Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Vegetables 30 Bell Pepper Recipes That Are Colorful and Delicious From entrées to dips, these recipes show off the versatility and flavor of this multi-hued vegetable. By Frances Kim Frances Kim Frances is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines and Blythe Copeland Blythe Copeland Blythe Copeland is a contributing writer with more than a decade of experience as a freelance lifestyle writer. Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 22, 2023 Trending Videos Photo: Johnny Miller Bell peppers aren't just for stuffing—though their spacious inner section does provide an excellent spot for vegetarian fillings, ground beef, or even spaghetti. These sweet, colorful vegetables work in almost any dish: sautéed with pasta or over steak, pureed into gazpacho, raw in a vibrant summer salad, charred and covered with cheese as an appetizer, or marinated as an alternative to bruschetta. Bell peppers are available year-round, but they're most abundant—and least expensive—from July through November. While all red, yellow, and orange peppers start out green, the color and taste change depending on how long the pepper is allowed to ripen on the vine. When you're choosing bell peppers, go for ones that feel heavy for their size and have glossy, smooth skin. Incorporate the recipes on this list into your summer meal plan to take full advantage of these colorful, versatile vegetables 61 Fruits and Vegetables You Should Always Refrigerate—and 31 You Shouldn't 01 of 30 Beans-and-Greens Stuffed Peppers Johnny Miller Healthy and hearty, this vegetarian entrée is also easy to make. The chard-garlic-canned beans filling cooks on the stovetop, while the peppers are broiled, then filled, topped with cheese, and broiled again. View Recipe 02 of 30 Spicy Braised Bell Peppers and Eggs Johnny Miller For a colorful breakfast or a light dinner, try this simple sauté of bell peppers and cherry tomatoes with cumin, garlic, and chile. The eggs are steamed in the same pan, then served over strained yogurt. (Toast is optional!) View Recipe 03 of 30 No-Mayo Mediterranean Tuna Salad Johnny Miller Our no sad desk lunch rule stands whether your desk is far from your kitchen or in the next room, and this recipe fits the bill. Bell pepper brings color and crunch to this tasty, dairy-free take on the deli classic. View Recipe 04 of 30 Marinated Peppers With Mint and Sesame Lennart Weibull For a quick appetizer, as part of an antipasto platter, or just as a tasty side dish, try this easy-to-make alternative to tomato bruschetta. View Recipe 05 of 30 Pasta Peperonata With Tuna and Olives Lennart Weibull Cooked low and slow, bell peppers turn melt-in-your-mouth tender and sweet; when sliced thin, they'll twirl around a fork with the noodles. Almost everything in this quick pasta—jarred tuna, olives, raisins—is a pantry item, and you can even substitute canned tomatoes for fresh cherry. View Recipe 06 of 30 Gazpacho Salad With Croutons Christopher Testani We've deconstructed the cold soup into an easy chopped salad of sweet onion, cucumber, bell pepper, and Campari tomatoes. View Recipe 07 of 30 Ratatouille This hearty country dish from the Provence region of France is an easy mix of summer vegetables—bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes—gently simmered with garlic and olive oil. Enjoy a bowl of it with crusty bread, or use it as a jumping-off point for breakfast, appetizers, or pasta dishes. View Recipe 08 of 30 Roasted Peppers With Garlic and Herbs Roland Bello Sprinkle bell pepper halves with slivers of garlic and dried oregano, then pop them in the oven until charred and sweet. Serve alongside London broil, lamb burgers, or grilled chicken. View Recipe 09 of 30 Grilled Pepper and Red-Onion Pizzas Bryan Gardner Store-bought dough and a hot grill means you can get pizza on the dinner table in just 35 minutes. Top each with creamy goat cheese, charred bell peppers and red onions, and lemony arugula. View Recipe 10 of 30 Roasted Peppers With Spaghetti Stuffing Johnny Miller Anchovies, capers, onions, and red-wine vinegar transform simple spaghetti into a briny, umami-packed filling for a rainbow of roasted peppers. Top with fresh oregano leaves just before serving. View Recipe 11 of 30 Bell Pepper Egg-in-a-Hole We lightened up the classic egg-in-a-hole by swapping out the usual fried bread slices for fresh bell peppers, and serving the whole thing on multigrain toast. View Recipe 12 of 30 Broiled Pork Chops With Yellow-Pepper Puttanesca Bryan Gardner Kalamata olives, capers, and red pepper flakes add zing to