Taco Tuesdays are looking a little different at my place, mainly because we’re going through a nacho obsession phase!
Oh yes indeedy folks, we’ve been eating oven-baked sheet pan nachos topped with chopped chicken fajitas or lean ground beef and gobs of cheese for a family dinner at least once a week! Also, my big kids are quite keen to make individual plates of simple bean and cheese nachos for quick afterschool snacks these days.
It may sound a bit odd, but I love watching my kids work together after their school day to prepare nachos for themselves. I honestly find it to be a really heartwarming thing. Way back in the day, when my younger brother and I were teenagers, we had many late night conversations in our parents kitchen talking over a plate of microwaved nachos. I know, so 90’s, right?! But, watching my kids work together and chit chat while they stack those toppings reminds me of those old times. I guess I have a subconscious desire that they will also cherish memories of their simple daily connections while enjoying food at home, just as my brother and I do.
Wow, well those thoughts got as deep as I prefer a bowl of queso to be for a minute!! Siblings bonding over some tasty Tex-Mex food in their parent’s kitchen… it’s a real thing. I’m all about making those precious memories.
What the heck am I even writing about today?? 😆 …Oh yes, these ridiculous Loaded Mini-Pepper Nachos!! Y’all need this scrumptious recipe in your lives, it’s flipping inspirational!
While a mild nacho obsession may seem like a victimless problem to have, eating weekly plates filled with crispy tortilla chips +toppings is seriously cutting into my health goals for spring and summer. Y’all, I’ve got a calendar full of events at which family photos will be taken in the next three months. I’m back to counting calories to shed some winter fluffiness and hoping to look my best for those upcoming photos. In fact, I’m down 6 pounds since February!
I found the mini-pepper nacho concept on Pinterest back in late 2022 (Optavia Lean and Green board), and these deliciously low-carb Loaded Mini-Pepper Nachos have been on regular rotation in my kitchen since that time. I truly love this dish as a lightened up version of cheesy loaded nachos, and I whole-heartedly predict that this infatuation won’t wear off anytime soon.
Loaded nachos are one of my family’s most-loved comfort foods. With fewer calories and a small pop of extra nutrition from more fresh veggies on my plate, I feel much better about gobbling up a flavorful plate of nachos as often as we do.
How to make low carb mini-pepper nachos
To make these eye-catching, mini-pepper nachos you’ll need a bag of vibrant, tri-colored mini-peppers, a measure of your favorite meat for nachos prepared with Mexican seasonings, and shredded cheese of your choice. Those three ingredients are the bulk of the recipe, however don’t leave your nachos naked! Pile them up with your favorite fresh toppings such as shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, sliced pickled or fresh jalapeños, chopped avocado, sour cream, salsa and/or guacamole.
I most often prepare my ground beef or turkey for this recipe at home, and I always use my favorite homemade Tex-Mex taco seasoning mix to flavor the meat.
Many items such as prepared seasoned taco meat, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, salsa, guacamole are easy to find at any grocery store. Picking up some of those items from the store will make the at-home prep for this recipe very minimal, however, the mini-peppers must be sliced and seeded so they can be stuffed. Be sure to slice the peppers open in such a way that they will lay flat on the plate, otherwise they will roll onto their sides from the weight of the meat and cheese.
You could also make some delicious vegetarian mini-pepper nachos by stuffing them with shredded cheese, cream cheese, or a vegetarian meat substitute, such as ground Beyond Meat or Soyrizo! Honestly, some combination of all three of those ingredients could truly be a knock out vegetarian meal ⭐
▶️ I prepared a batch of these simple mini-pepper nachos in a cooking video, so be sure to watch the video below for a full tutorial on how to make a batch for yourself.
❓What are your favorite nachos toppings??? Do tell….
Happy Spring and happy eating, everyone! 🍽️🌷🌞
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Loaded Mini-Pepper Nachos
Course: Lunch, DinnerCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy1
servings20
minutesThis is my favorite way to prepare a comforting plate of loaded nachos at home. Omitting all of the extra calories and carbs from traditional corn tortilla chips makes these Loaded Mini-Pepper Nachos low carb, Tex-Mex comfort food… at it’s finest! This recipe card describes how to make a single serving of mini-pepper nachos. Please increase the ingredient amounts to suit your needs and enjoy!
Ingredients
4 mini bell peppers, rinsed, halved and seeded
1/2 -3/4 cup cooked, Mexican-seasoned ground, shredded or chopped meat of your choice (I typically use ground turkey, ground beef or chopped chicken fajitas)
1/3 – 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese or another cheese you prefer (I always use reduced-fat cheese)
- optional toppings
sour cream
salsa
guacamole
shredded iceberg lettuce
pickled or fresh jalapeno slices
coarsely chopped or diced fresh tomatoes
diced red onions
sliced green onions
Directions
- Fill each mini pepper half with a tablespoon(ish) of cooked taco meat and top with shredded cheese, as you prefer. Transfer the stuffed mini-peppers to a microwave-safe plate, pointy ends facing inward in a circle, as in the picture above. Warm the plate in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or to your desired temperature (*see notes below).
- In the center of the circle of warm mini pepper nachos, pile up your favorite nacho toppings and enjoy!
- Be sure not to forget your favorite salsa or guacamole on the side 😉
Recipe Video
Notes
- **If you prefer not to use a microwave oven, use a small baking dish or tray to warm them in a toaster oven or conventional oven just until the cheese gets melty. Transfer the heated nachos to a serving plate, if necessary and arrange them in a circle with the pointy ends facing inward. In the center of the warm circle of mini pepper nachos, pile up your favorite toppings and enjoy!
- Recipe from A Little Fish in the Kitchen blog at www.alittlefishinthekitchen.com. All content is owned by Marcelle G. Bolton. Please contact the author for permission to republish.
Love the idea of grain-free nachos.
Hello there, thank you so much for the visit!! 💖
We extremely (what…maybe once in two years?) rarely eat nachos in our house – not our most favourite food. But we would definitely enjoy these stuffed peppers. So few simple ingredients – stunning result and flavours!
Hi Ben, it must be a Texas thing with the nachos. They’re on every restaurant menu around here 🙂 Thank you for the comment!! 🌞
I love these — nachos are so good but, in addition to the toppings, all the chips make it pretty much of my diet. But your version with the peppers is brilliant! Nice!
these look so cute marcelle. I like capsicums and i have made stuffed Italian ones before but these sound tasty. I find turkey mince is great in dishes like this.
Hi Sherry, thank you so much! Italian stuffed peppers sounds really good too!
I would not’ve thought to stuff mini peppers, but they look so amazing on the plate! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Jeff, thank you so much!!
I have never had nachos…love the idea of using mini paprika here.
Oh Angie, you have got to try some nachos 🙂 They are a Tex-Mex cuisine staple!! Thank you so much, my friend! 🌷