Whether you're growing your own crop or buying them at the farmers market, you need to know how to cook bell peppers in various ways for a colorful, tasty addition to your plate. In their raw form, bell peppers make a perfect dipper or add a satisfying crunch to fresh salads. Cooked bell peppers are delicious in pretty much any form.
Go ahead and give those bell peppers a proper wash, then follow one of these methods to cook bell peppers at home, including how to sauté bell peppers on the stove, grill, and more. If you're craving fajitas or perhaps a stuffed pepper for dinner tonight, we'll share a few of our Test Kitchen's best bell pepper recipes along the way.
How to Cook Bell Peppers on the Stove
There are two methods of how to cook bell peppers on the stove—boiling or sautéing. Start by washing peppers and removing stems, seeds, and membranes. Cut peppers into rings or strips, then use one of the following methods:
- To boil bell peppers: Cook peppers, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water for 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp-tender.
- To sauté bell peppers: Heat a skillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking oil over medium-high heat. Carefully add bell peppers and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes.
How to Cook Bell Peppers in a Steamer
Wash peppers and remove stems, seeds, and membranes. Cut peppers into rings or strips. In a steamer basket, cook peppers for 12 to 15 minutes or until crisp-tender.
Bell Pepper Math: One medium bell pepper equals 1 cup.
How to Cook Bell Peppers on a Grill
Add a hearty, healthy side dish to your outdoor cookout with grilled bell peppers. They can be cooked whole or cut and placed in a grill basket. Here's our Test Kitchen's method for grilling whole bell peppers for eating or your favorite recipes:
- Brush washed and dried whole peppers with olive oil.
- For a charcoal grill, place peppers on the grill rack directly over medium coals. For a gas grill, preheat the grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place peppers on grill rack over heat.
- Grill (uncovered on a charcoal grill; covered on a gas grill) for 25 to 30 minutes or until skins are charred, and peppers are tender, turning often to char the skins evenly.
- Remove peppers from the grill and wrap them in foil.
- Let stand for about 15 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Prepare according to the recipe.
How to Roast Bell Peppers
Roasting bell peppers allows the veggie to achieve a soft texture while gaining a nice smoky flavor. Here's how to roast bell peppers:
- Wash peppers. If desired, halve lengthwise, removing stems, seeds, and membranes.
- Place peppers (cut sides down if halved) on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Bake in a 425°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes. The exterior should be slightly charred and wrinkled.
- Remove from oven. Bring foil up around peppers to enclose.
- Let stand for about 15 minutes or until cool.
- Use a sharp knife to loosen the edges of the skins; gently pull off the skins in strips and discard.
How to Cook Bell Peppers in an Air Fryer
Your air fryer is the best way how to cook bell peppers without heating up the kitchen by using the stove or oven. Simply cut the bell peppers into strips or rings, toss with a couple of teaspoons of oil and seasonings of choice, then air-fry for 10 to 15 minutes at 360°F. Use our easy air-fryer roasted veggie recipe for inspiration.
How to Cook Bell Peppers in the Microwave
Cut peppers into rings or strips. Place peppers in a casserole dish with 2 tablespoons of water. Microwave, covered, on 100 percent power (high) for 2 minutes per cup of peppers or until crisp-tender, stirring once.
How to Stuff Bell Peppers
Stuffed bell peppers make a nutritious, filling meal wrapped in a cute package. Follow these steps to learn how to cook bell peppers that are stuffed.
Step 1: Prepare Filling
In a large saucepan sauté filling ingredients (usually ground meat, rice, and spices) until tender.
Step 2: Stuff Peppers and Bake
Slice tops from eight small (or four large) bell peppers; remove and discard seeds. In a 3-quart rectangular baking dish, arrange peppers in a single layer. Spoon filling mixture into peppers. If desired, replace pepper tops. Bake covered until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through. For more tender peppers, increase the baking time to 40 to 45 minutes.