Quick Pickled Peppers

By Kevin

published Mar 31, 2022, updated Oct 03, 2022

5 from 9 votes

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These easy Pickled Peppers are perfect for sandwiches, salads, charcuterie boards, omelets… the list goes on and on! In just a day, you can have jars of deliciously crisp pickles to spice up your meals or share with family and friends.

large mason jar with red yellow orange and green pickled peppers

You don’t have to wait days on end for a jar of crisp, crunchy pickles. With this quick pickled peppers recipe, you can have an abundance of zingy, zesty pickles to give all of your favorite dishes an extra kick.

I’ve developed this pickling brine with a carefully selected spice profile for just the right level of heat. If you use hotter peppers, you’ll get an even hotter brine, so keep that in mind as you select your veggies for pickling.

Note: these are “quick” pickled peppers, meaning that this recipe is not suited for canning and must be kept refrigerated.

I bet you never knew that it could be so easy to make your own pickles at home! Try your hand at these Mexican Carrots, Red Onions, and basic Home Vegetable pickling recipes for even more ways to enjoy your favorite garden veggies.

pickled cherry peppers in small bowl with jalapeno slices and banana pepper slices

INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Assorted Peppers – This is when I use my leftover garden vegetables of the season: banana peppers, jalapeños, pepperoncinis, or whatever else is laying around. It’s great to make a whole variety at once!
White Vinegar – The preferred pickling vinegar for its neutral, sharp acidity. Rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar are good alternatives, but will have a slightly different flavor.
Water – We’re not pickling for an overly-long shelf life, so we’ll dilute with a bit of water.
Salt & Sugar – For flavor, but also for utility. Using kosher salt will keep the veggies crisp as they pickle.
Garlic Cloves – Smashed, not minced, to help diffuse the spicy, pungent aroma and flavor of the garlic.
Mustard Seeds – These seeds have a strong scent and even stronger taste when you bite right down on them. Instead, we’ll add them to the pickling brine to give a hint of their spicy, earthy flavor.
Celery Seeds – In addition to their distinct celery flavor, these seeds are bitter, with a warm and herbal heat.
Black Peppercorns – We’ll use 10 whole black peppercorns. If that seems a bit specific, that’s because it is! This adds just enough “fruity” spiciness that isn’t too overpowering.

overhead; large banana peppers, red chiles and jalapenos scattered on counter top

overhead: saucepan of brine for pickled peppers next to jar of jalapeno slices

HOW TO MAKE PICKLED PEPPERS

Stem and Seed the Peppers. Wear gloves before proceeding with the recipe to keep the pepper oils off of your skin, and keep your hands away from your eyes. Remove the stem from each pepper, and the seeds if you wish. Chop the chilis into ¼“ rings and transfer them to your jars.
Boil the Brine. Add all of the spices and seasonings, water, and vinegar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir regularly. Once the salt and sugar granules have dissolved, remove from heat.
Pack the Peppers. Slowly and carefully pour the liquid into the jar with the veggies. Pack down them with a spoon, releasing any air pockets that might interfere with the pickling process.
Seal, Refrigerate, and Serve. Allow them to come to room temperature, seal the jars, and refrigerate for at least 2 days before eating.

large glass jar of spicy refrigerator pickles

How long do refrigerator pickled peppers last?

These quick pickled peppers will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. And because this is a refrigerated pickle, not a recipe for canning, these pickles must remain refrigerated.

What are the best peppers to pickle?

Any pepper will pickle well, so it all comes down to your preferences and what you’ll want to use the slices for. The mild banana pepper and pepperoncini are a couple of very popular choices, but you could use jalapeños or other chilis for extra spiciness.

Pickling is a great way to utilize garden veggies, so I recommend looking into the pepper varieties that grow well in your area and trying your hand at those.

I had an over abundant season of peppers and decided to do a medley for this batch. There’s nothing more satisfying than growing and cooking your own veggies!

How long does the pickling process take?

For a quick refrigerator version, it takes 30 minutes to prepare the vegetables and brining liquid and at least 24 hours for the pickling process. The longer you pickle, the more the vegetables will take on the flavors of the spice blend.

What are the best storage containers for pickled peppers?

Mason jars are a popular, great choice, but any airtight plastic, glass, ceramic, or stone container will do the trick.

small dish with slices of red, yellow and green chiles

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