If I had to characterize the past week in two words, they would be: pepper problems. These peppers gave me all sorts of trouble! I’d made these quick-pickled jalapeños a couple of times already, but these locally grown peppers were way spicier than the others. Just one little nibble of raw sliced pepper made me feel like one of those silly, red-faced cartoon characters with steam shooting out of his ears.
Then, when I was rinsing the sliced peppers under running water in an attempt to cool down their spiciness, the pepper fumes made me cough-cough-cough-cough-cough. I had to use my shirt as a nose mask to get through it. So beware of pepper asphyxiation. (I know I sound dramatic right now, but I’m serious.) I’m still recommending them because none of my other batches gave me such trouble.
The final result, though, is totally irresistible. Fresh, spicy, with a light sweetness thanks to the bell pepper and honey, and a nice, crisp crunch. You’ll see in the photos that I made a control batch with plain distilled white vinegar and no bell peppers, but I so prefer the gourmet version with honey that I’m going to insist that you go with that one.
Really, it was only a matter of time after pickling radishes that I turned to peppers. These peppers are fantastic on nachos, tacos, quesadillas and so much more.
Pickled Pepper Notes & Tips
I’ve always loved pickled jalapeños, but lately I’ve been frustrated by store-bought varieties that are sliced too thick (they overwhelm the other flavors) and taste way too salty (again, overwhelming the other flavors). Not to mention, many pickled jalapeños contain food coloring and preservatives in addition to vinegar, which I’d just as well avoid.
If you want to make sure your peppers aren’t crazy spicy, buy big ones so it’s easier to remove the seeds and membranes before slicing. That’s where the heat is concentrated. You might also want to avoid more mature peppers with striations on the sides, which are rumored to indicate hotter peppers. If you taste a little sliver of a few of your jalapeños and none are crazy hot, you probably don’t need to worry about getting crazy hot pickles.
All that said, pickling the peppers with vinegar, salt and a little bit of honey tones them down quite a bit! If you come across a bunch of jalapeños at the farmers’ market this weekend, you can bottle them up for later with this simple refrigerator pickles recipe.
Please let me know how your pickled jalapeños turn out in the comments! I hope you love them.
On a pickling kick? Don’t miss my quick-pickled onions, radishes, veggies and classic dill pickles! You’re also going to love my fresh jalapeño relish recipe, which is very similar to these peppers but even easier.
Watch How to Make Quick Pickled Peppers
Mandoline, for slicing peppers super thin (be careful!)
28-ounce Weck jar (free shipping at West Elm!)
▸ For more of my favorite cooking tools, shop my kitchen essentials!
Quick Pickled Peppers
- Author:
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: ½ pound pickled peppers 1x
- Category: Pickles
- Cuisine: Mexican
Learn how to make homemade, spicy and sweet, gourmet jalapeño and bell pepper pickles! It’s super easy and the pickles will keep in the refrigerator for months.
Ingredients
- ½ pound jalapeños (choose larger jalapeños for less spicy pickles)
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar (or white wine vinegar or distilled white vinegar)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons honey or sugar of choice
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- First, prepare your peppers: Wear gloves to prevent your fingers from feeling burned. For less spicy pickles, use a paring knife to remove the jalapeño membranes and seeds before slicing (this is a lot of work, so I just pulled out the larger membranes from my sliced pickles). Slice the pickles thin with a mandoline or chef’s knife. If you’re still concerned about the spice level of the pickles, run the sliced jalapeños under running water in a colander to try to knock off any remaining seeds. (Beware, those pepper fumes made me cough.) Slice off the top of the bell pepper and remove the seeds and membranes. Chop the bell pepper.
- Combine the prepared peppers and smashed garlic in a 28-ounce (1.75 pints) or larger glass jar. In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, honey and salt. Bring the mixture close to a boil on the stove, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sweetener into the liquid. Remove from heat and carefully pour the liquid over the peppers. Use a butter knife to pock down the peppers so they all fit and there aren’t any hidden air pockets.
- Let the pickles cool to room temperature in the jar, then screw on a lid and refrigerate the pickles. Depending on how thinly you sliced the peppers, they could be ready to eat immediately or might need a couple of days in the refrigerator before they taste fully pickled (just sample one every now and then to find out!). They are best when relatively fresh, but keep well for at least a month.
