Bell peppers and other sweet peppers come in a range of colors, sizes and shapes. Some have a mild, slightly bitter flavor, while others taste sweeter and fruitier. Their shape also affects how they work in the kitchen: large, hollow peppers are easy to stuff, while smaller or elongated varieties are useful for roasting, sautéing and serving whole.The best pepper depends on the dish and the flavor you want. Here are eight types to look for and how to use each one.Related: 22 Types of Peppers Every Cook Needs To Know About ASAP
Types of Bell Peppers and Sweet Peppers and How To Use Them
1. Green Bell Peppers
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Green bell peppers are picked before they reach full ripeness. They have the familiar blocky shape of bell peppers, with thick walls, three or four lobes at the bottom and a firm, crisp texture. Their flavor is grassy and slightly bitter, with less sweetness than most mature colored bell peppers.
The USDA notes that bell peppers are dark green when immature and can turn red, yellow, black or purple at maturity. The University of Massachusetts Amherst explains that sweet bell peppers become sweeter as they mature, typically changing from green to red, although other mature colors are also common.
Best Dishes for Using Green Bell Peppers
Green bell peppers work well in dishes that benefit from their firmer texture and sharper flavor. Dice them into chili, jambalaya, gumbo or tomato-based sauces, or sauté them with onions for fajitas. They also hold their shape in casseroles and rice dishes. Their sturdy, hollow interiors make them a traditional choice for stuffed peppers.
For a recipe built specifically around green bell peppers, Food Network’s stuffed green peppers fills the peppers with ground beef, rice, tomatoes, mozzarella and herbs, then bakes them until tender. Green peppers also feature in Louisiana Cookin’s jambalaya-stuffed bell peppers, which combine chicken, andouille sausage, rice and Cajun seasonings in a whole-pepper presentation.Related: Easy Stuffed Peppers Recipe
2. Red Bell Peppers
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Red bell peppers are fully ripened bell peppers from varieties that mature to red. They have the same broad, blocky shape and thick walls as green peppers, but their flavor is sweeter and fruitier, with little of the bitterness associated with green peppers. They are a good option when you want a pronounced pepper flavor without adding heat.
Best Dishes for Using Red Bell Peppers
Red bell peppers are well-suited to roasting, grilling, and blending into sauces or dips. Their sweetness works in pasta dishes, grain bowls, salads and sandwiches. Roasting deepens their flavor and softens their flesh, making them easy to purée into soups or a red pepper sauce.
They also work well in dishes where pepper is a central ingredient rather than just part of an aromatic base. Try them in a roasted red pepper soup, a Mediterranean salad or a sandwich with grilled vegetables and cheese.Related: This Crock Pot Italian Sausage and Peppers Recipe Basically Cooks Itself
3. Yellow Bell Peppers
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Yellow bell peppers have the same squat, lobed shape and thick flesh as other bell peppers. Their bright yellow skin signals a sweeter, milder flavor than green peppers, often with a fresh, slightly fruity quality. Yellow is a mature color for certain pepper varieties, although the sequence of colors a pepper develops depends on its variety.
Best Dishes for Using Yellow Bell Peppers
Use yellow bell peppers when you want sweetness without the deeper flavor of a red pepper. They work in stir-fries, fajitas, kebabs, omelets and chopped salads. Their color also adds contrast to dishes with green vegetables or darker sauces.
For a cooked side dish, Food Network’s summer peperonata recipe uses red, orange and yellow bell peppers simmered with aromatics, olives, capers and other seasonings. Yellow peppers are a good fit for this slow-cooked preparation, which softens their texture and brings out their sweetness.Related: Martha Stewart’s Stuffed Yellow Bell Peppers
4. Orange Bell Peppers
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Orange bell peppers are typically rounded and blocky, with thick, crisp walls and a bright orange skin. Their flavor is sweet and fruity, often falling between the mild sweetness of yellow peppers and the deeper sweetness of red ones. As with other colored bell peppers, the precise flavor depends on the variety and its maturity.
Best Dishes for Using Orange Bell Peppers
Orange bell peppers are versatile in both raw and cooked dishes. Slice them into salads or serve them with hummus, ranch dressing or another dip. Their sweetness also works in stir-fries, pasta, fajitas and roasted vegetable medleys.
