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
Beans-and-Greens Stuffed Peppers
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.
Spicy Braised Bell Peppers and Eggs
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!)
No-Mayo Mediterranean Tuna Salad
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.
Marinated Peppers With Mint and Sesame
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.
Pasta Peperonata With Tuna and Olives
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.
Gazpacho Salad With Croutons
We've deconstructed the cold soup into an easy chopped salad of sweet onion, cucumber, bell pepper, and Campari tomatoes.
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.
Roasted Peppers With Garlic and Herbs
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.
Grilled Pepper and Red-Onion Pizzas
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.
Roasted Peppers With Spaghetti Stuffing
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.
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.
Broiled Pork Chops With Yellow-Pepper Puttanesca
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.
Roasted Red-Pepper Salad With Anchovy White Beans
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.
Grilled Scallops With Blistered-Yellow-Pepper Relish
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.
Sausage-and-Pepper Ragu Over Polenta
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.
Roasted Red Pepper Salad
Smoky charred bell peppers get the Mediterranean treatment with a lemony, caper-kissed vinaigrette and a scattering of Kalamata olives and fresh basil leaves.
Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip
This delectable dip blends roasted red peppers, walnuts, and balsamic vinegar. Paprika and cumin add smoky back notes.
Pasta With Peppers, Squash, and Tomatoes
Sweet yellow bell peppers, yellow cherry tomatoes, and crookneck squash make for a striking golden pasta dish.
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.
Chorizo-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers
Bite-size peppers take a turn for the spicy, meaty, sweet, and smoky. Pass the platter please!
Sweet Red-Pepper-Beet Soup
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.
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.
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.
Pickled Onions and Peppers
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.
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.
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.
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.)
Avocado With Bell Pepper and Tomatoes
In this twist on stuffed peppers, the peppers become the stuffing as they combine with cherry tomatoes, scallions, and cilantro in a pitted avocado.
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.
Open-Faced Bell Pepper and Fontina Grilled Cheese
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.