These roasted jalapeƱos are smoky, spicy, and incredibly easy to make on the grill or in the oven. Whether you're making roasted peppers for tacos, sandwiches, dips, or homemade salsa, this simple recipe delivers perfectly blistered jalapeƱos every time. If you love bold pepper flavors, you should also try these Crispy Cajun Style Chicken Wings for another spicy favorite.
Roasting fresh jalapeƱos helps mellow the heat slightly while adding a rich charred flavor that works beautifully in everything from Mexican-inspired dishes to burgers and soups.
What are roasted jalapeƱos?
Roasted jalapeƱos are fresh jalapeƱo peppers cooked over high heat until the skins blister and char. The roasting process enhances the smoky flavor, softens the peppers, and makes them easier to peel. They can be grilled or oven roasted and are commonly used in salsa recipes, sandwiches, tacos, dips, and spicy side dishes.
And, if you love some jalapeƱo heat like us, youāll also want to try these air fryer jalapeƱo poppers and these jalapeƱo hush puppies!
Jump to:
- What are roasted jalapeƱos?
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why These Roasted JalapeƱos Are Better Than Store-Bought
- What is My Take on Charred JalapeƱos?
- Ingredients
- Key Ingredients
- Step By Step Instructions
- How to Roast Jalapenos in the Oven
- How to Get Perfect Smoky JalapeƱos
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Variations
- What to Serve With Roasted JalapeƱos
- How to Use Roasted Jalapenos
- Expert tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storage + Reheating + Make Ahead + Meal Prep
- Closing Roasted JalapeƱos
- Recipe
- š¬ Comments
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Why This Recipe Works
- If you find jalapeƱos a little too spicy for your taste buds, youāll appreciate the slightly milder flavor of roast jalapeƱos.
- Since weāre roasting the jalapenos whole, thereās very little prep work for this recipe! You just need to remember to soak your skewers in water.
- This is a one ingredient recipe, so it couldnāt be easier to make!
- The grill adds incredible charred flavor (like these fire roasted tomatoes), and you still get all the charred jalapeno flavor without turning on your oven.
- They keep well in the fridge or freezer so you can make them ahead for easy additions to salsas, dips and sauces.
Why These Roasted JalapeƱos Are Better Than Store-Bought
Store-bought roasted peppers are often packed in oil or vinegar and can lose their fresh smoky flavor. Homemade roasted jalapeƱos have a fresher taste, customizable spice level, and better texture.
You can also control how charred they become depending on whether you prefer mildly roasted peppers or deeply blistered jalapeƱos with extra smoky flavor.
What is My Take on Charred JalapeƱos?
I prefer roasting jalapeƱos until the skins are deeply blistered because it adds incredible smoky flavor without overpowering the natural pepper taste. Letting them steam in a sealed bag afterward makes peeling easy and gives them a silky texture that's perfect for salsa, tacos, burgers, and dips.
If you enjoy cooking with spicy peppers, these pair wonderfully when blended into this avocado dip, as well as used to make roasted jalapeno mayo or even roasted jalapeno and tomato salsa where bold flavors really shine.
Ingredients
When buying jalapeƱos, those with bright green and smooth skin are normally younger and tend to be milder.
Fun fact - jalapenos are actually a fruit! In fact, all kinds of peppers including bell peppers are fruits. Interesting, huh?
If you want jalapeƱos with more of a kick, look for ones that have white lines or wrinkles. This indicates that they're mature and likely spicier. Read this article for details on how to pick spicy jalapeƱos.
- 8-10 fresh jalapeƱos
- Wooden skewers soaked in water
Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable version of ingredients and instructions.
Key Ingredients
- Fresh JalapeƱos - Choose firm, glossy jalapeƱos without wrinkles or soft spots. Larger peppers are easier to roast and peel.
- Wooden Skewers - The skewers make grilling jalapeƱos much easier and help keep the peppers stable while cooking over direct heat.
Step By Step Instructions
How to Roast Jalapeno Peppers on the Grill
Step1: Soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes while your grill heats up.
Step2: Skewer both ends of the jalapeƱos so they can be held straight on the grill (see photos in post above).
Step3:Heat a grill over medium heat and cook the jalapeƱos for 5-10 minutes per side, until blistered and browned on the outside.
Step4: Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then place in a ziplock bag to steam so the skins peel off easily.
Step5: Remove the seeds (optional - you can leave the seeds in too) and serve or use in cooking.
