Pickled Banana Peppers

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Whether you’re adding them to salads, sandwiches, tacos or pizzas, or enjoying them straight from the jar, these Pickled Banana Peppers are super easy to make, keep for months, and taste absolutely fabulous!   

You’ve likely seen those jars of pickled banana peppers on the store shelf stashed next to the pickled onions, pickled veggies and olives.  You may also know them as pickled pepperoncini which are in the same family and are very similar.  Did you know they’re super easy to make yourself?  Whether you have a bumper crop of peppers growing in your garden or you find a great deal at the store, pickling them is a fantastic way to extend their shelf life by many months.  Plus they’re absolutely delicious!

This recipe will remind you of your favorite deli-style pickled peppers. I’m making pickled banana peppers but you can use any pepper you like. Just be sure to select peppers that are fresh and firm without wrinkles, soft or dark spots.

Pickled Banana Peppers Recipe

Let’s get started!

For pickled banana peppers I like to keep the spices to a minimum.  Unlike my homemade Pickle Relish, Sweet Pickle Relish and Corn Relish which I like to pack full of flavor, I like to keep the flavor profile of my pickled banana peppers clean and simple.  That way the fabulous flavor of the peppers is supported and enhanced rather than drowned out.

Slice the peppers, discarding as many seeds as you reasonably can. 

Place the garlic, bay leaf and peppercorns in the bottom of a 1 quart (1 liter) glass jar.

Pack in the sliced peppers.

Place the vinegar, water, sugar and salt in a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar and salt are dissolved.

Pour the hot vinegar over the peppers until the peppers, pressing them down with a butter knife to eliminate air pockets.

Close the lid tightly and let it cool completely at room temperature and then transfer the jar to the fridge.  

For the best flavor let the jar sit for at least 1-2 weeks before using, occasionally giving the jar a good shake.

How Long Do Pickled Banana Peppers Keep?

It depends on their storage conditions but to maximize storage time keep them in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator.  Under those conditions they will last MANY months.

Ways to Enjoy Pickled Banana Peppers

Toss them in leafy green salads, pasta salads, potato salads, chicken salads, tuna salads, egg salads; add them to sandwiches, salsas, egg bakes, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, on pizza and flatbreads; serve them with cheese and charcuterie boards, etc.  Or just pop them in your mouth straight from the jar!

For more pickled goodness be sure to also try my:

• Pickled Beets
• Pickled Carrots
• Pickled Okra
• Pickled Jalapenos
• Giardiniera
• Pickled Red Onions
• English Pickled Onions
• Pickled Pepperoncini Peppers
• Pickled Turnips
• Pickled Green Beans
• Pickled Asparagus
• Refrigerator Pickles

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet September 24, 2020