These oven baked 3-ingredient beef stuffed sweet peppers are the kind of easy appetizer that feels made for busy fall weekends, especially when everyone is gathering around the TV and you want something hot, hearty, and snackable without a long prep list. Mini sweet peppers turn tender and just a little blistered in the oven, while browned beef and melted cheddar make each bite rich, savory, and satisfying.
Serve these peppers warm on a platter with toothpicks for easy game-day snacking, or pair them with a simple salad, tortilla chips and salsa, queso, or a veggie tray to round out the spread. They also work well alongside sliders, baked wings, or a crockpot of chili if you're putting together a bigger casual menu.
Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Beef Stuffed Sweet Peppers
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
12 mini sweet peppers
1 1/2 cups shredded yellow cheddar cheese
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a glass casserole dish or baking dish.
2. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks, until fully cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
3. While the beef cooks, slice the mini sweet peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and membranes.
4. Arrange the pepper halves cut-side up in the prepared baking dish, then spoon the cooked beef evenly into each pepper half.
5. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the tops of the filled peppers.
6. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the peppers are tender-crisp and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve warm.
Variations & Tips
Add a little seasoning: Even with just 3 ingredients, these are tasty, but if your pantry is open, a little salt, black pepper, garlic powder, or taco seasoning stirred into the beef adds extra flavor fast.
Make-ahead tip: Brown the beef and prep the peppers earlier in the day, then fill and top them with cheese right before baking. This is a great trick when you're juggling game-day food and don't want to be stuck in the kitchen during kickoff.
Cheese swap: Colby jack, pepper jack, or a Mexican blend all melt nicely here if that's what you have in the fridge. Pepper jack is especially good if you want a little more kick without adding more ingredients.
Keep them upright: If a few pepper halves wobble in the dish, tuck them close together so they support each other while baking. A snug fit helps keep the filling and melted cheese right where you want them.