Discover these 25 easy and healthy bell pepper recipes that showcase the vibrant colors and flavors of yellow, green, and red bell peppers.
From wholesome salads to creamy pasta and dips, these recipes offer a variety of nutrients and exciting meal ideas.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner in the kitchen, these dishes will surely add a colorful and nutritious twist to your cooking repertoire.
Embrace the goodness of bell peppers and elevate your lunch, starters, and dinners to a new level.
1. Roasted bell pepper
How to roast peppers to perfection? Try this roasted and marinated yellow and red bell pepper recipe; it’s a perfect starter and side dish idea.
It’s a mouthwatering addition to bruschetta, pasta, and antipasto platters, infused with the rich flavors of Italian seasoning.
2. Muhammara
Looking for the best way to turn roasted bell peppers into a dip?
This Middle–Eastern bell pepper dip is a harmonious blend of smoky peppers, rich walnuts, and exotic spice blend.
We recommend serving it with pita bread or flatbread for a dip-friendly party food and appetizer.
3. Creamy pasta salad
If you love raw bell pepper, try this veggie-packed creamy pasta salad, bursting with crisp vegetables and ready to enjoy in just 20 minutes.
It’s a wholesome and satiating meal perfect as a lunchbox idea, barbecue night, and quick dinner.
4. Roasted pepper pasta
Bell pepper and pasta is a winning combination in this rich, creamy, 20–minute roasted bell pepper pasta.
Al dente rigatoni pasta is perfectly coated in a luscious almond and roasted red pepper sauce for a time–efficient meal.
5. Red pepper pesto
Roasted pepper pesto with almonds, pine nuts, and garlic is a smoky, sweet dip and spread.
It’s a 5–minute velvety, creamy recipe that elevates crostini and veggie wraps, and it makes a great pasta sauce.
6. Rice salad
This healthy rice salad is packed with chickpeas, juicy cherry tomato, and yellow bell pepper and drizzled with a lemon mustard dressing.
It’s a light and fiber–rich salad that works well as a lunchbox meal and an office lunch.
7. Black bean salad
Try bell pepper in a new way with this cilantro lime-smothered black bean salad.
The earthiness of black beans, roasted sweet potatoes, and the crispness of green bell pepper make a healthy and lunch–friendly meal.
8. Mango salad
Red bell pepper is excellent in salads as a crispy addition and provides healthy amounts of vitamin C.
Try it with fresh mango, avocado, red onion, and mint leaves for a nourishing lunch or a side dish idea.
9. Romesco sauce
This red pepper romesco sauce is a creamy Spanish condiment made from roasted or jarred peppers, almonds, and tomatoes, seasoned with garlic and vinegar.
Its smoky and nutty flavors make it a versatile dip for various dishes and sandwiches.
10. Black bean mango salad
If you love grain bowls, try the refreshing flavors of a black bean mango salad, perfectly complemented by crispy red bell peppers.
Bursting with nutrition, this wholesome salad with quinoa is a colorful lunch meal and putlock idea.
11. Spaghetti salad
This 20–minute spaghetti salad combines al dente spaghetti with an array of colors, from tomatoes, cucumber, and yellow bell peppers.
It’s a Greek–inspired pasta salad with wholesome ingredients, fresh herbs, and a creamy dressing.
12. Sweet potato chili
Green bell pepper is essential to this healthy and comforting sweet potato chili.
This wholesome chili recipe offers a balanced sweetness and spiciness for a tasty meal with fiber–rich kidney beans.
13. Macaroni salad
This easy macaroni salad with red bell pepper and green peas is a great way to serve (and camouflage) veggies.
It’s a 20–minute meal with creamy yogurt–mayo dressing and refreshing flavors. Perfect for a quick and colorful side dish.
14. Stuffed bell peppers
Stuffed bell peppers with rice and tomato sauce are aromatic flavors.
The peppers’ juicy sweetness and the rice filling’s savory richness make this one of our favorite bell pepper recipes.
15. Stuffed eggplant
Here is a refreshing and nutritious mix of veggies and couscous in a stuffed eggplant.
The flavors of bell peppers with lemon–infused couscous provide a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber for a well–rounded meal.
16. Orange tofu
This easy stir–fry dinner with red peppers and tofu is an easy bell pepper recipe.
We love this as a weeknight meal, as it takes just 30 minutes to cook and is an excellent substitute for Asian takeaway food.