the yellow bell pepper-and-tomato sauce that accompanies this quick and tasty pork dish. View Recipe 13 of 30 Roasted Red-Pepper Salad With Anchovy White Beans Johnny Miller We love our greens, but in this salad, they're more of an accent to the tender white beans and sweet, meaty roasted red peppers. View Recipe 14 of 30 Grilled Scallops With Blistered-Yellow-Pepper Relish GENTL & HYERS A flavor-packed relish made with roasted yellow bell peppers, toasted almonds, garlic, smoked paprika, white-wine vinegar, and olive oil is the perfect partner for succulent scallops in this summery dish. View Recipe 15 of 30 Sausage-and-Pepper Ragu Over Polenta Bryan Gardner Browning Italian sausage, bell peppers, and onions before stewing them with tomato paste and chicken broth gives the resulting ragu tons of flavor. Serve atop creamy polenta and finish with Parmesan and fresh parsley. View Recipe 16 of 30 Roasted Red Pepper Salad John Kernick Smoky charred bell peppers get the Mediterranean treatment with a lemony, caper-kissed vinaigrette and a scattering of Kalamata olives and fresh basil leaves. View Recipe 17 of 30 Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip This delectable dip blends roasted red peppers, walnuts, and balsamic vinegar. Paprika and cumin add smoky back notes. View Recipe 18 of 30 Pasta With Peppers, Squash, and Tomatoes Johnny Miller Sweet yellow bell peppers, yellow cherry tomatoes, and crookneck squash make for a striking golden pasta dish. View Recipe 19 of 30 Bell Pepper, Yogurt, and Harissa Soup All you need to make this no-cook cold soup is a refrigerator, a blender, and 15 minutes. The secret to the surprisingly complex flavor is pairing the mellow produce with creamy dairy and a shot of spice. View Recipe 20 of 30 Chorizo-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers Bite-size peppers take a turn for the spicy, meaty, sweet, and smoky. Pass the platter please! View Recipe 21 of 30 Sweet Red-Pepper-Beet Soup Marcus Nilsson This tangy chilled purée gets its striking color from earthy beets and red bell peppers. They're cooked with shallots and then blended into a silken soup. Goat cheese, a traditional accompaniment for beets, lends creaminess. A squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of sea salt heighten the flavors. View Recipe 22 of 30 Pork Burgers With Peppers Flavored with fennel seeds, these pork burgers are reminiscent of sweet Italian sausage. Grill sliced onion and red and yellow bell peppers in a foil packet, and serve on the mozzarella-topped burgers. View Recipe 23 of 30 Spanish Tortilla With Bell Pepper In Spain, tortilla refers to a hearty egg-and-potato dish that's eaten warm or cold any time of day. Red bell pepper gives this version another layer of flavor. View Recipe 24 of 30 Pickled Onions and Peppers Christopher Testani Vinegar, sugar, salt, and a bevy of spices—black peppercorns, coriander seeds, allspice berries, and bay leaves—make a spectacular brine for bell peppers, red onions, and jalapeño. These irresistible pickles will last up to three months in the fridge. View Recipe 25 of 30 Grilled Pepper Bruschetta Lightly grilled bell peppers add a smoky sweetness to bruschetta made with cherry tomatoes, capers, and red wine vinegar—plus a gentle dusting of Parmesan cheese. View Recipe 26 of 30 Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip With Pomegranate Whole wheat pita bread provides a rustic accompaniment to this simple dip, made with charred bell peppers, dates, and toasted walnuts. Juicy pomegranate seeds add a sweet complement and vivid color. View Recipe 27 of 30 Smoky Bell-Pepper Pesto on Grilled Chicken Sandwiches Sweet roasted peppers and smoky chipotle combine for a fiery spread that perks up any sandwich, though it's especially tasty with grilled chicken, escarole, and cheddar. (Pro tip: Swap it in for salsa on tacos or burritos, too.) View Recipe 28 of 30 Avocado With Bell Pepper and Tomatoes Bryan Gardner In this twist on stuffed peppers, the peppers become the stuffing as they combine with cherry tomatoes, scallions, and cilantro in a pitted avocado. View Recipe 29 of 30 Steak With Bell Pepper Sauce Elevate a simple steak with a topping of thin-sliced bell peppers sauteed with onion, garlic, and oregano in a red wine vinegar sauce. View Recipe 30 of 30 Open-Faced Bell Pepper and Fontina Grilled Cheese Sang An While open-face sandwiches are an easy lunch or quick dinner, they're also fancy enough for a crowd when topped with unexpected ingredients—like the fontina cheese and red bell pepper in this recipe. 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