Are you wondering what to do with bell peppers? Well, we are here to save you (and your bell pepper bumper crop) with these 15 delicious bell pepper recipes.
If you have a garden, you have probably experienced the bell pepper bumper crop. When that first pepper comes in, it’s so exciting, but when you have several gallon buckets full of peppers, what do you do with them? The good news is that there are lots of tasty recipes to try.
Bell peppers, which are sometimes called sweet peppers, are loaded with vitamins and you can find them in several different colors.
It’s tons of fun to cook with red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, orange bell peppers, and, of course, green bell peppers.
Bell peppers, a versatile and colorful ingredient, can be used in a variety of recipes to add flavor, texture, and visual appeal. Known for their sweet and mild taste, these nutrient-dense vegetables are an excellent addition to any dish. They come in an array of colors such as green, red, yellow, and orange, each offering distinct flavors and varying levels of sweetness.
Incorporating bell peppers into recipes not only enhances the taste but also provides numerous health benefits. Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, they promote a healthy diet and can be enjoyed in a multitude of dishes from various cuisines. From appetizers and salads to stir-fries and stews, bell peppers are a staple in many kitchens around the world.
However, you can use red bell peppers and yellow bell peppers to make sausage and peppers, too.
Sausage and peppers is an excellent weeknight meal because it comes together so quickly, but this bell pepper dinner is elegant enough to serve to company.
You can serve sausage and peppers out of the oven as a meal, or you can also slice up the sausage and peppers and make a delicious sandwich topped off with a slice of cheddar cheese.
For side dishes, use fluffy basmati cooked rice or brown rice.
If you want to make bell pepper recipes healthy, you can’t go wrong with this vegetarian chili recipe.
Who says chili has to have meat? Hey, we love chili con carne and white chicken chili, but sometimes, a delicious vegetarian chili is exactly what we’re craving.
You can enjoy this chili that is loaded with Mexican flavor and veggies for a terrific Meatless Monday option.
The veggies for this chili are tomato sauce, red onion, red bell pepper, carrots, celery, black beans, diced tomatoes, and pinto beans.
For spices, you can also add some Italian seasoning.
Use vegetable broth to keep it vegan or vegetarian, or use chicken broth if that’s what you prefer.
If you’re watching your carbs for a low carb, paleo, or keto diet, this vegetarian burrito bowl made with cauliflower rice is the perfect go-to lunch or dinner.
You can use any colored bell pepper to make this burrito bowl, but the red bell pepper adds tons of flavor.
Red onion adds even more flavor and color, while minced garlic and fresh lime juice (or fresh lemon juice) give you a delightful burst of flavor.
The beans are made with canned black beans, cumin, and chili powder.
Use red or green salsa with this burrito bowl and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and a diced tomato.
Want to make this a meaty meal? Add some cooked chicken.
We love red bell peppers and yellow bell peppers because it gives us a chance to make yummy red pepper recipes like this colorful sandwich.
This gorgeous (and nutritious) sandwich is loaded with so many colorful veggies.
Pile up your red cabbage, radishes, sliced ripe tomato, red bell peppers, sliced carrots, yellow bell peppers, avocado, arugula, cucumber slices, alfalfa sprouts, and avocado.
We are so in love with this yummy sandwich!
We also love that it has cream cheese with herbs and spices.
Use your favorite bread for this veggie sandwich, but make sure it’s a hearty bread that can hold all the weight of these veggies.
Bell peppers are loaded with vitamin C, beta carotene, and vitamin B. To add an extra punch of nutrition, you can use quinoa to make stuffed bell peppers.
Quinoa is full of wholesome plant-based protein and it’s a super healthy grain.
These stuffed peppers are a great Meatless Monday option and they give you a completely balanced meal.
Besides the quinoa and bell pepper, this stuffed pepper recipe has tons of veggies like black beans, diced tomatoes, green chiles, and corn.
Spices used for these stuffed peppers are onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and cilantro for garnish.
If you love Cuban food, this recipe for quick and easy Cuban black beans may be a new family favorite.
The onions, garlic, and bell pepper are sauteed in a skillet with olive oil, and you use canned black beans to make this dish super easy.
Seasonings used for this black beans recipe are cumin, oregano, black pepper, garlic, and salt.
You need white vinegar to make this recipe, but we have also made black beans with red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. A pinch of red pepper flakes adds tons of flavor, too.
Serve these Cuban black beans over fluffy basmati rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice.
