What Is Jalapeño pepper and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with jalapeño pepper? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 899 recipes to put it to work.

What is jalapeño pepper?

The  jalapeño pepper is a fruit, a medium- to large-sized chili pepper with a spicy, burning sensation when eaten.

A ripe jalapeño is 2–3½ inches (5–9 cm) long and is commonly picked and sold when still green. It is a cultivar of the species Capsicum annuum originating in Mexico.

Jalapeños are a pod type of Capsicum. The growing period is 70–80 days. During a growing period, a plant will be picked multiple times. As the growing season ends, jalapeños start to turn red. Once picked, individual peppers ripen to red of their own accord. The peppers can be eaten green or red.

Compared to other chilis, the jalapeño has a heat level that varies from mild to hot depending on cultivation and preparation.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find jalapeño pepper: Jalapeño pepper is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Jalapeño pepper is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

墨西哥辣椒

British (UK) term

Jalapeño pepper

en français

piments jalapeño

en español

chiles jalapeños

How much does jalapeño pepper weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using jalapeño pepper

There are 899 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Guacamole Ole

This easy party-perfect appetizer teams the flavors of Mexican and California cuisine in a lively dip.

Winter Squash Soup with Cinnamon & Cloves

Winter Squash Soup with Cinnamon and Cloves recipe

Nachos

This recipe sounds great I would really like to try it.

Guacamole with Yoghurt

An extra creamy rendition of guacamole with a touch of yoghurt for a bit of extra tang.

MacHo Nachos

Loaded macho nachos piled high with spicy bean dip, melted cheddar, guacamole, sour cream, and sliced jalapenos. This fiery Mexican appetizer is microwave-ready in minutes for game day or any party.

Chilled Sonoma Tomato Vegetable Soup

California-style chilled gazpacho built from peak summer tomatoes, English cucumber, red bell peppers, jalapeno, serrano, and a chiffonade of fresh herbs. Vegan, low-fat, and made for blistering Sonoma afternoons.

Brownsville Chili

Texas-style Brownsville chili with ground beef, dried pinto beans, jalapeños, and a hint of cinnamon. A border-town big-batch chili serving up to 32 with that distinctive sweet-savory backbone.

Meatless Monday Chili

Vegan chili made hearty with marinated tempeh, kidney beans, mushrooms, and a long simmer in tomato and vegetable stock. Deep, savory, slow-cooked Meatless Monday meal.

Chili, Chuck Morford

A hearty beef and two-bean chili loaded with jalapenos, kidney and black beans, and a deep spice blend, slow-simmered with an optional splash of beer. Big-batch, crowd-pleasing, and seriously warming.

Crisp Cucumber Salsa

wow! tangy and so good!

Alamo Chili

A simple but savory chili made with succulent stewing beef, pinto beans and jalapeno peppers.

Mama Delilah's Pasta Primavera

Hearty and zesty, this is my favorite pasta to make. It's a little bit of work, but comes out as stunning visually as it tastes. Definitely worth the effort. Enjoy!!!

Picadillo (Rice-And-Beef Hash/Filling)

Cuban-style picadillo with ground beef, raisins, olives, apple, jalapeno, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves. Serve over rice, in tacos, or as a stuffed pepper filling.

Vegan Enchilada Corn Tortillas

Melt In Your Mouth Vegan Corn Tortillas! Yellow Corn Tortillas Were Used In This Dish!! Quick And Easy To Make!5

Pinto Bean & Feta Cheese Quesadillas

Pinto bean and feta cheese quesadillas with a chunky bean puree seasoned with jalapeno, cumin, chili powder, and red onion. A hearty vegetarian quesadilla with a Mediterranean-Mexican mash-up.

Jacquie's Excellent Cornbread Muffins

Garlic, jalapeño peppers and two kinds of cheese deliver and muffin mix made them so easy to make.

Cabbage & ground beef

A simple, tasty and heart-warming recipe for winter days.

Best Chunky Guacamole

Freshly homemade guacamole is a great accompaniment with tortilla chips, and it is so quick and easy to make, refreshing feeling through the whole body!

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa

Fresh tomatillo salsa verde roasted in a dry cast iron pan with serranos, jalapenos, pequin chiles, and garlic. Smoky, tangy, and seriously spicy with three types of peppers.

Pasta with Hot Sausage & Rapini

Fairly easy to put together, and the dish was packed with flavor and very filling too. It is an excellent way to add dark leafy greens such as rapini into your meal. Feel feel to use kale or spinach to replace rapini.

Bowl of Compassion Vegetarian Chili

Vegetarian chili loaded with kidney beans, three kinds of peppers, jalapenos, and TVP for hearty texture. A cookoff-tested vegan chili that tastes even better the next day.

Grilled Tomatillo Shrimp

Smoky mesquite-grilled shrimp with tangy tomatillo-avocado salsa verde. Succulent grilled seafood marinated in chili-lime butter, perfect for summer entertaining.

New Delhi-Style Chick Pea Hummus

Hummus, perfect for dipping all kinds of veggies or for pita bread or a replacement from mayo.

