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    Home » Vegan Appetizers & Snacks

    Mini Bell Pepper Poppers

    By Sarah Pilley Updated Oct 1, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2024

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Hand picking up a cheesy mini bell pepper popper with more on a baking sheet, text reads "cheesy mini pepper poppers".

    Mini Bell Pepper Poppers are a quick and easy party appetizer that everyone can enjoy. These cheesy sweet pepper poppers are made with tofu, so they’re secretly vegan!

    Hand picking up a cheesy mini bell pepper popper with more on a baking sheet.

    This recipe is great for anyone who wants to indulge in a cheesy jalapeño popper but doesn’t want quite that level of heat!

    I instantly fell in love with these mini pepper poppers because of this. They are the perfect cheesy appetizer for any gathering.

    The best part is that they are so simple to make. They’re ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish!

    Serve these with some meatball mummies and pumpkin pie hummus for a Halloween party. Or add some BBQ tofu nuggets and chickpea chips to the spread for a football party!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • How to Make Mini Bell Pepper Poppers
    • Top Tips
    • Ways to Serve
    • Recipe FAQ
    • More Vegan Appetizers
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    You will need these simple ingredients to make cheesy pepper poppers:

    Ingredients with labels: nutritional yeast, firm tofu, salt, olive oil, spices, sugar, mini bell peppers.

    Of Special Note

    • Mini bell peppers, AKA sweet peppers, are the vessel for the cheesy filling. You can also use normal-sized bell peppers and cut them into quarters to create smaller strips of pepper.
    • Firm tofu creates a creamy, cheesy filling for these peppers while also adding a bit of protein. The filling is similar to vegan ricotta cheese but with some of the flavors of vegan cashew queso.

    Please refer to the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions.

    Variations

    You can stuff your mini peppers with anything you like. Just follow the recipe timing for cooking the peppers and get creative! Here are some ideas:

    • Vegan cream cheese, vegan cheddar cheese, and oyster mushroom bacon
    • Chickpea chicken salad or buffalo chickpea dip
    • Vegan ground beef and cashew mozzarella
    • Black beans, lemon quinoa, and vegan parmesan

    How to Make Mini Bell Pepper Poppers

    Here’s a step-by-step guide to making the best mini bell pepper poppers:

    Cheesy tofu filling ingredients in a blender.
    1. Step 1: Place all the ingredients for the cheesy tofu filling into a food processor or blender.
    Cheesy tofu filling blended.
    1. Step 2: Blend the tofu filling until it is creamy, scrape down the sides of the blender as needed.
    Peppers cut into halves.
    1. Step 3: Cut the peppers in half and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    Spooning the cheesy filling into the pepper halves.
    1. Step 4: Stuff the peppers with the tofu filling, about a tablespoon each. 
    Pepper popper fully baked, golden on top.
    1. Step 5: Bake the stuffed peppers for about 14 to 16 minutes at 425°F.
    Pepper popper with crushed tortilla chip on top.
    1. Step 6: Sprinkle crushed tortilla chips and crushed red pepper on top of the cooked peppers, if desired.

    Top Tips

    Fill the peppers completely! It helps to use the back of a spoon to pack down the filling. The amount of filling can vary pretty drastically. As you see in the pictures, some of the mini peppers are really small while others aren’t. 

    If you want an extra cheesy pepper popper, you could top the tofu filling with a little stretchy cashew mozzarella or shredded vegan cheese.

    Ways to Serve

    If you’re throwing a party or having a football watch party, make some more delicious vegan appetizers and treats!

    • Vegan pinwheels
    • Cauliflower ceviche with chickpea chips
    • BBQ tofu bites
    • Vegan meatball mummies
    • Pumpkin pie hummus or brownie batter hummus
    • Cocoa date truffles
    • Chickpea blondies

    Recipe FAQ

    How should I store and reheat vegan pepper poppers?

    These cheesy pepper appetizers as best eaten right away, but if you have some leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

    To reheat, bake them in the oven at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes or air fry at 375°F for 5 to 7 minutes until the cheesy filling is hot and crispy.

    What equipment is needed for this recipe?

    To make the cheesy filling, you will need a food processor or blender to blend the tofu cheese filling. 

    pepper popper with a bit taken out of it, showing the cheesy filling.

    More Vegan Appetizers

    • Crispy, golden BBQ tofu nugget on a fork with more on a baking sheet.
      BBQ Tofu Bites
    • Strawberry balsamic crostini with basil and tofu ricotta in a line on a sheet of parchment paper.
      Strawberry Balsamic Crostini with Whipped Ricotta
    • Hand holding a meatball mummy with a tofu eye, 3 more are in the background with a bowl of marinara sauce.
      Vegan Meatball Mummies
    • Vegan pinwheel with spinach wrap and sundried tomato held in a hand with more on a serving platter in the background.
      Easy Vegan Pinwheels Recipe with Sun-Dried Tomato

    Did you make this recipe?
    Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!

    📖 Recipe

    Hand picking up a cheesy mini bell pepper popper with more on a baking sheet.

    Mini Bell Pepper Poppers

    Mini Bell Pepper Poppers are a quick and easy party appetizer that everyone can enjoy. These cheesy sweet pepper poppers are made with tofu, so they’re secretly vegan!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 18 pepper poppers
    Author: Sarah Pilley
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    Ingredients

    • 9 mini bell peppers
    • finely crushed tortilla chips
    • red pepper flakes optional

    Cheesy Tofu Filling

    • 8 ounces firm tofu or extra-firm tofu
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon white sugar

    Instructions

    • Place all the ingredients for the cheesy tofu filling into a food processor or blender.
    • Blend the tofu filling until it is creamy, scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Add water as needed to help the mixture blend (not too much though because you don't want it to be runny!)
    • Wash and dry the mini bell peppers. Cut the peppers in half and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    • Stuff the peppers with the tofu filling, about a tablespoon each. Depending on the size of your peppers, some filling may remain. You can eat it like a dip with some tortilla chips and it tastes great!
    • Bake the stuffed peppers for about 14 to 16 minutes at 425°F or until the filling is golden and crispy.
    • Sprinkle crushed tortilla chips and crushed red pepper on top of the cooked peppers, if desired.

    Notes

    See more expert tips, pictures, and variations above for making the best mini bell pepper poppers!
    Yield: 18 pepper poppers
    Storage: These cheesy pepper appetizers as best eaten right away, but if you have some leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 
    Reheating: To reheat, bake them in the oven at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes or air fry at 375°F for 5 to 7 minutes until the cheesy filling is hot and crispy.
    Did you make this recipe? Share your experience! Mention @AlternativeDish on Instagram or Facebook, or drop a comment below—I'd love to hear from you!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 453IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. eileen says

      May 23, 2025 at 7:24 am

      5 stars
      Question, Do I squeeze moisture out of tofu before processing it?
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Sarah Pilley says

        May 23, 2025 at 8:57 am

        Hi Eileen! For this recipe, you don't need to press the tofu 🙂

        Reply
    Headshot of Sarah Pilley.

    Hi, I'm Sarah!

    I’m so excited you stopped by! I'm thrilled to share my passion for tasty vegan food with you on the Alternative Dish. I focus on creating recipes that everyone can enjoy with allergy-friendly tips! 

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