Bell Pepper Sandwich

Published May 31, 2021

If you use TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably seen the viral recipe video for a sandwich made with bell peppers instead of bread.

When I first saw this recipe, I felt like it was another diet culture hack to cut out carbs. As the recipe started to trend and new variations appeared, I decided to try it out and see what all the hype was about.

Bell Pepper Sandwich Ingredients

I don’t often have cold cuts in the house, so I went to the store to buy the provolone cheese and sliced turkey. Feel free to use your favorite brand and type of cheese or protein for this sandwich.

I’ve seen several bell pepper sandwich recipes which use turkey, so that’s what I decided to use, even though it’s not my favorite cold cut.

Provolone is one of my favorite cheeses. I felt that its flavor would compliment the mellow flavor from the turkey. I selected a turkey from the store that had some additional flavor/seasoning, as you can see from the dark rim around the slice.

I had a container of spring mix in the refrigerator, so I decided to add a handful of extra greens to this sandwich. The best part about the bell pepper sandwich is that it's customizable, so if there’s an ingredient or flavor that you’d prefer, feel free to substitute it.

I’ve seen many recipes use sliced avocado in their bell pepper sandwiches. However, I can never find a ripe avocado, so I opted to use guacamole instead. I layered enough to cover the inside of the pepper (which I’m estimating to be about 2-3 teaspoons). Use your judgement when assembling your sandwich and customize the amount to your taste.

How to Make a Bell Pepper Sandwich

Tools for this Dish

• Cutting board and sharp knife (for cleaning the pepper)

• Butter knife (for guacamole)

• Preferred method for cooking the bacon (I microwaved the two slices so I only needed a plate)

• Large knife for cutting the assembled sandwich

Cooking Notes

Layering Your Ingredients

The curved shape of the bell pepper makes it an easy tool to hold your ingredients. I started with a layer of guacamole so the bagel seasoning and leafy greens could “stick” to it.

From there, I added the cheese and then proteins, with the crisp bacon on top. This was helpful because when you joined the two halves together, all of the protein was layered in the middle of the sandwich, while the greens and spices were closer to the top, where the “bread” would typically be.

I thought this was helpful to point out, because the sandwich can be a bit messy to eat. I preferred the layers that I did, though I’ve seen people assemble their sandwiches in a variety of ways.

The Final Product

I cannot believe how delicious this sandwich is. The textures in this sandwich are amaaaazing.

The pepper is juicy and sweet, the everything bagel seasoning contributes most of the flavor and crunch, while the guacamole is creamy and light. Using a neutral protein like turkey was a good idea, especially for the garlicky flavor from the bagel seasoning.

I can see why this recipe is so popular. It’s fresh, light, and guilt-free, since it’s packed with veggies and protein.

Recipe Score

I give the viral bell pepper sandwich recipe a 10/10 for the following:

• Recipe Level

  • Easy: The only item to cook for this recipe is the bacon, which you can pop in the microwave for 3-minutes and avoid a greasy pan on the stovetop. Then, assemble your ingredients with minimal tools.

• Ingredients

  • If you eat cold cuts frequently, you may already have most of these ingredients in your fridge already. Select your favorite proteins, spices, and toppings and buy a fresh bell pepper (any color) to assemble your sandwich. If you grow your own veggies this recipe will be even better!

• Prep

  • There is no prep involved for this recipe.

• Flavor

  • 10/10: I am blown away with how tasty this recipe is. The bell pepper works so well as the “bread” for this sandwich. I loved the subtle flavor from the guacamole, the distinct flavor from the provolone cheese, and the garlicky, salty flavor from the everything bagel seasoning. This is a perfect sandwich if you want to feel full and have a large serving of veggies and fresh ingredients.

K. Martinelli Makes The Viral Bell Pepper Sandwich

Have you made the viral bell pepper sandwich?

Leave a comment if you’ve made this recipe before! I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Looking for more recipe inspiration? Check out my entree recipes here.