17. Sweet potato hash
Yellow bell peppers are a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins and antioxidants.
They add color and health benefits to this sweet potato hash with black beans, creating a nourishing, plant-based breakfast idea.
18. Vegetable curry
Here is a great way to clean up your fridge and use leftover bell peppers.
With this creamy curry, succulent red bell peppers simmer in an aromatic coconut base. Serve your curry with white rice and a drizzle of lemon juice for a complete and nutritious meal.
19. Greek cucumber salad
Enhance your classic Greek salad with the crisp and refreshing twist of green bell peppers, adding color, texture, and vitamin C to your dish.
Bell peppers are not only deliciously crispy but also contribute to a healthy diet, as they are low in calories, high in fiber, and rich in antioxidants.
20. Fattoush
Green bell pepper adds crunch and a refreshing mouthfeel to this Middle-Eastern-inspired Fattoush Salad. It pairs well will romaine lettuce, crispy pita, and meaty olives.
If you don’t like green bell pepper, you can easily substitute it with yellow or red bell pepper.
21. Farro salad
How can you use raw bell pepper in a salad? Try red and green bell pepper in this healthy farro salad to get a good balance of fiber and vitamins.
This grain salad is perfect for potlucks, barbecues, cookouts, picnics, or a healthy lunch or quick dinner.
22. Horiatiki
Try green bell pepper in a traditional Mediterranean manner; in this 15–minute Greek salad.
Horiatiki salad is easy to make with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, crisp bell peppers, olives, and creamy feta cheese.
23. Peanut noodles
Red bell pepper makes a quick and raw veggie addition to noodles in this creamy peanut noodle dish.
Toss the noodles with peanut sauce and chopped bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli, and enjoy this simple and satiating meal.
24. Yaki Udon noodles
If you like easy stir–fries, you will love these Yaki Udon noodles with red bell pepper and mushrooms.
This Asian-inspired meal has a tasty soy-based sauce, tofu, and plenty of veggies. Best of all, it’s ready in just 15 minutes.
25. Mediterranean farro salad
To end this bell pepper list, we give you a wholesome Mediterranean farro salad with sautèed vegetables.
We use roasted eggplants, zucchini, onions, and jarred roasted bell peppers for this healthy grain bowl.
Garnish with pistachios, parsley, and a creamy cumin dressing that is out of this world.
What is the difference between red and green peppers?
Red, green, yellow, and orange bell peppers are all the same type of pepper but just at different stages of ripeness. Green peppers are unripe, and red are fully ripe, with yellow and orange between the two.
Green peppers are harvested before turning yellow, orange, and red. Compared to green bell peppers, the red ones have almost 11 times more beta-carotene and 1.5 times more vitamin C.
More healthy veggie meals
If you love cooking with veggies, you’ll love these easy dinner ideas:
- Stuffed eggplant (cherry tomato, pine nuts, basil pesto, eggplant, etc.)
- Easy stuffed zucchini (ricotta, sun-dried tomatoes, breadcrumbs, garlic, etc.)
- Zucchini boats (lentils, walnuts, canned tomato, zucchini, basil, etc.)
- Microwave sweet potato (couscous, chickpeas, tahini sauce, sweet potato, etc.)
For many more side dish ideas, check out our sides category page.
Easy Bell Pepper Recipes
Ingredients
- 4 bell peppers red or yellow
For the marinade
- 2 – 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 – 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- ¼ teaspoon salt or more to taste
- 2 twists black pepper
- 10 leaves basil or a handful of parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F or 230°C. Wash and dry the bell peppers and arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Roast in the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes until they are soft and charred outside.Turn on the side (45 degrees turn) after 20 minutes.
- Transfer roasted peppers to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap or foil, and let cool down for 30 minutes. The steam trapped by the wrap will loosen up the skin of the peppers, and it'll be easier for you to remove it.
- Peel the peppers with your hands, remove their seeds and the stem, break them into smaller strips and transfer them into a bowl or serving platter.Tip: try not to use any water to preserve the most flavor at this stage. The peppers might still be hot, so don't burn yourself. Be careful about the hot liquid that might hide inside them.
- Season with olive oil, vinegar, crushed garlic, salt, black pepper, and fresh basil leaves or parsley.Marinate for half an hour (or more) before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you liked these bell pepper recipes, you might also enjoy:
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Hi! We are Nico & Louise
Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.
Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.
Easy right?