Notes
Recipe adapted from my quick-pickled radishes.
Make it vegan: Substitute maple syrup, agave nectar or sugar for the honey.
Can I can it? No. This recipe is a “refrigerator pickle” recipe. It is not designed for canning in a water bath, and it has not been tested for canning safety. Please do not attempt! Follow a recipe specifically designed for canning instead.
▸ Nutrition Information
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
KimS
I’ve found a grapefruit spoon works great for removing the seeds and membranes…I’d like to try your recipe!
Kate
Great idea!!! I’m going to put that trick to good use on my next batch. Thanks, Kim!
Ksenia @ At the Immigrant's Table
I’m a big fan of pickled jalapenos, and always have a batch going in my fridge. But I’ve never tried using honey in the brine! This may have now pushed me to pickle more hot peppers.
Kate
The honey in the brine keeps me coming back for more! I’ve never found pickled jalapeños to be quite this irresistible.
Sandra Watson
The honey in this recipe brings pickled peppers to a whole new level of delicious! My family and I are hooked! About to do another batch up right now. The first batch did not last long.
Kate
Thank you, Sandra! Glad to hear it!
Inge | Blogboutique
It seems so spicy hot to me. But it also looks great!
LadyT
You really missed the perfect opportunity to discuss picking a peck of those peppers. Very disappointing, TBH.
Kate
Man! You’re right.
Amy
I bet the honey adds a nice flavor.
Kimberly Wiggins
Can you can this recipe?
Kate
No, I’m sorry, this recipe is not designed for canning. Please do not attempt.
David Beecher
Generic recipes for canning peppers is basically the same recipe. I use the same recipe for canning or refrigerator pickled peppers.
The beauty of the refrigerator peppers like these is they stay crisp. Canning they tend to get mushy. But canning they last longer (basically forever) and are shelf stable. So I do both because I love me some pickled peppers.
Bethan
They look absolutely delicious! Quick question, though — what do you eat them with? I’m a novice when it comes to pickling things, let alone jalapeños!
Lovely recipe, and thank you for sharing, Kate! x
★★★★★
Kate
Hi Bethan, good question, and I’m sorry I didn’t provide suggestions in the post! I forget that not everyone has grown up eating Tex-Mex like I did. I love pickled jalapeños on anything with Mexican flavors, like quesadillas, burritos, tacos, huevos rancheros and nachos. I also love them on pizza (especially with pineapple!). Hope these ideas help!
Robert Tolman
And sandwiches!
Maggie
BTW, pizza with pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapenos is the best! I’m going to try your recipe with the Hungarian hot peppers I’m growing.
BobnBeth Homestead Healthy
At our homestead, we always throw in several Hungarian and even some Portuguese Hot Peppers when they’re ready. We like the added flavors and heat!
We’ve used this recipe for about 4 years now. Never had to use the canning process because 1.- they’re so quick and easy to make and 2.- they never last long enough in our house Try them on everything and anything you like from burgers and sandwiches through pizzas and more…
★★★★★
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes
Pickling peppers now makes nachos, tacos, and chili that much better in the winter.
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
I don’t know why I’ve never though of making my own pickled peppers! I love jalapenos. I will be making these this week! And, maybe another batch of your radishes. Those were delicious :)
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks, Michelle! Hope you love these just as much!
jaime // the briny
jalapenos are so sneaky! i can never tell when i’m getting a crazy spicy one or a half-dead-watery one. maybe that’s part of the fun, i guess, but it always just makes me feel like a big wimp when a jalapeno makes me cry.
these pickled peppers look awesome and i love your bright photos, kate!
BossMama
I just pickled some Serrano peppers and cannot wait to try using honey.
Have you tried Shishito peppers?
It’s like playing roulette – never know if it will be mild or super spicy!
★★★★★
Christina
Could you use this with cucumbers
Kate
Hi!Easy Homemade Pickles would be a great recipe instead!
Julia | Orchard Street Kitchen
I’ve never pickled anything, but this looks like a great recipe to start with! I bet these are so delicious with the honey and apple cider vinegar. I’d love to try them on tacos! Thanks for sharing, Kate.
Kate
Oh, I can confirm that they are great on tacos! I hope you’ll give these a try, Julia!
