Mini Peppers are stuffed with zesty turkey sausage, fresh mozzarella and basil, then cooked on the grill to make bite-sized appetizers.
When a recipe involves sausage, mini peppers, fresh mozzarella and the grill, I tend to think that it has everything going for it. I first became enamored by these mini sweet peppers when I skewered them in a Mixed Grill with Sausages, Mini Peppers & Zucchini. The colors are vibrant and the peppers are perfect little vessels to hold a variety of stuffings. This combination of sausage, cheese and basil happens to be low calorie and low in fat, thanks to the ingredients that I chose.
Both the peppers and the sausages came from Costco. I used 5th Street Grill Italian Turkey Sausages with Peppers & Onions, but use whichever sausages appeal to you. The 5th Street Grill sausages contain only 100 calories and 3.5g of fat per sausage link. And my family loves the flavor - a must for any recipe.
The beauty of a recipe like this, besides being treated to little bursts of flavor when you pop the peppers into your mouth, is that it lends itself to variations.
Here are a few variations:
- Sauteed, chopped mushrooms with fresh thyme
- Goat cheese, topped with panko breadcrumbs
- Cream cheese and crumbled bacon
- Black beans, Monterey jack cheese and salsa
- Chopped artichoke hearts and feta cheese
- Shredded Buffalo chicken and cheddar cheese
Recipe:
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
Grill the turkey sausage, about 4 minutes per side. Dice the sausage and place in a bowl.
Add the mozzarella to the sausage, along with half of the basil and the ground pepper.
Turn the grill to medium heat.
Cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the membranes and seeds. Place the peppers in a bowl and toss with the olive oil.
Fill each pepper with about 1 teaspoon of the sausage mixture. Place the stuffed peppers on the grill and cook until the peppers are beginning to soften and the cheese is melted, 5 to 7 minutes.
Garnish the peppers with the remaining basil. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Other grilled appetizers:
Cookin' Canuck's Grilled Zucchini Roll Recipe with Goat Cheese, Roasted Peppers & Capers
Cookin' Canuck's Grilled Mushrooms with Smoked Paprika & Chive Dipping Sauce
Half Baked Harvest's Peach & Gorgonzola Grilled Polenta Rounds with Chipotle Honey
Italian Chips' Grilled Eggplant with Buffalo Mozzarella & Fresh Tomato
A Bachelor & His Grill's Mango & Chilli-Glazed Grilled Kauai Prawn
Mini Grilled Stuffed Peppers Recipe with Sausage & Basil
Ingredients
- 1 link flavored cooked turkey sausage
- 1 ½ ounces fresh mozzarella cheese diced
- 6 large basil leaves thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 12 mini bell peppers
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill the turkey sausage, about 4 minutes per side. Dice the sausage and place in a bowl.
- Add the mozzarella to the sausage, along with half of the basil and the ground pepper.
- Turn the grill to medium heat.
- Cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the membranes and seeds. Place the peppers in a bowl and toss with the olive oil.
- Fill each pepper with about 1 teaspoon of the sausage mixture. Place the stuffed peppers on the grill and cook until the peppers are beginning to soften and the cheese is melted, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Garnish the peppers with the remaining basil. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Jersey Girl Cooks
What a cute little appetizer. I buy these mini peppers all the time. Love their sweet taste.
Aggie
These would make such a great appetizer for friends and fam to munch on! Really loving this Dara!
Donna
What a fun way to use these little beauties!
Rachel Cooks
Love these mini peppers so much! Grilling them is genius!
Sandy @ RE
Oh, my goodness, friend. Love these! Perfect appetizer!
Frank @Memorie di Angelina
Those little fellas look *so* tasty! I've got to try these soon.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
These are so cute and delicious appetizer, Dara 🙂
Nessa
This looks delectable!
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts
Dara,
I just joined Pinterest after learning all about it at the G+ Virtual Food Bloggers conference over the weekend, and this morning I set up an Awesome Veggie Apps and Snacks board. And now, I've pinned this recipe to it. Thanks so much!
Kalyn
This sounds delicious; another great use for that sausage!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Love the mini peppers appetizer!
sippitysup
A very similar version to this shows up on my Thanksgiving sideboard every year. One of my friends is obsessed with these little peppers and makes them every year. So I always associate them with cool weather. But in reality these peppers (all peppers??) are seasonal in the summer and are far more suited to warm weather. Maybe I'll forward this link to her. GREG
Norma @ Allspice and Nutmeg
I love stuffed peppers! This a great idea and so easy too.
Mr. & Mrs. P
What perfect little appetizers!!! LOVE!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch
This look really delicious!!!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I love stuffed peppers and minis are even better!
Bev @ Bev Cooks
Waaaant it, want it, want it.
Tieghan
These are so cute and I love the flavors! What a perfect summer appetizer or even side! Love all the basil!
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
These are too cute!!! Love that bright pop of color. And no twisting my arm with sausage and basil. Beautiful, Dara!
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective
Fabulous appetizer, Dara!