What Is Sweet yellow bell peppers and How Can I Use It?

Sweet yellow bell peppers is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 237 recipes to get you started.

What are sweet yellow bell peppers?

Sweet yellow bell peppers are ripe bell peppers caught at a golden stage between unripe green and fully mature red. By the time a pepper turns yellow it has lost the grassy bite of green and gained real sweetness, with a mellow, fruity flavor and thin, juicy walls.

They sit among the sweetest peppers you can buy, milder and rounder than green, and they hold their sunny color better than red when cooked. That bright yellow is the main reason cooks reach for them.

Cooking With Yellow Peppers

Lean on yellow peppers when you want sweetness plus color that stays vivid on the plate. Raw, diced small, they add crunch and a pop of gold to salads and grain bowls like a Greek Millet Salad.

Sliced and sauteed, their sugars caramelize fast and they soften quickly, since the ripe walls are thinner than a green pepper's. They belong in colorful skillet and stir-fry dishes such as a Shrimp & Sea Scallop Stir-Fry.

They also grill beautifully on Best Grilled Beef Kebabs, where the gold stays bright next to the char.

Their thick, hollow shape also makes them sturdy enough to stuff and bake, as in Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Sweet Peppers & Thyme, where the yellow stays cheerful against the filling.

The common mistake is overcooking them to mush. Ripe peppers collapse sooner than green ones, so add them a little later in the pan to keep some bite.

Substitutes

An orange bell pepper is the closest match in both sweetness and color.

A red bell is sweeter still and works anywhere you want ripe pepper flavor, just with a red rather than gold tint.

Green bells substitute in cooked savory dishes but bring a sharper, grassier taste and none of the sweetness, so they change the character of the dish.

When the golden color is the whole point, only yellow or orange will do. For the full color and ripeness picture, see sweet bell peppers.

Buying and Storing

Choose peppers that feel heavy for their size with taut, glossy, deep-yellow skin and a firm green stem. Heft means thick, juicy walls; soft spots or wrinkles mean age.

Store them unwashed in the crisper drawer. Because ripe peppers are more perishable than green ones, use yellow bells within about a week. To keep them longer, core and slice them and freeze raw without blanching; they soften on thawing, so save frozen peppers for cooked dishes rather than salads.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Food group: Sweet yellow bell peppers are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

甜美的黄色柿子椒

British (UK) term

yellow capsicum

en français

jaunes poivrons doux

en español

amarillo pimientos dulces

How much do sweet yellow bell peppers weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using sweet yellow bell peppers

There are 237 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Beef & Vegetables in Red Wine Sauce

A sophisticated main dish of beef strips marinated in red wine and accompanied by a colorful array of sweet bell peppers, this recipe is a delightful fusion of rich flavors and vibrant colors, a feast for the senses that is as visually stunning as it is gastronomically gratifying.

Beef & Vegetable Kebabs

Beef and vegetable kebabs thread marinated sirloin with sweet red and yellow peppers and zucchini, then grill or broil until charred. A fast, colorful skewer that leans on Italian dressing for an easy marinade.

Eggs with Peppers & Tomato Cream

The flavor, texture and nutrients were all well balanced. Made these for breakfast today, it was very tasty, and certainly gave us enough good energies to start the day.

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!!!

Crockpot Pumpkin Turkey Chili

Crockpot pumpkin turkey chili: lean ground turkey and peppers simmered with tomatoes, real pumpkin, and chili powder. The pumpkin melts in for a velvety, subtly sweet, lighter chili.

Circular Italian Sandwich

Multiple layers of Italian flavour. Salami, roasted peppers, eggplant and cheese sandwiched in between crusty Italian bread.

Gazpacho Soup (Vegan)

Vegan gazpacho with three colors of bell peppers, cucumber, celery, plum tomatoes, fresh basil, and a kick of hot sauce. A no-cook chilled summer soup bursting with raw vegetable flavor.

Portobello Mushroom, Fresh Peppers & Goat Cheese Pizza

It smelled so good when the pizza was baked in the oven, and it tasted so good. The topping ingredients were so yummy, perfectly delicious together. Goat cheese added creaminess and cheesiness. It lasted a few minutes once the pizza came out of the oven...

Chipotle Potato Salad

Chipotle potato salad swaps mayo for tangy yogurt and roasts the potatoes until golden, then folds in smoky chipotle, lime, cilantro, and Dijon. A lighter, bolder no-mayo potato salad for any cookout.