Anjanee @ Fig & Honey
I just love picked peppers but have never made my own at home. I might have to start with these! I love the idea of bell peppers and honey alongside the spicy jalapenos- beautiful pictures too!
Kate
Thanks, Anjanee! I think you would love these peppers! They taste more fresh and flavorful than the store-bought variety, that’s for sure.
Mandy
Growing up in Texas where Tex-Mex is a staple, picked jalapenos are also a staple! Throw them on nachos, tacos, fajitas. They’re served with BBQ a lot, too. You could even toss them in your pho! I WILL be trying this recipe soon!
Kate
Thanks, Mandy! I never thought to add them to pho!
Eileen
Pickled peppers are the best! I could eat them all day. (Although, to be fair, I usually use slightly less spicy peppers. I don’t think I could eat pickled jalapenos Quite all day.) So good on huge sandwiches!
Chelsea
Oh goodness, this is so exciting. I never really had pickled jalapenos until about a year ago, when visiting my mother who used some in her morning eggs (just eggs, cheese and these, please). In-croy-able! The store-bought kind are a bit on the unnecessarily pricey side, on top of what you already said, but I never even thought to do this. Thank you thank you thank you!!
kristie @ birchandwild.com
This is great! I actually have two huge ziplocs of hot peppers from my garden, even after making a huge batch of green curry paste! This is what I will do with them, and I know they will be great to have around to add a little zip to things.
Liz
In an effort to cut down on meat and processed food, I’ve been perusing every vegan/vegetarian food blog I can find, but I can safely say I haven’t bookmarked nearly as many recipes from one single blog as I have from yours. And just today I actually read all the way back to the very first post. Wow! I can’t wait to try them all. :)
Joanne
Pickled peppers are my favorite sandwich/burger/chili/ALLTHETHINGS toppers! I love how you mixed some bell pepps into this mix. Such a good idea – why shouldn’t they get to partake in the pickling fun!
Leila Revel
Hi there, I just love this site. The recent post about the things in season is awesome. This recipe looks great and I want to try it. I have a lot of peppers and not so much room in my fridge. Was wondering if this recipe could be adapted for canning? any thoughts? I am a bit of a novice but have most of the equipment for water bath processing.
Kate
Hey Leila! That’s a really good question and I’m sorry I don’t have the answer. I’m definitely not a canning expert so I am unqualified to advise. You might find some good tips here: http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can6b_pickle.html
Candi
As long as you process in a water bath for the correct time for your sea level they should can fine. I make candied jalapeños which as also very good and the shelf life is about 8 months. Hope this helps!
Fred Rickson
Try the pepper rounds in a Momofuku brine. It is sweet also.
laurasmess
Haha, I totally get you when it comes to the asphyxiation!! I’ve done the same thing a few times, whilst also pretty much killing Aaron with chilli fumes (he’s exited the house more than once!). Glad that you survived though, and super-excited about these gorgeous pickled peppers. They’d definitely add zing to any meal! Bookmarking this to make at home… yippeee! I was just thinking about making a batch the other day so you had perfect timing! xxx
lisa @Garlic+Zest
This is so weird! I did a bunch of pickled peppers and other veggies about 2 months ago — but haven’t posted them yet. Then today, I saw David Leibovitz did pickled jalapeños! Great minds, right! Incidentally, these would be perfect on our fish tacos tonight!
PS – I like the idea of adding honey!
Kate
Oh that’s awesome! I missed David’s post but love the idea of adding carrots. Looking forward to seeing your version! Great minds love pickled peppers? ;)
Barbara
I look forward to trying this with both hot and sweet peppers! We eat 2 pounds of mini baby bell peppers a week in salads, but I’d like to keep some for when our hurricanes shut down our power for days. If I pickle them I won’t lose them! We eat lots of Mexican food every week, and pickled jalapenos would be handy. They make me cough like crazy, too, and once when I got a VERY hot batch they burned my hands, but that has only happened once! Still,in cutting a batch, I will be cautious and wear gloves! Thanks for sharing the recipe! Sounds good!
Kate
Hope you enjoy these pickles, Barbara!
Pete
Hi. I’m going to try this as my first pickling project. I don’t see any mention of skins. Do you advise me to keep or remove the skin from the peppers before pickling? Thanks :-)
Kate
Hi Pete! Do you mean the outer pepper skin or the inner membranes (the white stuff, which is really spicy?). No need to remove the outer skin, but if you don’t want super spicy pickles, you can remove the membranes.
