If you've grown jalapeños in your garden this summer, you're probably looking for some great recipes that call for jalapeños. I've got that covered for you. Here are 15 delicious things to do with jalapeños and some of my favorite recipes. These are sure to keep the salsa flowing at your next cookout!
Jalapeño peppers are chili pepper that packs a lot of heat. They've gained popularity for their use in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine but are also perfect for roasting and pickling. Plus, they're great on tacos too!
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Jalapeño Pepper Basics
The jalapeño pepper is a variety of chile pepper, also known as a New Mexico green chile or simply a green chile.
These spicy peppers are used in many cuisines, including Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Thai. They're also an essential ingredient in many types of barbecue sauces.
Jalapeños are the world's second most widely consumed chile, behind only the bell pepper. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), around 1.2 million tons of jalapeños are produced in Mexico each year.
What to do with your Jalapeños
What you do with them after you pick them depends on how you want to use them. Slice them and add them to salads, soups, and sandwiches; roast them over an open flame until they're charred and blackened; mash them up and add them to salsas, or chop them up and throw them into soups and stews for extra heat.
Here are 15 things to do with jalapeño peppers:
Roasted peppers
- Roast your jalapeños until the skin is charred and blistered. Then, remove the stems, seeds, and veins, and peel the skin away. Use them in sauces or marinades, or add them to dishes such as tacos and guacamole.
Roast them on the grill until they're charred and blistered, then peel off the skin and add them to your favorite dishes (like this roasted sweet potato quesadilla).
Dehydrate them
Dehydrating them will give you spicy chips that are perfect for snacking on or topping off dishes like soups and salads. Drying jalapenos in a dehydrator is also a great way to preserve fresh produce for later use without having to can it (which can be dangerous).
Raw Peppers
Use raw jalapeños instead of bell peppers for a different look and flavor in salads or sandwiches!
Chop up a fresh batch of these spicy green chiles for use in recipes like queso fundido or nachos supreme (both great party apps).
Hot Sauce Winner
You can make a homemade hot sauce using fresh chilies (like serranos or habaneros). Add vinegar and salt for flavor, then let sit overnight before straining out the solids with a strainer lined with cheesecloth.
Keep it Sweet
Make a simple syrup with your peppers for some spicy margaritas!
Jalapeño jelly is deliciously on some homemade biscuits or on a sandwich.
These peppers are perfect for a hot honey ferment! Slice up a few peppers, add them to some raw honey and give them some time and you'll get spicy honey for your pepperoni pizza.
Salsas and Sauces
Blend up some homemade salsa verde with fresh-cooked tomatillos
Whip up an easy taco sauce that will remind you of your favorite taco truck.
Slice them up and add them to your favorite salsa recipe.
Sauté sliced jalapeños in olive oil with garlic, onion, bell pepper, and/or mushrooms for an easy side dish that can be served alongside any meal — even breakfast!
Pickled Peppers
Make your own pickled jalapeños by soaking sliced peppers in apple cider vinegar for about 10 minutes before adding them to recipes such as salsa verde or tortilla soup!
Make spicy relish with your pickled jalapeños for use on top of burgers or hot dogs — especially if you're serving them at a cookout!
Quick Pepper FAQs
Are jalapeño peppers good for you?
Yes! there are lots of u003ca href=u0022https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/jalapeno-health-benefitsu0022u003ebenefits to these peppersu003c/au003e, plus they are delicious!
What is the best way to preserve jalapenos?
Quick pickling is the best want to extend the life of your peppers and takes very little time.
Can you freeze jalapeno peppers?
Yes, you can! To freeze your peppers, you can add them to a freezer bag, make sure there is no excess air, seal the bag and you are good to go! They will keep for up to a year.
Jalapeño Recipes
It's time to harvest your jalapeños peppers, and don't have a game plan? I've got you! Here are 7 recipes that feature this delightfully hot pepper.
Dehydrated Jalapeños Peppers
If you’re looking for a way to preserve your jalapeños peppers, dehydrating them is a great way to do so. It’s also a great way to prepare for making delicious homemade jalapeño powder
It’s really easy to do, and doesn’t take much time at all.
Here’s how to dehydrate jalapeño peppers in your oven or toaster oven:
Easy Campfire Breakfast Burritos
This easy campfire breakfast burrito is made with all the ingredients you'd take camping anyway, plus some extras. We like to use peppers and onions, eggs, burrito wraps, and cheese. Just wrap it all up in aluminum foil and throw it on a grill to cook over the fire.
Mezcal Paloma
The Paloma is another simple, delicious, tequila-based cocktail. With mezcal and grapefruit as the primary flavors. It's a margarita's simpler cousin, made with grapefruit soda instead of lime or lemon.
The result is a light, bubbly, refreshing drink that's easier on the palate than a margarita.
Easy roasted jalapeños
Roasting jalapeños in the oven is one of the easiest, most foolproof ways to get delicious, smoky, slightly sweet jalapenos that you can use in a variety of recipes.
Quick Pickle Pineapple and Jalapeño
Pickling pineapple is a great way to preserve it for later use, or just to add a little kick to your favorite recipes. Though pickling pineapple sounds like it might be tricky, it's actually quite simple—and this recipe only takes about thirty minutes from start to finish!
Fermented Jalapeno Hot Honey
If you love the sweet and spicy combination of honey and jalapenos, you'll want to try fermented jalapeno honey. This recipe will give you a rich, tangy condiment that can be used in a variety of ways.
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