When you want a light meal or salad, Panzanella is a great choice.
This salad is a classic Italian salad and it gets its name from the leftover stale bread cubes or croutons that are used to make the salad.
The crusty leftover bread pieces are marinated in a zesty dressing and then mixed together with red onion, cherry tomatoes, and all different colors of bell pepper.
Red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and green bell pepper all make this salad sweet and delicious.
This particular recipe calls for pickled onions, torn fresh basil leaves, kale, sherry vinegar (or balsamic vinegar), and mozzarella cheese.
When Taco Tuesday comes around, why not change things up a bit and serve up some yummy veggie fajitas?
It’s like combining Meatless Monday with Taco Tuesday. What’s not to love?
If you love Mexican food and Tex-Mex food, these veggie fajitas will make you so happy.
Veggie fajitas are loaded with veggies like bell peppers, asparagus, red onion, and mushrooms.
To make these veggie fajitas, you need homemade fajita mix or taco seasoning. This recipe calls for chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and Mexican oregano.
Serve your veggie fajitas with warm tortillas, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.
Classic stuffed peppers made with ground beef can be one of your favorite red bell pepper recipes, too.
We actually love it when someone makes ground beef stuffed peppers with all of the colored bell peppers. It’s just so pretty!
There are some creative stuffed peppers recipes on this list, but this recipe is for classic stuffed peppers.
These stuffed peppers are made with long-grain white rice, but you can use any type of rice you like, including brown rice or cauliflower rice.
Lean ground beef brings lots of flavor and protein, and you can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef if you want to lighten this recipe up.
Classic stuffed pepper recipes usually call for Worcestershire sauce.
For shredded cheese, use mozzarella cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, American cheese, or cheddar cheese.
One of our favorite bell pepper recipes is Shakshuka.
Shakshuka is a popular dish in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.
For Shakshuka, eggs are poached in a tangy tomato sauce and then topped with creamy feta cheese and fresh herbs.
We love this recipe because it has a hearty protein kick from delicious white beans. You can use cannellini beans or great northern beans to make this recipe.
Crumbled feta cheese is the signature ingredient in this bell pepper dish, and the onion and garlic (four cloves!) give the recipe tons of flavor.
Spices used are smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin. Use fresh chopped parsley for garnish.
Grilled bell peppers are an excellent side dish when you’re cooking BBQ for a summer gathering.
You’ve already got your grill fired up and hot, so why not pop some bell peppers on the grill for a super simple side that can be used to make other recipes later in the week?
If you’re eating a low carb or paleo diet, having some grilled bell peppers ready to add to recipes is ideal.
Cooked pepper is delicious when eaten right off the grill, but you can slice up leftovers and freeze them for future use.
When you need green pepper recipes that can do double-duty as an amazing side dish or vegetarian main dish meal, this recipe will save your day.
This bell pepper dish is loaded with zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, asparagus, onion, and mushrooms.
The veggies are drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and seasoned with simple ingredients you already have in your pantry: freshly ground black pepper and sea salt.
After washing your veggies well in your colander, cut them up into uniform bite-sized pieces.
We love having sauteed bell peppers and onions in the freezer for making tons of different meals, but this delicious bell pepper side dish also makes a great topping for fajitas, tacos, burrito bowls, and more.
This recipe is naturally gluten free, dairy free, egg free, and nut free. Sauteed bell peppers and onions are also compliant with low carb, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, and Whole30 diets.
To make sauteed bell peppers and onions, you need a large sweet yellow onion, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and green bell pepper.
Saute your sliced veggies in olive oil for maximum flavor.
How to Cut Bell Peppers
How do you cut bell peppers? It depends largely on how you’re going to use them. For example, if you’re making a salad, you might cut bell pepper rings. For some recipes, you may want chopped peppers or diced peppers.
Here’s the most common basic method for cutting bell peppers.
Slice a bell pepper straight down the middle with a large chef’s knife so that you’re forming four straight pieces. The ribs and seeds will still be intact in the center.
Using the chef’s knife, slice off the top and bottom of the bell pepper.
Pull out the bell pepper’s stem.
Lay the bell pepper on its side with the skin down.
Cut the bell pepper into thin slices.
Turn sideways to cut crosswise if you need square chopped pieces.
Do you want to learn one more way to make delicious stuffed peppers? Check out the New Orleans Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe in the video below.
16+ Tasty Bell Pepper Recipes (+Sausage and Peppers)
These recipes are sure to please. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