Fresh Seven-Layer Dip

So yummy, store-bought seven-layer dip can never beat freshly homemade version, no doubt.

Pasta with Grilled Summer Vegetables

Grilled summer vegetables are served on top of spaghetti that is tossed with tomato sauce. A refreshing and tasty summer dish!

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings

Jamaican jerk chicken wings marinated in a fiery blend of allspice, scotch bonnet heat, thyme, scallions, and warm spices, then roasted hot until lacquered and crisp. Island flavor on a party platter.

Baby Potatoes Coated with Almonds

Cute mini potatoes coated with a spicy mix of almonds, jalapeno, ginger and cilantro; brightened with a bit of lemon juice.

Beef & Bean Burrito Stack (Crockpot, Slow Cooker)

A unique burrito like "stack" made in your crockpot, cheesy and tasty.

Refried Black Beans

The flavor was great. Made a few dishes with these refried black beans, burrito and two different multiple-layer dips. Homemade is always the way to go. If you have never tried refried black beans, certainly should add this one to "to-do" list.

Black Bean Beef & Pork Chili

Black bean chili built on two meats: cubed stewing beef and pork shoulder browned with onions, peppers and jalapeños, then simmered with tomatoes, cumin and a splash of red wine. Thick, smoky, deeply savory.

Classic Cheese Crisp

Super crispy and cheesy, these are easy to make as a snack or for lunch served with a green salad.

Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Jalapenos

Basil pesto, juicy tomatoes and mozzarella cheese with a little heat from jalapeno make this grilled cheese sandwich taste absolutely delicious.

Black Bean Sweet-Potato Chili

This chili was filling, tasty and wholesome. Nothing is like a bowl of warm chili on a cold and snowy winter day.

Pulled Pork Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa

Pulled pork tacos with tomatillo salsa: crispy grilled corn tortillas stuffed with barbecued pork, potato, and melted Monterey Jack. Bright fresh salsa on top.

True Texas Chili

True Texas chili with ground beef, beer, jalapeños, whole tomatoes, and a heavy chili powder hit. No beans, no fillers, classic Lone Star style chili con carne.

Chick Pea Salad with Garlic-Cumin Vinaigrette

A scrumptious salad made with chickpeas and jalapeno peppers that's served with a delicious vinaigrette.

One-Skillet: Spicy Vegetable Stir Fry

A quick, easy and tasty vegetable stir-fry, serve it with rice or noodles as a delicious and wholesome week-night meal.

Andy Beals' Chili

About half of the beans I used were chili beans. And I used a Guinness beer. I (roughly) seeded the jalapenos and this was surprisingly still spicy. A cheap cut of beef works quite well; the beef chunks get so tender and this is an overall delicious dish. I froze half of it.

California Beef & Bean Chili

Chunky California beef and bean chili made with cubed round steak, scratch-cooked beans and fresh-toasted cumin. Three peppers and a jalapeño build layered heat in this lean, hearty bowl.

Black Bean & Cashew Chili

Vegan black bean and cashew chili with jalapeño, Anaheim chiles, and a splash of beer. Cashews lend hearty body to this meatless chili. Top with avocado, cilantro, and crisp tortilla chips.

Hot Black Bean Chili with Goat Cheese

Very hearty and flavorful. The goat cheese complements the chili nicely. I took the advice of the previous reviewer and let it simmer for a couple hours after I mixed everything together.

Aloo Ko Achar (Potato Salad)

A quick, easy and flavorful salad. I added a bit chopped red onion, and used lemon juice instead of lime juice, and it was very tasty. Next time I will use pickled jalapeno, which I think will make the salad taste even better.

Greens with Roasted Corn & Pepper Salad

This is one of my favorites, and is always a hit when I bring it to potlucks.

Turkey Balls, Veggies & Brown Rice Soup

Use ground turkey to make meatballs, loaded with fresh veggies, and brown rice, this hearty soup is nutritious and delicious.

Venezuelan Avocado Salsa

That's why you should always make salsa from the scratch. It's simple and refreshing. The best thing is that you can control the amount of salt you put in.

Texas Caviar - Superbowl

Black beans and black-eyed peas tossed with jalapeños, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, and fresh cilantro in zesty Italian dressing. No cooking required. The ultimate game day dip for a crowd.

Mango Mint Salsa

Fruity, sweet, tangy and minty. This salsa make a perfect accompaniment with grilled or pan seared pork chops for a speedy weeknight dinner.

Jalapeno Corn Muffins with Savory Cream Cheese Frosting

These irresistibly delicious yet moist corn muffins are loaded with flavors. Pickled jalapenos add some delicious zing, and chive-cream cheese frosting gives some yummy creaminess and cheesiness.

Anna's Salsa

A delicious salsa made with juicy tomatoes and a variety of peppers which make it perfect for homemade tacos or tortilla chips.

Tomato Salsa

Quick, easy, and refreshingly delicious. I used Roma tomatoes, cored and finely chopped them. Used freshly seeded jalapeno peppers only. You don't need the store-bought usually over-salted salsa. This homemade version tastes great and much better for you :)

All 899 recipes