These lamb-stuffed piquillo peppers are equal parts fancy, easy, and delicious. The best part is that you can make them in less than 30 minutes! This recipe works great as an appetizer, especially with a zingy yet creamy avocado lime sauce.

Stuffed red peppers on a white plate with a green dipping sauce.

How to Make Lamb Stuffed Piquillo Peppers

First, mix the lamb, egg, bread crumbs, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, turmeric, oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl (photo 1). Mix (photo 2). Then roll into 15 equally sized balls (photo 3).

Step by step mixing meatballs.

Lay the peppers on a baking sheet (photo 1). Pierce the tip of each piquillo pepper with a knife (photo 2).

Red peppers on a baking sheet and being cut with a knife.

Carefully stuff each pepper with one meatball. Place on a sheet pan. Bake ~18 minutes. (Internal temperature should read 160F.)

Red stuffed peppers lined up on a baking sheet.

While baking, you can make the dipping sauce. Add all the ingredients for the avocado lime sauce to a food processor or blender and run until smooth.

Avocado and cilantro in a food processor.

Serve the meatballs warm or cold with the avocado-lime puree.

Green avocado sauce in a white bowl surrounded by stuffed red peppers.

Tips for Success

  • Pierce each pepper at the tip with a knife so that when you stuff the peppers, the air is not trapped inside the pepper. This makes it easier to fill them.
  • Prep ahead by stuffing the peppers, arranging them on a baking sheet, then covering them and placing them in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake them. Remove from the refrigerator before you preheat the oven so they have time to come to room temperature.

More Weeknight Lamb Dinners

When I’m craving meat, I often opt for lamb. It’s delicious, cooks up quickly, and is a nice way to switch it up during the week. Check out my favorite lamb recipes here.

Stuffed red peppers on a white plate with green dipping sauce in the middle.

Lamb Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with Avocado Lime Puree

5 from 7 votes
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These lamb stuffed piquillo peppers are fancy, easy, delicious, and made in less than 30 minutes! Lucky for your next dinner party, this recipe works great as an appetizer, too.
Prep Time12 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 4
Calories: 741kcal

Ingredients

For the Lamb Stuffed Peppers:

  • 1 1/2 lbs. ground lamb
  • 16 piquillo peppers 14-16 oz jar
  • 1 egg scrambled
  • 1 tbsp matzo meal breadcrumbs, or panko
  • 1.5 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 1-2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil canola oil, or sunflower seed oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper

Avocado Lime Sauce:

  • 2 avocados pitted and skinned
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1/3 cup cilantro
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 pinch sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat to 350F.
  • Mix the lamb, egg, bread crumbs, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, turmeric, oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Roll into 15 equally sized balls.
  • Lay the peppers on a baking sheet. Pierce the tip of each piquillo pepper with a knife.
  • Carefully stuff each pepper with one meatball. Place on a sheet pan. Bake ~18 minutes. (Internal temperature should read 160F.)
  • While baking, add all the ingredients for the avocado lime sauce to a food processor or blender and run until smooth.
  • Serve the meatballs warm or cold with the avocado-lime puree.

Notes

Pierce each pepper at the tip with a knife. Then when you stuff the peppers, the air is not trapped inside the pepper.
Prep ahead by stuffing the peppers, arranging them on a baking sheet, then covering them and placing them in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake them. Remove from the refrigerator before you preheat the oven so they have time to come to room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 741kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 945mg | Potassium: 934mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1244IU | Vitamin C: 64mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 6mg
Did you try this recipe?I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a Review to let us know how it came out, if you have a successful substitution or variation, or anything else.
5 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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