Pete
Yeah I meant outer skin. Thanks for the reply.
My peppers turned out amazing! I used a white wine vinegar mixture and 1 clove of garlic and they are really delicious. I also tried radishes with a cyder vinegar mixture. They didn’t turn out so good. I wouldn’t reccommend that combo.
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks for getting back to me, Pete! Apple cider definitely imparts an apple flavor, so I can see why you might not like that combo.
Mr. Vickroy
Just made your Quick Pickled Peppers with Hatch peppers. They arrive in Austin for a short period of time during the summer. Will let you know how they turn out.
Kate
Yum! Hope they’re great.
Barbara Lenard
WOW!! Tried this recipe and it is just so tasty plus not too hot if you remove the seeds and membranes…next batch I am going to leave a few seeds in the jalapenos. Thank You Kate!!!
Kate
Thanks, Barbara!
Anja Egeriis
The heat isn’t in the seeds, Barbara – it sits in the membranes, the seeds are just slightly bitter…
★★★★
Elizabeth Edwards
I moved from Phila to Vermont, and miss the Italian hoagies with sweet and hot peppers! No such thing here. I am dying to try this recipe! Can I leave the sweet peppers in strips? Will the sweets become spicy? Could I separate the hot from the sweet?
Kate
Yes, you can slice the peppers however you’d like! The sweet peppers will become spicier, so you might want to pickle them in separate jars. You can also add more sweetener if you want them even sweeter.
Uros
Hey Kate, this looks delicious. I have a question, can I use some other peppers rather than halapenos?
Thanks in advance,
Uros
Kate
Yes, definitely! Any peppers you like should turn out nicely, although the heat level will depend on the peppers you choose.
Dannella Boyd
I used this recipe for Hungarian Hot Peppers, mmmmm very good
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks, Dannella!
Amber
How long do you suggest refrigerating them before eating them? I made a batch the other night and they look so pretty sitting in the jar in the fridge– can’t wait to try them!
Kate
I bet they’re good to go now! No harm in tasting them now, anyway.
Todd & Susan
Cookie & Kate,
We replied on the radish page that we used ACV & the radishes were really tart…
At the suggestion of dear old Dad, we used Seasoned Rice Wine Vinegar and SHAZAM – no more tartness. Works great for radishes, as well as peppers!
FWIW,
Todd & Susan
Heather
Tried this recipe today using El Jefe peppers and sweet bell pepper strips. I also added slices of sweet yellow onion. Can’t wait to try them. How long do they have to sit before eating?
Kate
Those sound great! You can just taste test them and decide when they’re ready. The amount of time depends on how thinly you sliced the vegetables.
Julie P
How long should these be in the fridge before eating?
Kate
Hi Julie! I’m sorry the recipe wasn’t more clear. Just fixed it. That length of time is entirely dependent upon the width of your jalapeño slices. If you sliced them very thin, they might be ready right away! Just sample one and see. :)
Debra Duncan
I have become addicted to peppers prepared this way. I love spicy foods, so I’ve been leaving the seeds in, and I just can’t get enough! I don’t bother with the capsicum, I just layer in red, green and yellow chilies with garlic and pour in the liquid. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks, Debra! Glad to hear it!
Janet Spence
I am going to try a different twist on this. I have a batch of small red and green jalepenos from the garden.. gonna try and do them dill style.. with dill weed, mustard seed and turmeric. Will still add a touch of honey to help cut the bitter because these are very ripe.
Kate
Your version sounds so good! Hope they turned out great.
Janet Spence
Thank you Kate.. they did turn out good. I tried them on a friend last night and he loved them ;)
Kate
Yay, happy to hear it! Thanks, Janet.
Mariah
Oh – my – goodness! This was so good, I could have drank the juice! I had my entire jar eaten, by myself, in three days! It would have been sooner, but I was trying to give my husband a chance. He missed out! His loss, my gain! I plan on making these again for a bbq this weekend!
Thank you for the yummy recipe!
Jennifer
How long will these last in the refrigerator?
★★★★★
Kate
For best flavor/texture, about two weeks. There’s so much vinegar in the recipe that they won’t go bad for a long time, though.