Because they hold their shape when cut into large pieces, orange peppers can be threaded onto skewers with onions, zucchini and other vegetables. They are also a good choice for stuffed peppers when you want a colorful presentation and a sweet flavor to balance a savory filling.Related: I Tried Princess Diana’s Favorite Stuffed Bell Peppers—And They Weren’t What I Expected
5. Purple Bell Peppers
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Purple bell peppers are less common than green, red, yellow and orange varieties. They usually have the familiar blocky bell shape, with thick walls and a dark purple exterior. Their flavor is generally mild and slightly grassy, similar to green bell peppers, though it varies by cultivar. Some purple varieties change color as they mature, and their flesh may be green inside.
Best Dishes for Using Purple Bell Peppers
Purple bell peppers add visual contrast to salads, crudités platters and vegetable trays. They can also be sliced for stir-fries or sautéed with onions and other peppers. Their flavor is mild enough to pair with garlic, herbs, cheese and grains.
For a recipe featuring purple bell peppers, Farm to People‘s stuffed purple bell peppers fills the peppers with mushrooms, brown rice, shallots, garlic and Parmesan, then bakes them until tender. This is a good option when you want to serve purple peppers as a main dish or hearty side.Related: 33 Pinterest-Worthy Food Boards, From Butter Boards to DIY Mac ‘n’ Cheese Boards
6. Mini Sweet Peppers
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Mini sweet peppers are small, elongated peppers with tapered ends and thin, crisp walls. They are commonly sold in red, yellow and orange, and their flavor is usually mild and sweet. Unlike bell peppers, which are broad and hollow, mini sweet peppers have a narrower shape and a smaller cavity.
Best Dishes for Using Mini Sweet Peppers
Mini sweet peppers are convenient for snacking, lunch boxes and appetizer platters. Serve them whole or halved with a dip, or fill the cavities with cream cheese, herbed goat cheese, hummus or seasoned ricotta. Their small size also makes them useful for quick roasting and grilling.
For a simple side dish, toss them with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast until blistered and tender. You can also slice them into salads, omelets, tacos or pasta, where their sweetness adds a fresh contrast to salty or savory ingredients.Related: 30 Types of Pasta, From Angel Hair to Ziti
7. Sweet Banana Peppers
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Sweet banana peppers are long, narrow and tapered, usually with smooth skin that ranges from pale yellow to yellow-green and red as the fruit matures. They have thin walls and a mild, tangy flavor. Although banana peppers are often associated with pickled toppings, sweet varieties have little heat; some similar-looking wax peppers are hotter, so check the label when buying them.
Best Dishes for Using Sweet Banana Peppers
Sweet banana peppers are popular pickled, making them a good topping for sandwiches, pizza, burgers and Italian-style subs. Their tangy flavor cuts through rich cheese and cured meats. Fresh banana peppers can also be sliced into salads or sautéed with onions and other vegetables.
They also work in cooked main dishes. Food Network’s stuffed banana peppers recipe fills the peppers with ground meat, sausage, cheese, herbs and breadcrumbs, then bakes them with tomato sauce. Choose a sweet variety if you want the pepper flavor without much heat.Related: 18 Different Types of Olives and the Best Ways To Use Them
8. Pimento Peppers
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Pimento peppers, also spelled pimiento, are small to medium-sized sweet peppers with thick walls and a rounded, heart-like shape. They are usually bright red when ripe and have a sweet, mild flavor. Their flesh is thick enough to roast and peel, and they are often sold jarred or canned after roasting.
Best Dishes for Using Pimento Peppers
Pimentos are commonly used in pimento cheese, where chopped peppers add sweetness and color to a creamy cheese spread. They also work in dips, pasta salads, deviled eggs and sandwiches. Jarred pimentos are especially convenient because they are already cooked and ready to use.
Whole fresh pimentos can be roasted, peeled and added to salads, sauces or antipasto platters. Their sweet flavor also complements olives, sharp cheeses and cured meats.
What Are Considered Bell Peppers?
Bell peppers are mild, sweet peppers with thick flesh and a broad, hollow shape. They belong to the Capsicum annuum species and are also known as sweet peppers. Unlike hot chile peppers, they contain little to no heat.
Bell peppers are commonly green, red, yellow or orange, though some varieties are purple. According to the USDA, green peppers are immature, while mature peppers can develop several colors.
Botanically, bell peppers are fruits because they develop from flowers and contain seeds, but they are classified as vegetables in cooking.
Related: There Are Over 400 Types of Berries, but These Are the Ones With the Best Health Benefits, According to Nutritionists
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