Chickpea, Avocado & Feta Salad

A healthy Chickpea, Avocado, and Feta Salad that only takes 10 minutes to make. It’s perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or snack!

Stir-Fried Veggie with Noodles

Stir-fried bell peppers, carrots, and zucchini with garlic, ginger, scallions are tossed with pasta, cucumber, cilantro, and miso-chili sauce. It's a delicious, light yet nutritious one pot meal that's perfect for week-nights.

Boboli Pizza with Garlic, Peppers & Goat Cheese

Caramelizing onion and garlic was a great idea, which developed lots of deliciousness; then sautéing the bell peppers together really made the toppings very flavorful. Goat cheese added another layer of tangy creaminess.

Vegetable Italian Spaghetti Sauce

A garden vegetable spaghetti sauce loaded with peppers, zucchini, and summer squash, slow-simmered with garlic and a big handful of herbs. A meatless, freezer-friendly marinara for using up the garden.

Veggie Kabobs

Fresh cherry tomatoes, colorful bell pepper, white mushroom and red onion, season with olive oil, sesame seeds and parsley leaves, they look good and tastes good, quick and easy.

Fresh Vegetable Salad with Maple Soy Vinaigrette

It's a simply delicious fresh vegetable salad with a light yet tasty maple vinaigrette.

Crockpot Sweet & Sour Chicken Stew with Sweet Peppers

Juicy pineapple, sweet peppers, chicken breasts and carrots in a sweet and sour sauce. Easy slow cooker prep.

Quinoa & Smoked Tofu Salad

Delicious and loaded with flavor. Quinoa is so versatile to cook. Smoked tofu you can find in Asian grocery store, which does add some smoky flavour and meaty texture. Definitely a keeper!

Summertime New Potato Salad

Just like the name of the dish, this new potato salad is ideal on a hot summer day.

Garden Spaghetti Sauce

Fresh summer vegetables that are easy to find in the store or easily grow in your garden make this delicious and succulent spaghetti sauce.

Shrimp Cocktail with Fresh Avocado & Mango Salsa

Shrimp Cocktail with Fresh Avocado and Mango Salsa

Mama Delilah's Jammin Jambalaya

Nothing says lovin like some spicy Louisiana cooking. I absolutely LOVE making this when I have the time. I'm toning down the amount of creole seasoning that I use, because I tend to be a little heavy handed with it. The amount is an approximate - season to your taste. Fell free to substitute cajun seasoning for the creole. It's all about personal preference. Enjoy!!

Jack-O-Lantern Halloween Pizzas

Kids love making this Jack-o-lantern mini-pizza recipe. Perfect for a Halloween party.

Roasted Yellow Pepper Soup

Roasted yellow pepper soup with cumin, garlic, and milk, pureed through a food mill for a silky smooth finish. A vibrant, golden soup with sweet roasted pepper flavor.

Kung Pao Tofu

This kung pao tofu was very tasty. I used two green bell peppers and 1 red bell peppers. Didn't have oyster sauce, so I used housin sauce, and it worked deliciously well.

Indian Fried Rice

It's a delicious recipe to cook up your leftover cooked rice with some fresh vegetables and Indian spices. Quick, easy and tasty.

Green Bean, Roasted Pepper, & Cherry Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese

These green beans, roasted sweet bell pepper, juicy cherry tomatoes, and topped with goat cheese, drizzling with some fresh lemon juice, olive oil, mustard and chopped parsley, it can be a side dish or a light and tasty snack.

Asian Millet Salad (My Way)

Asian millet salad recipe has been quite popular, so decided to give it a try. Made my own version, and we absolutely enjoyed it. Here the recipe is.

Asian Fresh Veggie Salad

Fresh vegetables, seasoned with garlic, salt, sesame oil, olive oil and a touch of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Refreshing and crunchy!

Cumin Spiced Chick-Pea Salad with Bell Pepper

Chickpeas toss with crisp bell peppers, scallions, and cilantro in a cumin-spiked dressing brightened by ginger, garlic, and fresh lemon juice. Chill overnight for a make-ahead potluck winner.

Wok-Seared Mahi Mahi with Stir-Fried Vegetables

Wok-Seared Mahi Mahi with Stir-Fried Vegetables recipe

Asparagus, Sausage & Pepper Pasta

A delicious and wholesome meal. Try to use whole wheat rigatoni if you can, it makes the dish even heartier.

