Description
A quick and lighter pizza-inspired appetizer made with mini bell peppers filled with marinara, melted mozzarella, and turkey pepperoni for a colorful, crowd-pleasing bite.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces mini bell peppers (about 8 peppers), sliced in half lengthwise and seeded
- 3/4 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 ounce mini turkey pepperoni slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the mini bell peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and membranes.
- Arrange the pepper halves cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet.
- Spoon marinara sauce into each pepper half, being careful not to overfill.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce.
- Top each pepper half with about 3 slices of mini turkey pepperoni.
- Bake for about 12 minutes, until the peppers begin to soften and the cheese melts.
- Switch the oven to broil on high and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, watching closely, until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- These pizza bites are naturally lower in carbohydrates than traditional pizza because peppers replace the crust.
- Avoid overfilling with sauce to keep the bites from becoming soggy.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the turkey pepperoni or replace it with olives, mushrooms, or diced tomatoes.
- You can use cheddar or an Italian cheese blend instead of mozzarella for a different flavor.
- For extra heat, add chili flakes or use spicy marinara sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 8 to 10 minutes or in an air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Freezing is not recommended because the peppers can become watery after thawing.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
