30 Bell Pepper Recipes to Add to Your Regular Rotation
They might not have the shape-shifting power of cauliflower, the widespread appeal of broccoli, or the allure of, say, baby bok choy, but bell peppers have quite a lot going for them, nevertheless. Botanically classified as fruits, but generally treated like vegetables, these big, sweet peppers are flavorful, versatile and visually appealing to boot. Here, a roundup of the very best bell pepper recipes for every season and occasion.
24 Types of Peppers and When to Cook with Them
1. Enchilada Stuffed Mushrooms
Two Peas and their Pod
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, vegetarian
This flavor bomb, courtesy of Coterie member Maria Lichty, features juicy portobello mushrooms as the vessel for a vegetarian medley of bell peppers, beans, cheese and spicy enchilada sauce.
2. Stuffed Bell Peppers with Mexican Rice
Skinny Ms.
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, high fiber
Throw some ground meat into the mix or leave the recipe as is for a vegetarian meal—either way, the whole family is sure to be wild about the heavily seasoned beans and rice combo that these bad boys are filled with.
3. Keto Basil Pesto Chicken
Two Sleevers
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, low carbs, keto-friendly
Creamy pesto chicken gets topped with bell peppers, onions and tomatoes in this colorful and oh-so comforting chicken bake that’s just right for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
4. Sizzling Steak Fajita Roll Ups
The Recipe Critic
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
You can wrap a juicy piece of meat around pretty much anything and it will be delicious. Try it out with tender flank steak and fajita-seasoned bell peppers, and you’ll see what we mean.
5. Instant Pot Caribbean Chicken Salad With Sweet Orange Vinaigrette
Tidbits
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
Bell pepper sings alongside mango, mandarin and avocado in the creamy, tangy and spicy jerk chicken salad bowl. Fair warning: Just one bite will make your palate light up like a Christmas tree.
6. Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip Stuffed Peppers
Confessions of a Fit Foodie
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: air fryer recipe, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Cute mini bell peppers + creamy buffalo chicken dip = party appetizer perfection.
7. Vegan Boardwalk Italian Sausage and Peppers Sandwiches
Strength and Sunshine
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten-free, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegan
It’s hard to go wrong with sausage, peppers and onions stuffed into a hoagie…but a vegan adaptation that actually works? Now, that’s something to write home about.
8. Mahi Mahi with Olive and Bell Pepper Couscous
Sidewalk Shoes
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, Mediterranean diet-friendly
Israeli couscous, fresh oregano, kalamata olives and diced peppers come together to make a colorful and flavorful bed for meaty and mild Mahi Mahi in this elegant, Mediterranean-inspired meal.
9. Bell Pepper Chicken
The Gracious Pantry
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, high protein, <500 calories
This easy, garden-fresh skillet dinner looks and tastes like summer, and sweet red bell peppers are the star of the show (though any color pepper will work in a pinch).
10. Roasted Peppers with Garlic and Herbs
The Domestic Dietician
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Sometimes less is more. Case in point: This classy side dish of roasted bell peppers, spiked with a simple blend of garlic, olives and fresh herbs.
11. Easy Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers
Cook at Home Mom
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: Whole30, Paleo, gluten-free
Tender shredded chicken, pico de gallo, cauliflower rice, avocado….Sorry, tortillas, but bell peppers are going to be taking your place this Taco Tuesday.
12. Creamy Beef Bell Pepper Pasta
Berry Maple
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: High protein, crowd-pleaser
The slightly bitter, grassy flavor of green bell pepper is the ideal counterpoint to the creamy alfredo-like sauce and hearty beef in this crowd-pleasing weeknight pasta recipe.
14. One Pot Cajun Pasta with Sausage and Peppers
Whitney Bond
Time Commitment: 29 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, one pot, high protein
This one-pot pasta gets a major boost from a light tomato sauce, chunks of spicy Cajun sausage and the fresh flavor of (you guessed it) green bell peppers. Best of all, it’s as easy to make as it is to eat.
15. Thai Drunken Noodles
This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
This late night favorite features red bell peppers commingling with seriously spicy Thai peppers. The end result is a noodle dish that’s best for folks who can handle more than a little heat.
16. Black Bean Chili
Girl Gone Gourmet
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
This punchy black bean chili owes its well-rounded flavor to a combination of thick-cut bacon and green bell pepper. Make it once and you’ll want to cozy up to it all winter long.
17. Dijon Coleslaw
Rock Recipes
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
A true innovator decided to add bell peppers and golden raisins to coleslaw, and let’s just say the plain carrot-and-cabbage preparation has seemed pretty snoozy ever since.
18. Air Fryer Chicken, Broccoli, and Bell Pepper
Fork to Spoon
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, air fryer recipe
Forget about the wok, friends: It turns out your air fryer can produce a swoon-worthy stir-fry in half the time (and with none of the stirring). Neat, right?
19. Asian Stuffed Bell Peppers
Skinny Ms.
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: dairy-free, keto friendly, low carbs
Put down that takeout menu and whip up a batch of these stuffed peppers for a guilt-free appetizer that boasts loads of Asian flavor without all the carbs and grease.
20. Baby Bell Peppers with Feta and Mint
Noble Pig
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
You might not be able to hop a plane to Santorini tonight, but we just found the next best thing (and it will even play nicely with that chicken you were planning on roasting).
21. Chili Stuffed Peppers
The Endless Meal
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten-free, paleo, vegan
Bell pepper bowls are to chili what sourdough bowls are to New England Clam Chowder (i.e., a totally awesome upgrade).
22. Easy Potato Hash with Bell Pepper and Onion
Posh Journal
Time Commitment: 27 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <500 calories
Presenting a bell pepper recipe that you’ll want to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bonus points if you top it with a sunny side-up egg.
23. Mango Salsa
Real and Vibrant
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Serve it with fish, add it to a rice bowl or just grab a bag of tortilla chips and go to town. There’s no wrong way to eat this jalapeño-spiked, mango and bell pepper salsa.
24. Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup
Show Me the Yummy
Time Commitment: 4 hours 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
A deconstructed stuffed pepper you can eat with a spoon? Count us in.
25. Sun-Dried Tomato and Feta Quinoa Casserole
The Endless Meal
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: gluten-free, vegetarian, high protein
Feta cheese, artichokes, capers, bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives…this Mediterranean quinoa casserole recipe calls for everything under the (Tuscan) sun, and we’re not mad about it.
26. Easy Breakfast Egg Casserole
Happy Healthy Mama
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
This casserole twist on a classic bell pepper scramble is just begging to be served at a brunch party.
27. Sheet Pan Caribbean Fish
Upstate Ramblings
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients
Fresh seafood, sweet corn and bell peppers, bold Caribbean seasoning and practically zero clean-up. This one checks all the boxes.
28. Lasagna Stuffed Peppers
Fork and Beans
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten-free, kid-friendly
In case you missed it, bell peppers were born to be stuffed. And this comforting Italian filling is a real crowd-pleaser.
29. Air Fryer Philly Cheesesteak
Two Sleevers
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, kid-friendly
Bell peppers are a Philly cheesesteak essential—and thanks to this ingenious air fryer hack, the beloved melt has never been easier to make.
30. Mini Bell Pepper Nachos
Confessions of a Fit Foodie
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: Low-carb, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
Finally, a low carb alternative to everyone’s favorite indulgence. Whether it’s game day, party time, or movie night—just swap bell peppers in for tortilla chips and watch the crowd go wild.
