Never Buy Grocery Store Roasted Red Peppers Again!

Food

July 5, 2024

Never Buy Grocery Store Roasted Red Peppers Again!

Roasted Red Peppers

Roasted Red Peppers taste so much more vibrant, sweet, and smoky when you make them at home—and lucky for us, making them is EASY and takes just 30 minutes from start to finish! Add them to pasta, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, and more.

One-Ingredient Recipe. Just red bell peppers! One simple ingredient that, when roasted, enhances your meal with a complexity that will make you wonder what other depths our vegetables have been hiding from you all along. (Roasted Garlic accomplishes the same.)
A Staple to Jazz Up Almost Anything. Since roasted red peppers keep well in the fridge like Roasted Tomatoes, you can roast a large batch of them in your oven to have on hand for sprucing up pizzas and pastas, sandwiches and salads.
Completely Different From Store-Bought. Seriously, homemade roasted red peppers taste infinitely better than the ones in jars, with fabulous caramelization and a hint of smokiness from the light charring.

Tip!

To roast a medley of vegetables, and for more tips and seasoning suggestions, check out my ultimate guide to Oven Roasted Vegetables.

Top-down view of homemade roasted red peppers in jar

5 Star Review

“Thanks for these easy tips! Way better than in a can.”

— Matt —

How to Make Roasted Red Peppers in the Oven

Halved red bell peppers on cutting board

Prep. Cut the peppers into halves, removing the stem, membrane, and seeds.

Overhead view of red bell pepper halves on parchment-lined sheet pan

Arrange. Lay them cut-sides down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Overhead view of oven-roasted red pepper halves on parchment-lined baking sheet

Char. Roast the peppers at 450 degrees F for about 25 minutes.

Steam. Place the hot roasted peppers in a mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap to trap the steam, and let the peppers cool completely.

Roasted red peppers in bowl next to removed charred skins

Remove the Skins. They will slip right off.

Sliced roasted red peppers on cutting board

Finish. Cut the peppers into strips (or any size or shape you like). Use immediately, or store them in the refrigerator. ENJOY!

Grill or Stovetop Option

While more hands-on, if you want a smaller batch or love to cook over an open flame, you can also make roasted red peppers on the grill or a gas stovetop. Use a pair of metal tongs to hold a whole pepper over the flame, then follow the rest of the process (beginning with the steaming) as described above.

How to Use Roasted Red Peppers

Roasted red peppers are my favorite when they’re added as a sweetening ingredient to enhance the flavor of a main dish. Consider all these possibilities!

Snacking. Place an oven roasted bell pepper strip on a cracker, sprinkle with salt and a dash of olive oil for a delightful midday snack. (Roasted Red Pepper Dip is excellent too!)
Salads. Add them to tossed salads or pasta salads, like this Antipasto Salad or Orzo Pasta Salad.
Sandwiches. They’re a great addition to paninis, tartines, and even cold sandwiches with sliced meat and cheese.
Pizza. As oven roasted bell pepper strips, they bring sweetness to a pizza topping. My favorite is pairing them with goat cheese on a Flatbread Pizza.
Pesto or Hummus. Make a roasted red pepper pesto with the typical pesto ingredients. Or add them to (or puree them with chickpeas for) your next bowl of hummus.
Tacos. Scrambles. Frittatas. Hashes. Casseroles. The lists go on!

Top-down view of roasted red peppers stored in jar

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Get a Good Char. More char = more flavor. Even though you peel those bits off before using roasted red peppers, they infuse so much smokiness into every bite! It’s what sets homemade apart from store-bought. Since ovens can cook differently, you may need to leave your bell peppers in a bit longer for lots of charred spots.
Tightly Seal the Mixing Bowl. This traps the heat from the oven-roasted red peppers inside, creating steam. The steam is what helps soften the peppers and loosen the skins.
Try It With Another Pepper. Yellow or orange peppers have almost the same flavor as red peppers, so those can be used interchangeably. Or, for something different, try using this roasting method with poblano peppers.

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Roasted Red Peppers

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Homemade roasted red peppers taste so much better than store-bought! Here's how to make them, with easy options for oven and stovetop/grill.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 25

Total Time 30

Servings bell peppers

Calories 37kcal

Author Erin Clarke / Well Plated

Ingredients

4 red bell peppers around 2 pounds—or as few or as many as you like
Kosher salt or sea salt optional
Olive oil optional

Instructions

TO ROAST IN THE OVEN: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the bell peppers in half from stem down through the end. Remove the stem, membrane and seeds.
Arrange the peppers, cut-sides down on the baking sheet, making sure to leave a little space around each one so that the peppers are not crowded. If they are, divide them between two baking sheets.
Roast the peppers on the upper rack (or upper and lower racks if you have two sheets) until the tops are black and the peppers are very tender, about 25 minutes. Halfway through, rotate the pans 180 degrees (if using two pans, switch their positions on the upper and lower racks halfway through as well).
Remove the pan from the oven. With tongs or a large spatula, carefully transfer the peppers to a large mixing bowl.
TO COOK OVER A GAS STOVE TOP OR GRILL: Leave the peppers whole. Char them on all sides either directly over the gas flame, on a grill pan placed on the stove, or on an outdoor grill, until they are black all over. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap to allow the peppers to steam.
Let the peppers cool completely in the bowl. They’ll become slippery and even more tender.
With your fingers, slip off and discard the skins. If you charred whole peppers, slice off the stems and remove the seeds/membranes.
Slice the peppers into strips. If desired, sprinkle with a little salt, to taste.
Use the peppers right away, or transfer to a jar or similar airtight container. Store in the refrigerator as-is for up to 5 days or cover with olive oil, seal and store in oil for 2 to 3 weeks.