Stuffed Pickled Banana Peppers

Stuffed banana peppers are already pretty irresistible…but have you ever had stuffed PICKLED banana peppers??? If not, you’re in for a treat because they are sooooooo good!

Whenever I see stuffed banana peppers on a menu, I have to order them.

There’s something about that flavor combo- the slight bitterness of the peppers, the richness of the sausage and cheese, and the bright, tangy hit of tomato sauce- that makes my heart ridiculously happy.

And something else I love about them? They’re never quite the same from place to place. Sometimes they’re spicy, sometimes mild and sweet. Sometimes they’re swimming in sauce, other times barely kissed by it. They might be tucked under a gooey blanket of melted cheese… or just finished with a light sprinkle.

I’ve never actually had “bad” stuffed banana peppers, but I HAVE learned what I like most.

Spicy? Yes!

So spicy that I can’t taste the other flavors? No thank you.

Enough sauce to lightly coat each bite- with maybe a little extra for bread-dipping. I’m in!

And the cheese? It’s a compliment, but not the main story…I want to taste the peppers and filling.

And the peppers? They should be soft enough to cut with the side of your fork, but not soggy and lifeless.

An Abundance Of Pickleable Produce

So, remember how I said I’ve never had bad banana peppers when I’ve ordered out? Well… until very recently, I’d also never made great banana peppers at home. I’d made good ones, yes, but nothing I got excited about.

Until now 🙂

When Hannah brought an abundance of pickleable produce to my house a couple weeks ago I went on a quick-pickle spree. And as I was packing banana peppers into jars. it hit me:

How delicious would these be if I stuffed them??? I mean, my family LOVES pickles. We literally have an entire refrigerator shelf dedicated to different kinds of pickles. So why not????

I only had to wait a couple days to try it out because this delicious refrigerator pickle recipe is super simple and super fast.

You can always buy pickled banana peppers, too. It’s a valid option! Maybe you don’t want to make them, or they’re not in season, or you’re just craving stuffed banana peppers NOW and there isn’t enough time to pickle them. That’s ok. Buy them!

BUT…if you want to make your own they can be ready in 24 hours and it’s actually pretty fun 🙂

Again…you do you! I’m just here to give you ideas 😉

Why Pickle the peppers?

A lot of stuffed banana pepper recipes call for precooking the peppers. But when you start with pickled peppers?
You can skip that step completely 🙌

They’re already softened, so the cook time is shorter- and that salty-sweet-tart pickle flavor adds a whole new layer of deliciousness that plays so well with the savory filling.

What Ingredients Do You Need?

This recipe is simple and it made me realize I’ve been overthinking stuffed banana peppers for years. Here’s what you need:

• 9 pickled banana peppers
• 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, whatever you like)
• 1 egg
• 3 cups marinara
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

A few notes:

• Use a good quality sausage you really like.
• Make marinara or buy marinara.
• Sub in another melty cheese if that’s what you have- provolone, monterey jack, etc.
• Use any casserole dish that can comfortably hold all of the peppers in a single layer.

Putting it all together

• Preheat oven and gather ingredients
• Make sure peppers are slit open on one side, with seeds removed
• Combine sausage, egg and part of the cheese in a bowl until well combined
• Divide mixture between peppers, gently pressing into the corners of each pepper to fill completely
• Spread some of the sauce in a dish large enough to hold peppers in one layer and arrange stuffed peppers on top
• Spoon remaining sauce over each pepper and then top with cheese
• Bake until filling is cooked through (160°f) and sauce is bubbly.
• Optional: Broil briefly to brown the cheese- just make sure your dish is broiler-safe!

Let things cool down a few minutes before digging in… how good does this look????

And that’s all there is to it! Delicious stuffed pickled banana peppers! Serve these beauties with crusty bread to scoop up extra sauce. They make a fantastic appetizer- or add a big salad and call it dinner!

Thinking About More Ways To Stuff Vegetables?

I got you! Try one of these: Cheeseburger Stuffed Zucchini or Stuffed Poblanos with Chorizo, Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans

I hope you love these stuffed pickled banana peppers as much as we do!

And, as always, I love to hear how my recipes turn out for you (and I especially love to see your food photos)! So tag me at @breathingandcooking on Facebook and Instagram with your creations!

And don’t forget to breathe, trust yourself, and enjoy the process ❤️