Grilled Sweet Pepper Poppers

Stuffed with three different kinds of cheese and lots of pimentos, these sweet pepper poppers are grilled until perfectly smoky and the most addicting summer appetizer!

Step aside, jalapeno poppers! There’s a new gal in town and she’s just about the most addictive thing you’ll ever throw on your grill this summer.

We’re swapping out the spicy jalapenos for their sweet cousin today and stuffing these beauts to capacity with a creamy 3-cheese filling, lots of pimentos, fresh basil, and sending it all to the grill.

Suffice to say, it’s your new favorite snack.

You’re only going to need 7 simple ingredients and about 20 minutes to pull off these peppers making them ideal for pretty much any kind of gathering this summer! They’re a great little teaser to throw on the grill at a cookout and will definitely get the appetites rolling.

These Pepper Poppers feature…

• Gooey cheddar, Parmesan, and cream cheese
• Flavorful pimentos and fresh basil
• Tender mini sweet peppers
• Ready in minutes and cooked entirely on the grill

Making the Pepper Poppers

(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)

Ingredients You Will Need

• Cream cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Pimentos
• Garlic
• Mini sweet peppers
• Basil

Tips for Perfect Pepper Poppers

1. Buy 12 mini peppers – depending on the size of your peppers, I found that there’s usually enough of the cream cheese filling for 10-12 peppers, so error on the side of having more.
2. Soften cream cheese – this will make it much easier to incorporate into the other ingredients.
3. Grill poppers on a grill pan or tin foil – this will eliminate the risk of peppers falling through the grates while they cook.
4. Top poppers with basil after cooking – this adds an amazing pop of herby flavor!

Recipe Variations

Try these ideas for a different twist on these peppers.

• Use jalapenos – jalapenos can easily be substituted for the sweet peppers for a spicy version.
• Top poppers with bacon – top the peppers with crispy bacon bits after grilling.
• Substitute cheese – shredded gouda, pepperjack, mozzarella, or asiago would all work great.
• Swap out fresh herbs – try fresh chives, oregano, or parsley instead of the basil.

Oven Instructions

Don’t have a grill? You can easily make these poppers in the oven instead! Arrange poppers in a single layer on a greased sheet pan and bake at 400F 15-20 minutes until filling is bubbly.

You’ll soon see why one of these poppers turns into many more! The rich cheese filling paired with the flavorful pimentos and all that incredible smoky grill flavor makes for the most perfect bite.

I mean, I’d go so far as to call this entire-meal material.

Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.

More summery appetizers to make next!

• Grilled Peaches and Burrata
• Caprese Bruschetta
• Grilled Caprese Flatbread

This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 6/12/25.