How to Roast Jalapenos in the Oven
Step1: Preheat an oven to 425Ā°F. Place the jalapenos on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and place directly in the oven. Roast for 15-20 minutes, flipping once halfway.
Step2: When done, they should be blistered and slightly charred on the outside. If not, put them back into the oven for 5 minutes at a time.
Step3: Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then place in a ziplock bag to steam so the skins peel off easily.
How to Get Perfect Smoky JalapeƱos
- Roast until the skins are fully blistered.
- Donāt skip the steaming step after roasting.
- Flip the peppers halfway through cooking for even charring.
- Use medium heat on the grill to avoid burning before softening the peppers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overcrowding the Pan - Spacing helps the jalapeƱos roast instead of steam.
- Skipping the Steam Step - Steaming helps loosen the skins for easier peeling.
- Using Low Heat - High enough heat is necessary for proper blistered peppers and smoky flavor.
Variations
- Leave the skins on for extra smoky flavor.
- Add roasted jalapeƱos to homemade salsa recipes.
- Chop and mix into queso dip or cream cheese spreads.
- Use roasted peppers on burgers, tacos, nachos, or sandwiches.
- Try mixing them into recipes like Instant Pot Chili Mac for added heat.
- Add large slices of onion to your skewers to get sweet roasted onions too.
What to Serve With Roasted JalapeƱos
These smoky jalapeƱos pair well with many dishes, including:
They also make a great topping for tacos, burgers, grain bowls, and breakfast burritos. They are also be delicious added to this homemade marinara sauce
How to Use Roasted Jalapenos
You can use roasted jalapeƱos almost any way you would use raw jalapeƱos. Here are some of our favorite recipes with roasted jalapenos and other options for cooking with jalapenos:
- Use them as a topping on salads, pizza, tacos or burgers. (They would be delicious on top of these sous vide hamburgers).
- Blend them into hummus, guacamole, pasta sauces or soups. Mix them with guacamole to make roasted jalapeno guacamole or cream cheese to make a creamy roasted jalapeno dip.
- We really enjoy them in this green salsa, fresh tomato salsa and cranberry jalapeƱo dip!
- You can chop them up really fine and mix a little with honey and butter to make a sweet and spicy roasted jalapeno honey butter.
- Melt down some Velveeta (we LOVE Velveeta here) and mix in chopped jalapenos to make roasted jalapeno queso.
- Mix some chopped jalapeno in with your favorite vinaigrette to make spicy roasted jalapeno vinaigrette.
- Stuff them with cream cheese (after removing the seeds) to make cream cheese stuffed jalapenos. Bake them another 5 minutes after stuffing them to let the cream cheese get all gooey. Mix the cream cheese with grated parmesan to give it extra flavor!
- Use them in this stuffed chicken recipe - they go great with the cream cheese filling!
- Mix them with tomatoes and spices to make a roasted jalapeno salsa. You can use this tomato salsa as a base!
Expert tips
- Wear gloves if you're sensitive to spicy peppers.
- Remove seeds for milder roasted jalapeƱos.
- Store roasted peppers in an airtight container for quick meal prep.
- Charred jalapeƱos freeze very well for future recipes.
- Oven roasted jalapeƱos are ideal when grilling isnāt possible.
- Wooden skewers can burn on the grill, youāll want to soak them in water for 30 minutes before using them.
- Instead of steaming the jalapeƱos in a ziplock bag, you can place them in a covered bowl to steam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roasting jalapeƱos can make them a little milder as it breaks down the capsaicin in peppers, which is the chemical that makes peppers spicy. Keep in mind that the amount of heat your roasted jalapeƱos contain really depends on how spicy they are to start with!
The skin is completely edible, so it is up to you. The skin can be a little tough in some cases, depending on what you use them for. You can definitely leave the skin on for recipes like salsa and dips. I personally always leave the skin on.
Roasting them on a grill gives them the best charred flavor. Put them on skewers and roast them on a medium heat grill for 5-10 minutes pers side. You can also roast them in the oven at 425Ā°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
Jalapenos have a lot of vitamin A, C and Potassium which are all good for you. They also contain an antioxidant called carotene which can help to fight damage to your cells and boost your immune system.
**note I am not a medical professional. Please contact your doctor for specific health related questions.
Use them in salsa recipes, tacos, burgers, dips, sandwiches, soups, or chopped into rice dishes.
