Mini Taco Stuffed Peppers are miniature bell peppers stuffed with taco meat and drizzled with a cilantro cream sauce. This Mexican dish can easily be made prepared ahead of time for an easy healthy appetizer!

mini stuffed peppers with sour cream

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MINI TACO STUFFED PEPPERS

Everyone loves stuffed peppers but don’t always want to commit to an entire stuffed pepper. I thought it would be a great idea to make them mini!

Then they can be party food, which I’m always drawn too. My husband bought a huge bag of mini bell peppers at Costco which was the inspiration for this recipe but they can also be used in this One-Pan Chicken Fajita Rice.

Mini Taco Stuffed Peppers - mini bell peppers stuffed with taco meat and drizzled with a cilantro cream sauce. {The Girl Who Ate Everything}

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Don’t get rid of the part you slice off. We’re going to use them later.

mini bell peppers sliced in half

In the end you will have these.

taco meat in a pan with diced stuffed peppers

Dice up those reserved bell pepper slices and add them to your meat for some flavor and crunch!

Mini Taco Stuffed Peppers - mini bell peppers stuffed with taco meat and drizzled with a cilantro cream sauce. {The Girl Who Ate Everything}

After you’ve browned up the meat and cooked the peppers, add your taco seasoning mix.

mini bell peppers stuffed with taco meat

Stuff as much of the taco meat as you can into the prepared bell peppers.

mini stuffed peppers with sour cream

Bake these babies and then sprinkle on some cheese and put them back in the oven for a minute or two until the cheese melts.

mini stuffed peppers with sour cream

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Next, we’re going to make the cilantro cream sauce. Just add some cilantro, sour cream, garlic, and a little lime juice to a food processor. Done.

mini stuffed peppers with sour cream

Drizzle the sauce on top of the stuffed peppers for a cool compliment to the spicy peppers.

mini stuffed peppers with sour cream and guacamole

Of course you can add any of your favorite toppings like guacamole or salsa.

OTHER MEXICAN RECIPES:

mini stuffed peppers with sour cream

Mini Taco Stuffed Peppers

4.58 from 35 votes
These Mini Taco Stuffed Peppers are miniature bell peppers stuffed with taco meat and drizzled with a cilantro cream sauce.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 32 stuffed peppers

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 lbs mini bell peppers
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 (1 ounce) package package taco seasoning mix
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cilantro Cream Sauce:

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 ° F.
  • Slice 1/3 of the pepper off lengthwise, reserving for later use. Seed the peppers. Peppers naturally have one side that is straighter than the other. When slicing the top of your bell peppers, try to slice the side that is curvier off so that the flat side remaining is the side we are stuffing.
  • Chop the reserved peppers finely and set aside 3/4 cup.
  • In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and reserved 3/4 cup chopped peppers over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let mixture slightly cool.
  • With a small spoon, fill each pepper as full as possible with the beef mixture over the skillet so the meat can fall back in if it doesn't fit and place on a baking sheet. Bake peppers for 8-10 minutes.
  • While peppers are baking, make the Cilantro Cream Sauce. If you don't want to make this sauce you can just top with taco toppings like sour cream, guac, and salsa.
  • For the Cilantro Cream Sauce: In a food processor, pulse the sour cream, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. If you don't have a food processor, chop by hand.
  • Remove peppers from oven and top with cheese. Return to the oven for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with a dollop of cilantro cream sauce.

Notes

To dress up the peppers, place the Cilantro Cream Sauce in a small plastic bag. Snip the corner off with scissors and drizzle the peppers with the sauce in a zigzag design.
The peppers can be assembled ahead of time and then popped in the oven when ready to bake. The Cilantro Cream Sauce is almost better when made a day ahead of time so the flavors can blend.
Cuisine: Mexican
Course: Main Course
Author: Christy Denney

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Old El Paso. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

mini taco stuffed peppers
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Christy Denney
Christy is the voice behind The Girl Who Who Ate Everything! She is no stranger to making meals that kids and adults will love. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona as the youngest of ten kids. She can always be found in her kitchen with music playing and cooking with her kids. She published her first cookbook in 2014. She loves party food that gets the conversations going!
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