Iris Smith
hello, I’m loving this recipe, i have a different type of question. i was given a bunch of different types of peppers from a neighbor’s garden, I only eat them every once in awhile, i don’t want to toss them. My questions are how can I preserve them for a long time, can they be frozen?
TERESA
Would I be able to water bath this recipe for preserving?
Kate
Sorry, I’m not a canning expert, so I would not recommend trying that.
jon
worked great with salsa peppers, put one tablespoon of sugar and half a tablespoon of honey. simple but perfect recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Jon!
John
Hi Kim
Quick question , how long would you expect the peppers to last once pickled,
Thanks
John
A new pickler
Greta
I made this recipe using a mix of Italian sweet, mild jalapeño and aji dulce peppers (habaneros without the heat) that I grew. I don’t like hot foods so growing the mild versions of the hot peppers provides us with the flavor of the hot peppers without the heat. The pickles came out fantastic. Thank you Kate.
★★★★★
Suzette
Hi, have you ever tried cold packing the pickled peppers? Just wondering if that would work.
Kate
Hi Suzette, I haven’t. It might work, but the peppers will need longer in the refrigerator before they’ll taste pickled.
Katie
Stumbled across your blog while searching for a quick pickle recipe for the insanely hot peppers our garden is churning out. (Hubby chose the pepper plants this year but will not be doing so again–sticking to familiar jalapeños next year which are child’s play compared to these monsters). Just made them this evening and already sampled one and the heat is nicely toned down–delish and so pretty in the jar. Looking forward to following your blog!
Kate
Katie, thank you for your note! I’m glad you found my blog and enjoyed these peppers. Hope you find some more recipes to try here, too!
Elaine
Super easy but super tasty! Great success on our first try. I used Mexican bell peppers instead of jalapeño. My husband and I both love it!
★★★★★
C
How can we follow you n Pinterest? There is no follow pin. :(
Luke
This recipe is amazing! Quicker and easier than water bath canning, plus the crispiness of the peppers are preserved. I made this with several pounds of Cherry Bomb peppers. It has only been a few days but I can already tell these won’t last long. They’re fantastic with sliced tomatoes.
★★★★★
christine alison wilson
I am going to try this with carrots added thanks Coco
Kate
Let me know what you think once you give it a try, Christine!
christine alison wilson
Tried it with thinly sliced carrots heated in the brine. These are so good, great recipe thanks.
Kate
Thank you for your comment! If you would want to leave a star review, I would appreciate it. :)
R
K so this may be dumb but did happen:
The way this is written, so freehand, I read “2 cloves… smashed” then “garlic” way later! I always add as much garlic as I like so I never looked back to check the garlic measurement!?! Yup, added clove… my partner’s not too happy…
★★★
Kate
Oh no! Yes, just garlic cloves. :)
SnowBronze
Thank you for this recipe I am going to try it!
★★★★★
Kate
Let me know what you think!
James O'Shea
West Elm says those Weck Jars are no longer available.
Kate
That stinks! I’m sorry. You can also look for other mason jars at Target, Amazon, etc.
James O'Shea
Thanks to telling us about Weck Jars, they are available on Amazon
Joyce Beard
Thank you for this recipe. It’s quick, low sodium and flavorful!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome. Thanks for he review!
DeAnna
Can I use this method for mini bell peppers? Since they are not hot, do I need to remove the seeds and membrane?
Thank you for this yummy recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
I haven’t tried it, but let me know if you try it!
Kristie & Michael & Scout
We made these a couple of days ago and finally had the chance to eat them atop breakfast tacos as we sliced them a little bit on the thicker side. We grew Serrano peppers in the back yard so we used those instead of jalapenos and did not have any bell peppers on hand so we omitted those. We were excited to use the local honey we love so much instead of sugar. Our pickled peppers turned out SOOOO VERY DELICIOUS!!!!! They are just the perfect amount of heat with a sweet note tied into it. A delight for the tongue! This is our 2nd time using your recipes and we are hooked! Thank you so much for sharing. Smiles!!!
★★★★★
Kate
Smiles right back! Thank you, Kristie for sharing your experience. I love that you are hooked!
