Easy Pickled Peppers Recipe

I’m currently obsessed with these pickled peppers and find myself adding them to everything! They take just 20 minutes to prep and then last in your fridge for a month (though to be honest, I bet you’ll finish the jar much sooner!).

I’m convinced these pickled peppers make just about anything taste better. When I’m putting together a dish, I’m always surprised at how much a hint of tanginess (from lemon or vinegar) can take the flavor from simply okay to absolutely excellent. Pickled peppers are my secret for adding crunch and that perfect hint of tanginess to everything from taco recipes and sandwiches to my favorite salad recipes, homemade pizza, and so much more!

For the photos, I’ve made a batch of sweet pickled peppers, but this recipe is easily adaptable to all sorts of peppers (even the hottest you can find). It truly depends on what you’re looking for! Feel free to experiment with different peppers or a combination of them to achieve the spice level you love. Then, when you’re ready to pickle some more, try one of our other quick pickles, like pickled red onions, everyday dill pickles, and these snappy pickled carrots!

Key Ingredients

• Peppers: I love pickled sweet peppers, but this recipe works with any variety of peppers. It depends on what you are looking for. For sweet peppers, we love using mini peppers (like what I used to make these sweet pepper poppers). They are thinner than regular bell peppers, which makes for a better texture in the end. You can use 100% sweet peppers or mix in some hotter varieties, such as banana peppers, cherry peppers, jalapeños, serrano peppers, or even hotter options like Fresno peppers.
• Vinegar: We keep the brine for these peppers simple with regular distilled vinegar (5% acidity). It gives the pickles a clean, classic flavor, allowing the sweetness of the peppers and the garlic to come through (it’s also inexpensive!). Feel free to substitute with rice wine vinegar or white wine vinegar if you prefer.
• Salt and Sugar: These are essential for balancing the brine. Without salt or sugar, our brine would taste too intensely like plain vinegar (we take this approach for most of the pickle recipes on Inspired Taste). For salt, I use sea salt or pickling salt (it’s best to avoid table salt here, as the added iodine can interfere with the pickling process). For the sugar, I use plain granulated sugar as my go-to. You can substitute brown sugar or honey, but this may cause your brine to appear slightly cloudy.
• Garlic and Spices: For a classic flavor, we love adding sliced garlic to the jars (you can mince it, but be prepared for a slightly more intense garlicky flavor in your brine!). Then, for the spices, we keep it simple with an allspice berry (yep, one is enough) and whole peppercorns.
• Optional Chile Pepper: When I use 100% sweet peppers, I like adding a hint of heat with a small dried chile (chile de Arbol is perfect). This is optional and won’t make the pickles spicy. They taste more warm than anything else. For more heat, increase to 2 or 3, or mix in some fresh hot peppers instead.

These pickled peppers get better over time. Pack your peppers into a jar, then pour the hot brine over them. Then, transfer them to the fridge once they’ve cooled to room temperature. As they sit overnight, they transform into incredibly crunchy, tangy peppers and continue to improve with each passing day, as the garlic has more time to infuse our brine with its flavor. I can’t wait for you to try them! And when you’re ready for more easy pickles, be sure to check out our bread and butter pickles or these colorful pickled beets!