Description
A bold, fast, and spicy weeknight dinner featuring bell peppers stuffed with a creamy buffalo chicken mixture, baked until tender and topped with melted cheddar cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large bell peppers (any color)
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast (cooked and shredded/chopped) or rotisserie chicken
- ½ cup Frank’s RedHot buffalo hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 4 oz full-fat cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch dressing mix
- 2 stalks green onions (sliced, for garnish)
- Blue cheese or ranch dressing (optional, for serving)
- Aluminum foil (for covering)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Wash peppers, slice off the tops, and scoop out seeds and white membranes to create hollow shells. Slice a tiny sliver off the bottom if needed so they sit flat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, buffalo hot sauce, melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and ranch seasoning mix. Mash with a fork until well combined.
- Place peppers upright in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pack the chicken mixture firmly into each pepper.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of each pepper.
- Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until peppers are tender and cheese is melted and slightly browned.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions and serve with blue cheese or ranch if desired.
Notes
For best results, use full-fat cream cheese to bind the filling. If peppers are still crunchy, bake covered for an extra 5-10 minutes. Do not freeze stuffed peppers as the texture suffers upon thawing. Can be made ahead by prepping peppers and filling separately in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed pepper
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: buffalo chicken, stuffed peppers, spicy dinner, weeknight meals, gluten-free, meal prep, chicken breast, bell peppers, comfort food