don’t want the ground chicken spilling out of the sweet peppers.
- Step 7– Once all sweet pepper halves are stuffed, sprinkle each with shredded mozzarella cheese. If there is some leftover at the end, sprinkle all throughout the peppers. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Step 8– Remove baking dish from the oven and allow it to sit for a few minutes until it has cooled down enough to handle. Garnish sweet peppers with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips and Substitution:
- Substitute ground chicken-for ground turkey or even ground beef.
- Try to use similar sized sweet peppers– this will allow for even cooking.
- Use bell peppers instead of sweet peppers– for a whole meal portion- slice bell peppers in half lengthwise and fill them with the bbq ground chicken.
- Use the bbq ground chicken stuffing to stuff other vegetables too– eggplant or zucchini are great with this bbq ground chicken too.
- Allow bbq ground chicken to cool down for a bit– this will make it easier to handle and stuff the sweet peppers.
- Sprinkle extra shredded mozzarella cheese- over prepped sweet peppers to make them extra cheesy!!
How to serve BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers:
I love serving these as an appetizer for gatherings such as game days, dinner parties, or even Thanksgiving and Holiday dinners. They also make for a light lunch served with a side of quinoa, rice or cauliflower rice. These even make for a great high protein snack.
What to serve BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers with:
- Extra BBQ Sauce
- Extra Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Chips or Crackers
- Avocado or Guacamole
- Drizzled with Cilantro-Lime Jalapeño Ranch Dressing
- Topped with Pickled Red Onions
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers FAQ’s:
Should I boil sweet peppers before stuffing them?
No. You do not need to boil the sweet peppers before stuffing them. The ground chicken gets browned before being stuffed in the sweet peppers. Which makes for even baking without having to pre-cook the peppers.
Why are my stuffed peppers soggy?
Sweet peppers tend to have some moisture which is released as they are cooked. If they are soggy is because you may have stuffed them with ingredients that are too liquid. Like sauces or salsas. Which is why in this recipe the bbq sauce is added to the chicken as it browns. To reduce it a bit before stuffing the sweet peppers with it.
Why do stuffed peppers take so long to cook?
Regular stuffed peppers take a while to cook since they are bigger and are stuffed with other ingredients. These stuffed sweet peppers take less time to cook. However, they still take a bit of time to cook through and to allow the mozzarella cheese to melt.
Meal Prepping it:
Even though these stuffed sweet peppers are intended to be served as an appetizer, they can also be used for meal prep. They make for a healthy, high protein lunch and can be served with some rice or quinoa. Portion them out in Tupperware dishes to have lunches ready to-go.
Storing and Reheating:
Place any leftover stuffed sweet peppers in an airtight container. Keep them refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. Place them back in the oven to reheat or in the microwave.
Did you like this BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers? You may also like these other high protein appetizer recipes:
- Turkey Sliders with Beet Slaw and Mashed Avocado
- Honey-Lime Sriracha Chicken Wings
- Greek Yogurt Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Peppers make for an easy, delicious, low-carb appetizer. These stuffed sweet peppers are rich in protein, and zesty and sweet flavors. Sweet peppers stuffed with juicy ground chicken, sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, caramelized onions, and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Fun for any occasion such as game day, a dinner party, or even a cookout. These are a crowd pleaser and great to make all year round.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 red onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp pink sea salt
- 1 tsp thyme (dried or fresh)
- 1 lb sweet peppers
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
Instructions
Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.
Start by prepping ingredients; thinly dice red onion and green bell pepper, mince garlic, and cut sweet peppers in half lengthwise. Remove the inside from sweet peppers and place each side on a 9×13 baking dish facing up. Line sweet peppers up next to each other and set side.
Place a 12 inch cast iron pan on stovetop and bring avocado oil to a heat on medium-high heat.
Add minced garlic and sautee for about 30-45 seconds. Toss in red onions and continue to sautee for about 2 minutes until onions start to soften. Add coconut sugar and continue to sautee for another 1-2 minutes. Toss in green bell pepper and sprinkle salt, smoked paprika, and thyme. Continue sauteeing for another 2-3 minutes until green bell pepper starts to soften and onions have caramelized.
Move cooked veggies to the sides creating sort of an opened circle leaving the middle of the pan open. Add in ground chicken and drizzle apple cider vinegar over chicken. Begin to cook through until chicken starts to brown. About 7 minutes. Combine chicken with veggies as you sautee it. Pour in bbq sauce and continue to sautee for anouther 1-2 minutes.
Remove ground chicken from the stovetop and set aside next to the prepped sweet peppers. Using a small teaspoon, start scooping the mixture into each halved sweet pepper. Making sure each half is decently stuffed but not over stuffed. You don't want the ground chicken spilling out of the sweet peppers.
Once all sweet pepper halves are stuffed, sprinkle each with shredded mozzarella cheese. If there is some leftover at the end, sprinkle all throughout the peppers. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
Remove baking dish from the oven and allow it to sit for a few minutes until it has cooled down enough to handle. Garnish sweet peppers with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitutions:
- Substitute ground chicken-for ground turkey or even ground beef.
- Try to use similar sized sweet peppers– this will allow for even cooking.
- Use bell peppers instead of sweet peppers– for a whole meal portion- slice bell peppers in half lengthwise and fill them with the bbq ground chicken.
- Use the bbq ground chicken stuffing to stuff other vegetables too– eggplant or zucchini are great with this bbq ground chicken too.
- Allow bbq ground chicken to cool down for a bit– this will make it easier to handle and stuff the sweet peppers.
- Sprinkle extra shredded mozzarella cheese- over prepped sweet peppers to make them extra cheesy!!
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
