Why We Love This Stuffed Banana Peppers Recipe
Bold, slightly sweet banana peppers are most commonly served pickled in the USA. Often we eat them sliced on Italian-inspired dishes including sandwiches, pizza, and salads. Or enjoy them whole for a snack with some kick! However, banana peppers are also an amazing chile to stuff and bake! They offer a unique tangy flavor with mild spicy heat. Occasionally, you might get the “surprise” hot pepper, but most of the time they can be enjoyed by all. Here we’ve stuffed long banana peppers with tantalizing Italian sausage and cream cheese mixture, then braised them in marinara sauce until soft and silky. The baked stuffed peppers are then smothered with more melty cheese, so the dish is ultra comforting and irresistible in flavor. This classic Italian stuffed pepper recipe is low-carb, and gluten-free, and can also be prepared in a slow cooker! (No need to cook rice or add breadcrumbs.) It’s a terrific dinner that is fun, healthy(ish), and really makes your tastebuds happy.
Ingredients You Need
Banana peppers – long and large, but uniform in size Italian sausage – or plain ground pork or chicken sausage or seasoned ground turkey Butter – or olive oil Onion – peeled and diced Garlic – minced Cream cheese – softened Parmesan cheese – grated Egg – for binding Italian seasoning – store-bought or homemade Crushed red pepper – optional Marinara sauce – store-bought tomato sauce or homemade Italian cheese blend – shredded, or shredded mozzarella cheese Salt and pepper – to taste Parsley – for garnish
How to Make Banana Peppers Stuffed with Sausage
First, preheat the oven to 350°F. Then set out a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and a large mixing bowl. Prep the banana peppers by cutting off the stems. Use a small knife to slice down one side of each pepper from top to tip. Note: You do not want to cut the banana peppers in half, but just create a slit so they’re much easier to stuff. Remove the seeds from inside and discard. Pro Tip: Wash your hands well with hot soapy water. Even though banana peppers are usually mild, they may leave oils on your hands that can burn your eyes. Next, set a small skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, diced onions, and garlic. Salt and pepper liberally, then sauté to soften the aromatics for 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, stir to combine the Italian sausage, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Once the onions and garlic have softened, move to the bowl, and mix the sausage mixture by hand until smooth and even. Next, pour the marinara into the baking dish. One at a time, scoop up the sausage mixture with your hands and press it down into the banana peppers. Use your finger to press it all the way to the tip filling the banana pepper entirely. The peppers do not have to be closed along the seam, but they also shouldn’t be so stuffed that the pepper could crack. Place the stuffed banana peppers in the baking dish. Alternate the directions in which they lay so they fit neatly in the dish, like in the photo below. Cover the top of the baking dish tightly with foil. Then bake for 55 minutes undisturbed. Remove the foil and check that the peppers are very soft. Sprinkle the shredded Italian cheese over the top of the banana peppers and place the dish back in the oven, uncovered, for five minutes to melt. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if you like, and serve the sausage-stuffed peppers warm.
How to Make Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
Want that same melt-in-your-mouth tender pepper texture, but as a “set and forget” recipe? Make this dish in the crockpot! Prepare the sausage filling as directed above and stuff each banana pepper. Pour the marinara in the slow cooker crock, then layer the banana peppers in the slow cooker. Cover and slow cook on low for 5-6 hours. Sprinkle with cheese and cover again for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Serving Suggestions
These Italian sausage stuffed peppers are a wonderful low carb meal all on their own! However, you might want to pair it with some side dishes to make a heartier meal. If you want to keep things low carb, try serving it with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles! You can also serve these with some al dente pasta, rice or quinoa. Here are some of my personal favorites to pair with stuffed banana peppers:
Chopped Salad Fresh Focaccia Bread Breadsticks Steakhouse Salad Garlic Bread Tomato Salad
Tips & Tricks
Adjust the heat! You can opt for hot sausage, mild sausage, or simply ground pork here. If you like a bit of spice, definitely go for hot Italian sausage! You could also use ground chicken or turkey for a lighter option. If you don’t have Italian seasoning on hand, make your own with a combination of oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, rosemary and sage! The amount of banana peppers you use will depend on their size! If you find small banana peppers, you can make more!
Looking for More Marvelous Low Carb Recipes?
Italian Beef Skewers Keto Lasagna Roll-Ups (Made with Zucchini!) Low-Carb Pepperoni Pizza Bites Balsamic Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Supreme Pizza Dip
And Try Our Other Stuffed Pepper Recipes As Well!
Paella Stuffed Bell Peppers Keto Taco Stuffed Peppers Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers Chicken Pot Pie Stuffed Peppers Broccoli Cheese Rice Stuffed Peppers Slow Cooker Pizza Stuffed Peppers Healthy Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers Shrimp Stuffed Poblano Peppers Breakfast Stuffed Poblanos Loaded Stuffed Jalapenos 3-Ingredient Mini Stuffed Peppers
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