Mary
I know this recipe is nearly 4 years old and somehow I’ve never left a review, but I am always circling back to this one. This year was my first year with a garden, so I used it about 5x more than other years! Soo delicious on top of avocado toast, among many other things.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m so glad you circled back to write a review, Mary! Thanks for your comment, too.
Ed Stanhope
I made a half batch.
It wasn’t NEARLY enough and was gone in a few days.
I cooked the garlic in the brine solution, next time I plan on adding raw garlic and in one jar,, some crushed red pepper.
Kate
Thanks for sharing, Ed!
Miguel Monegro
Hello i tried your recipe is the brine supposed to be a little on the thick side, and i poured the brine with steam over the peppers is this normal and finally i took it off the stove when there were bubbles on the bottom of pot is thst also to normal
Heather
If I am growing peppers, and only harvest a few at a time, can I keep adding peppers to the jar as I pick them? Or do I have to add all of them at once?
Kate
Hi Heather! I love you are growing your own. You really want to have the liquid hot when you put them over the peppers. So, it works best to do it all at once.
Jeff
Two weeks ago this was my first attempt at pickling & it turned out phenomenal. My wife has me doing a double batch now. Simple & easy & delicious. Thank you.
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Jeff! I’m excited you loved it.
Lynda
Hi there. Would this work with seranno chillis? Here in malaysia it’s hard to get good quality jalapenos and I only know of one place and they’re usually just about past their use by and very expensive. It’s about $5 for 3.
Kate
It should! Let me know what you think if you try it.
SUSAN MCDONALD
Do you think this recipe would work if I grilled peppers first? I have tons of poblanos, shishitos and jalapeños in the garden.
Andrea
I love heat so I didn’t remove seeds. Even tossed in a thickly-sliced Habanero pepper. Crunchy, delicious and addictive!! Putting them on, well, everything.
★★★★★
Kate
I bet it had some kick! Thanks for sharing, Andrea.
Charles Walton
This is my first attempt at pickling Jalapeno peppers. I just poured the liquid recipe into the first jar, so it is cooling for a bit before I screw the lid on. I cut the peppers lengthwise and cleaned them out. I’ll let it sit in the fridge for a couple days before I taste one. I look forward to it! Thank you!!!
★★★★★
Kate
What did you think when you tried them, Charles?
Jessie Bright
Best recipe ever! These jalapeños made my pizza! I can hardly wait for more jalapeños to mature on my plants; I will be making the poppers next!
As for the next pizza, I will remember to wear hand protection when adding the slices. My left hand is suffering a little burn.
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks for sharing, Jessie!
Jan
Yummy, tried the recipe but instead jalopenos i used my own growed cayennes, it came out really good, i love the recipe because it is very simple; didnt need to buy any of the ingredients, gonna save it for further pickling! Thank you!
★★★★★
Helen Brohl
So easy. Can’t wait to try them.
★★★★★
Antonio
Hi. Is using salt a must? Im very sensitive to sodium and am looking for lower sodium alternatives to the cans i buy at the store. Wanted to try this recipe without salt.
Kate
It helps the flavor and pickle process. But, you can decrease as needed. Let me know what you think!
Lisa
This recipe looks great and I’m excited to try it! 2 questions, could I use other varieties of hot peppers ie banana or sriracha etc as Ive grown about 5 different varieties this year and they’re all doing well? And is this recipe suitable for canning long term in pint jars? Thanks!!
Kate
Hi Lisa! As for different types of peppers, I don’t see what not! Let me know what you think. As for canning, I’m not sure about that as I’m not an expert in canning. Sorry!
Lisa
Hi Kate! Thank you so much for getting back to me. I grow about six different varieties of hot peppers in my garden so I went ahead and mixed them all together according to your recipe. They all seem to have sealed so we will see how they’ve turned out in about 2 weeks! Thank you so much.
Kate
You’re welcome!
Jeff Mecum
After canning 30 jars of salsa i had some peppers left over and this recipe was just what i needed. I Like peppers on sandwiches, and thanks for the easy recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank for your comment and review, Jeff!
Jonathan David
Pickled polish sausage or the likes is something you should post a recipe for. Your pepper recipe is fantastic but it seems pickled sausage is a dying art,
Shelly
I made these 5 months ago. Just found a jar in the back of my fridge that got hidden there. It’s sealed, because they were hot when I packed them, not because I processed them in a canner. How do i know if i need to trash them or could they still be good? I dont want to make my family sick….I need advice on this please.
