• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweet T Makes Three logo
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Newsletter
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home

    Pa’s Pickled Peppers Recipe

    Published: Aug 15, 2022 by Jenn · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    You can make these easy pickled peppers without the use of a pressure canner. Peppers are one of the easiest vegetables to can which makes them a great choice for beginners to try.

    I always thought home canning was a time-consuming process that required special equipment, time, and patience in spades. This is the case for many foods, but not for jalapenos or banana peppers.

    I had no idea it was this easy to pickle peppers until my dad enlightened me with this pickled pepper recipe. This is the way he cans jalapeno peppers, the way his dad (aka “Pa” when I was a child) pickled peppers, and the way I do it now too.

     Maybe Sweet T will use this pickled peppers recipe one day and we’ll be four generations strong!

    Supplies and Ingredients

    • Water
    • Vinegar
    • Garlic
    • Lemon Pepper
    • Salt
    • Fresh jalapeno and/or banana peppers
    • Mason jars with lids and rims
    • A dishwasher

    Quantities and jar sizes will depend on how many peppers you have. I used two-quart jars and two-pint jars. You can use seasonings to taste, just make sure to use a 50/50 ratio of vinegar/water mix.

    Instructions

    This process will be much easier if you have a dishwasher. Run the jars and lids through a cycle so they are very hot.

    If you don’t have a dishwasher then get ready to boil some water! You need piping hot jars to fill and piping hot lids to top them with.

    Two empty pint sized Mason jars ready for use.
    1. Once you’ve decided how to heat your jars and lids, bring a half vinegar, and half water mixture to boil.
    2. Once the mixture boils, you can just leave it simmering to pour as needed.
    3. Trim the pepper stems then stuff the jar(s) with as many peppers as you can pack in there and still be able to place the lid.
    4. Pack some garlic cloves in there too. You can’t have too much garlic and it looks so pretty with the peppers!
    5. Sprinkle salt and lemon pepper in the jar to taste. (For a quart jar I used about 1tsp of each and for a pint jar I used ½ tsp.)
    6. After the jar is packed, pour vinegar over the contents leaving ½″ headspace.
    7. Wipe the rim dry then place a piping hot lid on top.
    8. Screw on the rim.
    A packed jar of jalapeno and banana peppers with vinegar and water poured over the top and the lid screwed on.

    Since you aren’t pressure canning or using a hot water bath method, it will take a little while for the seals to “pop.”  The lids seal in place as the jar cools so it usually 3-4 hours and sometimes overnight.

    Aren’t they gorgeous? The banana peppers and red-ripe jalapenos really add some lovely contrast.

    Troubleshooting

    If you don’t pack the jar tight enough, the peppers will float as shown in the picture below once the vinegar mix is poured on them. Made that mistake the first time around!

    This jar isn’t packed tightly enough and needs more peppers. You can tell because peppers are rising above the jar rim.

    Here’s what a properly packed jar looks like after the vinegar mix has been poured.

    Jar of pickled peppers that is packed just right with no peppers rising about the lip of the jar.
    Note how tightly the jar is packed so that no peppers are able to float up to the surface.

    If by morning, you have no seal it’s probably because the lids weren’t hot enough. You can repeat the process over again (it won’t harm the peppers) or just stick the unsealed jars in your fridge. They will last in the refrigerator for 2-3 months like that as long as the vinegar brine is covering the peppers.

    FAQ

    What is the shelf life of pickled peppers?

    This is not an FDA-approved method and I can’t give you an exact shelf life for your peppers. Use your common sense here. Vinegar and Mason jars do a great job at preserving, but if your pickled peppers become discolored or foul-smelling, please don’t eat them!
    That being said, ours generally last for 2 years in the pantry.

    Can I use a variety of peppers?

    Yes! Banana, jalapeno, and pepperoncini peppers are all good choices. Mini or regular bell peppers will work with this method but you must deseed and slice them first rather than canning them whole.

    How many pickled peppers are in a peck?

    This one is just for fun because I know you can’t think about pickling peppers without wondering! A peck is approximately 2.3 gallons of peppers.

    A pint-sized jar of pickled peppers makes an especially thoughtful gift, particularly for Christmas since they are naturally festive colors. I wrapped some ribbon around the neck of one of mine to give my neighbor for her birthday. 

    Other Summer Recipes

    This simple peach cobbler recipe makes a delicious summer dessert with minimal fuss.

    Creamy cucumber salad can be served as a side dish or scooped up with tortilla chips for a delicious appetizer.

    Learn how to store your yellow summer squash in the freezer with this simple technique.

    Pa’s Pickled Peppers

    Jenn
    Make pickled peppers quick and with minimal fuss with this easy pickled peppers tutorial.
    4.60 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Additional Time 4 hrs
    Total Time 4 hrs 30 mins
    Course Recipes
    Cuisine Southern
    Calories

    Ingredients
      

    • Mason jars with lids and rims
    • Water*
    • Vinegar*
    • Garlic
    • Lemon Pepper
    • Salt
    • Fresh jalapeno and/or banana peppers

    Instructions
     

    • Trim the pepper stems and peel garlic
    • Boil or run the jars and lids through a dishwasher so they are very hot.
    • Bring a half vinegar, half water mixture to boil. Leave to simmer then stuff the hot jar(s) with as many peppers and garlic cloves as you can pack in there and still be able to place the lid. (see photos)
    • Sprinkle salt and lemon pepper in the jar to taste. I used 1tsp of each per quart
    • After the jar is packed, pour vinegar over the contents leaving ½" headspace. Wipe the rim dry then place a piping hot lid on top. Screw on the rim.
    • Leave the jars on the counter until they seal. The lids will seal as the jars cool which can take anywhere from 3 hours to overnight.

    Notes

    *Quantities and jar sizes will depend on how many peppers you have. I used two-quart jars and two-pint jars. You can use seasonings to taste, just make sure to use a 50/50 ratio of vinegar/water mix
    Keyword canning, food storage, gardening, pickled peppers, pickling
    Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or share on Pinterest

    The web story version of this pickled peppers recipe can be found by clicking the link.

    More recipes you may enjoy

    • Vanilla Overnight Oats (Vegan)
    • Easy Guacamole Recipe
    • Pork Lo Mein (Instant Pot Recipe)
    • Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

    Reader Interactions

    What's on your mind? Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    picture of Jennifer sitting in a green chair.

    Hi, I'm Jenn, a Southern food blogger and mother living in Alabama. After having my wonderful daughter, I decided to embark on a journey of sharing my Southern cooking recipes with the world.

    More about me →

    Recent Recipes...

    • Smoked Salmon Dip
    • Easy Homemade Garlic Bread
    • Elote Recipe (Mexican Street Corn)
    • Chocolate Chess Pie

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Sweet T Makes Three