How do you know when sauteed peppers are done?

Add peppers and saute until they begin to colour in some places . Reduce heat and season with salt to taste. Cover pan and cook 10 minutes, or until peppers are softened.

How long to cook peppers until soft?

To boil bell peppers: Cook peppers, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water for 6 to 7 minutes or until crisp-tender. To sauté bell peppers: Heat a skillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking oil over medium-high heat. Carefully add bell peppers and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes.

Does sauteing bell peppers destroy nutrients?

You can reap the benefits of eating bell peppers whether they are raw or cooked, but cooking bell peppers may make it easier for your body to absorb the nutrients. However, cooking a pepper for a long time may reduce its vitamin C content .

How to tell if peppers are cooked?

Place the peppers in the boiling water and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they feel crisp-tender . The peppers will ideally still have a little “crunch” to them, but the flesh should be notably softer than when the peppers were raw.

How long are sauteed peppers good for?

Leftover cooked bell peppers that are stored in an airtight container will last for about three to four days in the refrigerator, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. In this case, the color of the pepper will not change how long it lasts.

Which color bell pepper is the healthiest?

Red peppers pack the most nutrition, because they've been on the vine longest. Bell peppers come in a range of colors, including red (the sweetest), orange, yellow, and green.

What are the negatives of bell peppers?

Peppers are part of a family of vegetables known as nightshades. Some people might find that consuming nightshades causes irritation to the gut or increases inflammation . But some people can mistake an allergy for an intolerance. With an intolerance, a person may experience some digestive issues after eating the food.

Are bell peppers bad for gut health?

Peppers. " Peppers are generally well-tolerated because they have lower levels of potentially irritating compounds ," says Brown, and they're rich in gut-friendly fiber and vitamins, including vitamin C.

Should peppers be soft when cooked?

Generally, peppers are cut into pieces or strips before being boiled or steamed. Boiled or steamed peppers should be tender, but not cooked long enough that they begin to lose their colour .

Can you overcook peppers?

Also, do not overcook your peppers so they retain their nutrients . A light saute is healthier than cooking them until they almost turn mushy. When you overcook bell peppers they lose their nutrients.

Why won't my peppers soften?

If the skins aren't sufficiently cooked, finish them off with 2-4 minutes in a very hot skillet, skin side down . You can also grill your peppers on high over gas or charcoal until the skin is blistered and the pepper is soft.

Do bell peppers take longer to saute than onions?

Note we like to start cooking the pepper first (before the onion) because it takes longer for pepper to cook down to the same softness . Add the onion to the same pan and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until it's just starting to soften. Add salt and pepper to taste.

How do you know when hot peppers are ready?

Generally speaking, peppers can be harvested at any stage of ripeness, as long as the fruits feel firm and have a glossy sheen . Hot peppers generally get hotter (and change colors, usually from green to orange, red, or purple) the riper they get.

Does sauteing peppers make them less hot?

THE BOTTOM LINE: Yes, cooking does tame chiles' heat .

15-Minutes Sautéed Bell Peppers (2024)

Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » 15-Minute Sautéed Bell Peppers

by Taesha Butler on Apr 17, 2023 (updated Jul 26, 2023)

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5 from 5 votes

Quick and easy to make in just 15 minutes, these Sautéed Bell Peppers are a wonderful way to add color, flavor, and a veggie to so many meals! These perfect peppers make the for the ideal side dish or topping for tacos, fajitas, salads, and more.

I am always looking for delicious and easy vegetable sides to add to dinners. Through my many years of cooking and recipe developing, I have absolutely found some truly fun side dishes that make dinners flavorful and veggie-loaded(try the Tex-Mex Roasted Cabbage Steaks, trust me). However, I also love leaning into truly simple classics when I don’t feel like reinventing the wheel…..like these sautéed bell peppers.

Why is this simple 15 minute dish a standby favorite of a woman who has made it her life’s work creating out-of-the-box recipes incorporating vegetables? Because it is a classic for a reason: delicious, colorful, and super easy! Bell peppers are naturally sweet and but can easily have a lovely savory side to them with the right seasoning (I like to use salt and thyme). Sautéing them with a little olive oil enhances their natural flavors and creates a delicious and colorful addition to a meal that requires little work!

Plus, this bell pepper recipe takes just 15 minutes, utilizes just 4 ingredients, and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. They make a great side, but can also be an amazing topping for tacos, fajitas, as part of a stuffed baked potato bar, on top of grilled meat, as part of a fun salad, or added to a quick pasta.