Kate
Hi! I wouldn’t recommend it. Quick-pickled onions are best consumed within three days, but they keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. If you question it, then toss it!
MICHAEL BEEZIOUS
I use this recipe for canning peppers in my garden, I use a variety of peppers. If peppers are coming in at different times can you do this as they come in and later mix and re-jar them so they’re all about the same mix of different peppers???? Cheers!
★★★★★
Kate
Hi Michael! This recipe is not designed for canning, and has not been verified for canning safety, so please don’t can it. If you’re making refrigerator pickles as designed, you could try that, but the peppers taste best when consumed within a couple of weeks. It might be more fun (and delicious) to have a perpetual rotation of different varieties in the fridge!
KC
I don’t have a ton of equipment, so no Mason jars or anything similar. I do have glass food containers – could I use those? If not, do you have a recommended substitute container?
Kate
Sure, glass food containers will work! I would avoid using plastic if possible.
Matt
I like them. They taste fresh, not too salty, and the sweetness is nice. No comparoson to store bought. These are good plain.
Will the same brine work for cucumbers?
Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Kate
Hey Matt! I’m so glad to hear it. I think this brine would work well with cucumbers, but I haven’t tried. One key difference—since cucumbers are so delicate, I don’t think you’ll want to heat the brine (just mix the brine well, pour over sliced cucumbers, and refrigerate).
Matt
For cucumbers, I increased the salt a bit, used room temperature brine, and put in fridge 24 hours. They were a bit tangy. Will make again, but might add some other pickling spices.
The peppers are really good on cheese quesadillas.
Bill
I used this recipe and found them a little too sweet. I would cut the honey in half. Trying again tomorrow to make sure.
Sush
I have been making pickled peppers all summer thanks to this reciepe.I love spicy food so I was skeptical about adding the honey, but OMG that’s the best part of this recipe. Thanks Kate.
★★★★★
Ellen
The most delicious pickled peppers ever!!! I used my home-grown Hungarian banana peppers. If I could rate them with SIX stars, I would!!! Wonderful!!! Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you loved it, Ellen!
Dee
I have hot Portugal peppers growing in my garden (hotter than jalapeños); do you think they would work in this recipe?
Kate
Hi Dee! They should, but as you noted, maybe a little spicer. Let me know what you think!
LISA
I used a skinny potato peeler to scoop out the seeds from the peppers after I sliced off the tops, added sliced carrots and pearl onions and garlic as well as a lot of different mixed sweet an hot peppers. It was amazing. I eat them on top of cheese and crackers and just munch on them as well. Love the recipe, simple and easy. Also added peppercorns and mustard seeds.Will try the honey next time instead of sugar. Thanks for the delicious recipe.
★★★★★
Bryan Carey
Just made these today. So delicious! 4 hours later and my wife and I were super surprised they turned out already. Thanks!!!
★★★★★
Kelly
I have an abundance of jalapeños, but my bell peppers didn’t do as well this year, would this turn out well with just the jalapeños? Thank you!
Kate
Hi! I would suggest my relish recipe. Let me know what you think!
Judy
Thank you for this recipe! We have one plant that has been spewing out a bountiful harvest of little yellow eye watering firebombs. ( I don’t know what variety they are; they were innocently labelled “lemon drops” but they’re hotter than any jalapeño and we weren’t able to use them other than tossing a couple in soup or Chili). I set myself upwind outside at the picnic table, masked and gloved to prepare them, removing all the seeds and membranes. Two days later, I have pickles that are the perfect accompaniment to eggs or sandwiches. I might actually venture to leave a few seeds and membranes in my next batch
★★★★★
Kate
I’m so happy to hear that! I appreciate you taking the time to leave your feedback, Judy.
Meg
I am a professional chef and I love adding pickled hot peppers to recipes. Sometimes even a tablespoon of the pickling liquid to a soup or sauce can add sooo much flavor. I just picked a bunch of serrano, banana peppers and jalapeños from my garden. My son and I LOVE spicy things. So I pickled up all our peppers (and I did not seed them- oooo that’s gonna be a spicy meatball!!) I also added a half of a sliced red onion in. It makes the pickling liquid kind of pink. But, pickled hot peppers and onions on a chicken salad sandwich with arugula and sliced Granny Smith apples is amazing! Thank you Kate. Great recipe.
