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There are two items that you will find on just about any menu in Buffalo. Chicken wings (obviously) and stuffed banana peppers. Stuffed banana peppers in this town are not your typical stuffed pepper with the rice and the meat filling. These are spicy, hot peppers with tons of melted cheese stuffed inside and some type of crumb to hold the filling together.
Every restaurant in the area has their own version… a different combination of ingredients to make this spicy appetizer their own. The filling is completely customizable, and chefs change it up by combining different cheeses, spices & herbs. They may choose to serve it with grilled crostini or a side of marinara sauce for dipping. You can start to see why Buffalonians (us included) eat this dish up.
But even better than an eating stuffed banana peppers before a meal, is eating them AS the meal. It was at Curry’s, a local restaurant, when I was introduced to “The Dibble,” a sandwich consisting of a cheese-stuffed, spicy pepper smothering a juicy piece of grilled chicken breast between two slices of crispy ciabatta bread. Of course, I had to order it. And it quickly turned into my new favorite sandwich. We had already developed our take on the appetizer, so I knew this would be a sandwich that we could successfully re-create at home.
This is a delicious and hearty sandwich that comes together fast, especially if you have leftover chicken already waiting in the fridge. If not, that’s ok too. Just bake up a couple of chicken breasts, seasoned with salt & pepper, in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or so, until the juices run clear.
Stuffed Banana Pepper & Chicken Sandwiches
Print recipe
| Serves | 4 |
| Prep time | 40 minutes |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Total time | 50 minutes |
| Meal type | Lunch, Main Dish |
This sandwich is full of flavor and textures. The melted cheese, spicy pepper, grilled chicken, and fresh bread create an awesome sandwich experience.
Ingredients
- 4 banana peppers (Pick some that are straight and round, not bunched up or curled at the ends)
- 8oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup romano cheese
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
- 1 green onion (minced)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- medium slice Leftover roasted chicken (or cooked chicken breast)
- 1 Loaf of ciabatta bread (cut into thick slices)
Optional
- Spinach, tomatoes, and the rest of your favorite sandwich toppings
Directions
| 1. | In a frying pan, heat 3 cups of water over high heat. |
| 2. | While water is heating, prepare hot peppers by removing tops and using end of a spoon to remove all seeds. Then, prepare an ice bath for the peppers once they are done blanching. |
| 3. | Once the water comes to a boil, add peppers and let blanch for 6 minutes, until peppers have just softened. Immediately plunge peppers into the ice water bath, to stop the cooking process. Allow peppers to cool, the dry off any excess water. |
| 4. | To create the filling, combine cream cheese, romano, parsley, asiago, onion, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed cracker crumbs in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir just to combine. |
| 5. | Stuff peppers gently (we recommend using gloves, especially if your peppers are hot), by rolling about ¼ of the cheese mixture into a log and placing inside the pepper. Fill any remaining space with additional cheese mixture. Repeat with all peppers. |
| 6. | Slice about 1/2" off the tip of the pepper – this helps release the steam from the pepper, and the cheese will melt evenly throughout the pepper. |
| 7. | Dip the exposed cheese mixture in some excess cracker crumbs, to help seal in the cheese. Drizzle the peppers with olive oil and place in a baking dish. |
| 8. | Turn on the broiler, and let peppers blister/cheese melt, about 10 minutes. |
| 9. | Create sandwich by layering spinach, tomatoes, chicken and peppers between two thick slices of ciabatta bread. Serve! |
Make this sandwich for dinner tonight. I promise you won’t regret it.
Shared with Recipe Round Up, Superbowl and Chili Cookoff
2 Responses to Stuffed Banana Pepper & Chicken Sandwiches
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I can’t wait to try this!!! It looks amazing!!
These are amazing! Bold flavors and a new twist on a stuffed pepper! A “must try” recipe.
Thanks so much for bringing them to Tumbleweed Contessa’s Super Bowl Party. They are sure to be a big hit.