Sichuan Stir-Fry Eggplant with Bell Peppers

A classic Chinese sichuan stir-fry. There are lots of notes in this dish, spicy, sweet, fermented taste from soy bean paste, and Asian symbol flavor from garlic, ginger and scallions. In China, the eggplant is usually fried in a good amount of oil under a high temperature, and sometimes people add some minced pork to add flavor. It's a delicious and popular dish that you can find at every Chinese restaurant in China.

Penne with Peppers & Sausage

Bell peppers and sausages are cooked in a tasty tomato sauce, then served over a bed of warm penne. An ideal meal for a busy week night.

Mediterranean Israeli Couscous

This Mediterranean style dish is packed with flavor. Couscous is simmered in flavorful broth. Bell pepper, spinach, tomatoes and olives not only just add the nice color but also give the dish very refreshing taste. Fresh basil and parmesan sprinkled on top just before serving. A delicious dish can be served as a side dish or a simply delicious main course.

Mediterranean Chicken & Figs

An easy, tasty and low fat Mediterranean style chicken and figs, serve over a bed of rice or a few slices of bread.

Toasted Quinoa, Apple & Walnut Salad

Toasting quinoa in pan creates much more flavor than just boiling it directly. Quinoa is tossed with a light yet tasty vinaigrette, sugar snap peas, apples, bell peppers, celery, red onions and toasted walnuts. You can make the salad one day ahead, it tastes even better next day.

Frontier Chicken

Frontier Chicken is original from northern Pakistan, south Asian. It has become popular in the US, Canada and the UK. The unusual combination of flavors, spicy and the sweetness from the banana and peppers creates a unique balance.

Udon Noodle Salad with Asian Peanut Sauce

Fresh vegetables and udon noodles are tossed with creamy, tangy and flavorful Asian peanut sauce that's made with peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and a little minced garlic, ginger. It's a wholesome yet delicious dish that's quick and easy to put together.

Greek Millet Salad

A simply delicious millet salad. It's quick, easy, tasty and healthy.

Best Grilled Beef Kebabs

Skewered marinated beef kebabs are great for grilling. This recipe features a technique to really maximize the marinade penetration. Add pineapple, peppers and onions for perfect grilled beef kebabs every time.

Cajun Jambalaya Pasta

A delicious colorful Cajun pasta main with chicken and shrimp.

Chinese Spicy Sesame Beef Stir-Fry

Quick and easy to make, and it came out colorful and tasty! We served it over a bed of rice for supper, delicious!

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Sweet Peppers & Thyme

Beautiful enough for special spring dinners, yet easy enough for weekday suppers, these chicken breasts are bursting with the fresh flavors of simple ingredients. This recipe can also be doubled if you have extra guests.

Shrimp & Sea Scallop Stir-Fry

Shrimp and sea scallop stir-fry sears seafood and rainbow bell peppers, then tosses with cilantro, lime, sherry, and soy-coated soba noodles. A 35-minute restaurant-quality seafood dinner.

Rice & Lentil Salad

Wild rice and lentil salad with brown rice, tri-color bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs in a fat-free tomato-herb vinaigrette. A colorful, high-fiber grain salad.

Reel Cuisine

Grilled lobster and shrimp skewers piled over a cool watermelon, cucumber, and jalapeño salsa, with charred bell peppers, asparagus, leeks, and sweet corn alongside. A bold summer surf-and-grill plate.

Tofu Provencal Club Sandwich

Marinated tofu club sandwich on whole wheat French bread with bell peppers, red onion, arugula, and homemade basil mayo. Herb-infused, no cooking required, and packed with Provencal flavor.

Pat's Pasta

Colorful rotini pasta salad tossed with tri-color bell peppers, scallions, black olives, and a bright lemon-olive oil dressing. Ready in 20 minutes, no cooking beyond boiling pasta.

Porterhouse of Lamb with Corn & Pepper Chow

Porterhouse lamb chops grilled over pecan wood, served with a Southern-style corn and tri-color pepper chow chow in a tangy vinegar-mustard-rosemary sauce. A refined grill-and-relish pairing.

Chinese Chili with Peppers

Ground lamb wok-fried with tri-color bell peppers in a rich sauce of hoisin, oyster sauce, black bean paste, chili sauce, and sesame oil. A Chinese-style chili served over steamed rice or buttered noodles in under 40 minutes.

All 237 recipes