★★★★★
KERI BYRNE
Thank you for this recipe. It makes the perfect tasting pickled peppers. We’ve made this quite a few times already using different kinds of peppers.
★★★★★
Amy
Hi! Can i replace the jalapenos with cayenne peppers? The’re quite big, probably not that spicy.
Thanks!
Kate
Hi Amy! You can try it. Let me know what you think.
Ali
Made this twice, once with home-grown cayenne peppers and another with green chilies. They only lasted a day each from my husband and son nibling lol! If youre hesitating to make it, go ahead!
(I didnt have enough liquid to fill my jar- I just alternated water and vinegar until filled- turned out great!)
★★★★★
manfromtx
Curious why you say not to can this recipe? What is the fear? You can can these if you follow the proper directions. Screw the lid on hand tight. Place in pot, cover with water about half an inch over the top of jar, turn on heat, and once the water begins to actually boil set the timer for ten minutes. Remove and let sit until cool. Check tightness again and you’re done.
Kate
Hi, I’m not a canning expert and this wasn’t designed that way. If you have a canning method, great!
Jan Ellis
I was looking for a recipe for pickled jalapeños that were fresh like Qdoba’s. Qdoba’s jalapeños are garbage compared to these!! I don’t keep jalapeños around often because a jar is kind of expensive and they are never that spicy and often mushy. These are insanely perfect and they cost pennies to make!! Cookie and Kate has transformed my life and I cannot say enough good things about these recipes!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you liked these, Jan!
Cassie Steger
I feel like I am a little late to this particular party, but I have a question. When I pickle the peppers and put them in fridge, later, the wax from the peppers/hot liquids combo seems to have floated off the the delicious pickles and is now scumming up the brine. So, the question, is there a way to prevent this? De-wax the peppers? I know the wax isn’t harmful, it’s just gross.
Kate
Hi Cassie, I have never encountered that. You must have got some waxy peppers. Maybe try to run hot water over the peppers next time when you wash them or buy a different pepper. Sorry to not be of more help!
WALTER HENRY SMITH
Kate, can I invert the recipe and use more sweet peppers & one jalopeno? Thanks
★★★★★
Kate
Sure, you can change the ratios if you like.
Hannah
I had a bunch of different kinds of peppers, and since I like it hot, I decided to use all of them and their seeds. Hope this works out for me! I also used sugar instead of honey because I’m out right now!
jean
Hi I am excited to try your recipe. I like your style and ideas ie focusing on delish and healthy
I am wondering if I can make this recipe with the loads of small
cayenne peppers. Hoping to make them not too spicy
★★★★★
Kate
Hi Jean, they are a spicy pepper. You can remove seeds. They will still have kick to them.
Reen
I only use Thai hot as hell chillies for pickling as I had no idea there r 2 versions of jalapeños. One is blend & not hot at all & other must be hot. I bought one from the store (pickled) & kept chewing on it as if I was eating olives. I really didn’t know jalapeños were spicy & non spicy so I started making my own
Dave
Honey is not Vegan because of the bee?
Good recipe. I just threw everything into the pot and slammed on the lid. Turned off the burner. Also I like to include a variety of fresh peppers and onions.
★★★★★
Mina Phuong
I found the recipe and my husband made two jars with honey. They went fast. This time around I will make them. These pickles are soooo good! We put them pretty much in everything. Thanks Kate .
★★★★★
Tina Mari
I used this pickled pepper recipe ťo pickle five different kinds of hot peppers in a gallon jar. Rather than cutting small slices I sliced the peppers in half lengthwise. I tripled the recipe to get the volume of brine I needed. The peppers came out perfectly delicious! That was 1.5 weeks ago. They are gone! Everyone loved them! I picked more peppers this morning and will be making another gallon today. This recipe is now my favorite go to for peppers. It’s easy to make and tastes better than store bought. Thank you Cookie & Kate!
★★★★★
Carlee
Can I do this in smaller jars? Like multiple mason jars?
Kate
Sure!
Frank
Made these peppers twice did not use jalapeños, used Italian long hot peppers. Peppers came out excellent hot. Depending on your taste for hot peppers.
★★★★★