Bell peppers also tend to be a favorite veg among kids (I remember my preschool students would inhale them at snack time), so these sautéed bell peppers are likely to be a family veggie win! And since is recipe calls for such minimal ingredients, it also is naturally gluten free, dairy-free, nut free, Paleo, vegan, vegetarian, plant based, and everything in between!

How to make sautéed bell peppers: Visual Guide

Serving ideas

There is no wrong way to enjoy these sautéed bell peppers, but if you are looking for a little inspiration, try serving this recipe with one of these ideas!

Grilled or roasted meats: Sautéed bell peppers are a delicious pairing for grilled or roasted meats such as steak, chicken, pork, or lamb. The mildly sweet flavor of the bell peppers often compliment savory flavors of the meat.
Seafood: I love how the light crunch of these sautéed bell peppers pairs with the tender texture of post seafood.
Pasta or rice: Have you ever added sautéed bell peppers to cooked angel hair with a little parmesan cheese? Oh my. Heavenly! Same can be said for rice! Just cook up these bell peppers, add them to your cooked pasta or rice and season with things like garlic, onions, herbs, and cheese (I suggest Parmesan, mozzarella, or goat cheese) to create a simple, flavorful dish.
Veggie stir-fry: These sautéed bell peppers can be great jumping off point for dinner! Cook them up and add other vegetables such as onions, carrots, broccoli, or mushrooms, and stir-fried with a sauce of your choice to create a colorful and healthy meal.
Tacos + fajitas: Sautéed bell peppers are a classic topping for tacos or part of fajitas. They can be cooked with onions, and served alongside grilled or cooked meats, beans, or other toppings for a delicious and flavorful taco or fajita filling.
Sandwiches + salads: Sautéed bell peppers can also be used as a delicious veggie filling for sandwiches or topping for salads. I love to pair them with leftover cooked chicken or shrimp, lettuce, and a flavorful dressing (try this 5-Minute Green Goddess Sauce) for a simple + delicious lunch.
Baked potato bar: I love making baked potatoes as part of an easy (and budget friendly) dinner. These sautéed bell peppers are a delicious and easy topping for those baked potatoes.

Want to find out the BEST way to cut bell peppers? Head over to my How To Cut a Bell Pepper…to minimize waste! post!

Suggested adaptations

This is a delightfully simple bell pepper recipe. Yet, there are a few ways to tweak the flavors to match what you love!

Switch up the herbs. I love to use thyme on my sautéed bell peppers. But there are other herbs that also compliment the sweetness of them that you can use, too. Try adding basil, chives, cilantro, coriander, cumin, curry, garlic, marjoram, or rosemary to you bell peppers when cooking for more amazing flavor combinations.
Top them with cheese. Sautéed bell peppers are amazing with a little added cheese and can really elevate their flavor and presentation. Try crumbling some goat cheese or feta over your peppers. Or grate a little fresh Parmesan or a sprinkling of mozzarella.
Add other veggies into the pan. Bell peppers play so well with other veggies. So, use this recipe as a jumping off point for a giant skillet of sautéed vegetables! Add diced eggplant, thinly sliced onions, shallots, tomatoes and/or diced zucchini in with your bell peppers and have an amazing start to a veggie-packed meal.

Did you try this bell pepper recipe and now you’re hungry for more?

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15-Minute Sautéed Bell Peppers

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Author: Taesha Butler

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Ingredients

▢ 3 bell peppers, cut into ½-inch strips
▢ 1½ Tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1 teaspoon dried thyme
▢ ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, add the sliced peppers and season with salt and thyme.
See Also
I've Made So Many Stuffed Peppers, But THESE Are the Best Ones (I Cook Them Once a Month!)
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are tender and starting to brown, about 10-15 minutes or until your preferred tenderness is achieved

Calories: 70kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 294mg, Potassium: 190mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 2804IU, Vitamin C: 114mg, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information provided here is only an estimate shared for convenience and as a courtesy. Information will vary based on ingredients + brands used to create the recipe.

Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Grain Free Nut-Free Paleo Side Dishes Vegan Vegetarian Whole30 bell pepper

15-Minutes Sautéed Bell Peppers (2024)

How to make sautéed bell peppers: Visual Guide

Serving ideas

Suggested adaptations

Did you try this bell pepper recipe and now you’re hungry for more?

15-Minute Sautéed Bell Peppers

Ingredients

Instructions

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How do you know when sauteed peppers are done? ›

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