Storage + Reheating + Make Ahead + Meal Prep
- Store roasted jalapeƱos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To freeze, place them in freezer-safe bags after cooling completely for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before using.
- These smoky peppers are excellent for meal prep because they can quickly be added to tacos, eggs, soups, sandwiches, and sauces throughout the week.
Closing Roasted JalapeƱos
These roasted jalapeƱos are one of the easiest ways to add smoky heat and bold pepper flavor to everyday meals. Whether you make grilled jalapeƱos outside during summer or oven roasted peppers year-round, this easy recipe delivers versatile spicy peppers perfect for tacos, salsa, sandwiches, and more.
If you love this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below and let us know your favorite thing about it. We'd also love to connect on Instagram! Follow us at @went_here_8_this for awesome recipes and all sorts of fun food stuff š
Recipe
Roasted JalapeƱos Recipe (Easy Grilled or Oven Roasted JalapeƱos)
Ingredients
- 8-10 fresh jalapeƱos
- Wooden skewers soaked in water
Instructions
- Soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes while your grill heats up.
- Skewer both ends of the jalapeƱos so they can be held straight on the grill (see photos in post above).
- Heat a grill over medium heat and cook the jalapeƱos for 5-10 minutes per side, until blistered and browned on the outside.
- Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then place in a ziplock bag to steam so the skins peel off easily.
- Remove the seeds and serve or use in cooking.
Oven Roasted Jalapeno Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 425Ā°F.Place the jalapenos on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and place directly in the oven. Roast for 15-20 minutes, flipping once halfway.
- When done, they should be blistered and slightly charred on the outside. If not, put them back into the oven for 5 minutes at a time.
- Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then place in a ziplock bag to steam so the skins peel off easily.
Expert Tips:
- Wear gloves if you're sensitive to spicy peppers.
- Remove seeds for milder roasted jalapeƱos.
- Store roasted peppers in an airtight container for quick meal prep.
- Charred jalapeƱos freeze very well for future recipes.
- Oven roasted jalapeƱos are ideal when grilling isnāt possible.
- Wooden skewers can burn on the grill, youāll want to soak them in water for 30 minutes before using them.
- Instead of steaming the jalapeƱos in a ziplock bag, you can place them in a covered bowl to steam.
Beverly says
Have not made these yet but am giving them a 5 star ratings because I know they are going to be awesome. I have a gluten of jalapeƱo peppers right now and this will help use them up!! As for the roasting of peppers, I have discovered the joys of doing them in the air fryer. Perfect and quick. 400F for about 12 minutes for large peppers so am thinking the smaller ones will be even faster.
Joe says
Iāve been ill lately and my brainās not exactly functioning at full capacity. I started out thinking I was going to roast my jalapeƱos in my fully seasoned cast iron grill pan. So I soaked my skewers. I then changed my mind and decided to roast them in the oven.
It made me a little nervous that the recipe didnāt call for any oil on the jalapeƱos. Occasionally - not often - I actually follow a recipe and this time I left out the oil.
The oven in my older apartment in Dallas might not heat up fully. After 10 minutes the jalapeƱos had some color on the bottom but were far from roasted or blackened. After flipping and cooking for another 10 minutes I saw the peppers had nice color on the top but not so much on the bottom. I flipped them again and turned my oven up to 450Ā°. Iāve been successful baking bread so maybe my oven temps are only accurate at the upper end. š¤·š»āāļø
I cooked six peppers and after three 10 minute rounds one was done perfectly, the other five not quite. So I pulled the one jalapeƱo and put the other five back in the oven after again flipping them. Kind of a pita but my kitchen sure does smell nice.
Because of my health issues I head back to my bedroom in between trips to the kitchen. I have my floor fans set to high when my oven is turned up that high. Not because my oven is dirty, but because I want to be as sure as possible that my fire alarm doesnāt go off. I really donāt like that.
Call it beginnerās luck but when I went to the bathroom I got a little nervous about what I was smelling in the kitchen. I rushed there, pulled my jalapeƱos out of the oven and they were just about perfect. Turns out Iād forgotten to set the timer on my cell phone. š£Allās well that ends well.
Thanks for the recipe Danielle.
Danielle says
Glad you got it to turn out well š
janet says
The plan was to make these and use them in a salsa, but we just ate them lol! Sprinkled with a touch of salt, they were do good!
Danielle says
We did the same thing!
Michael Taylor says
Yes! I can't believe how good these are! Theee is a little Mexican shop in my town where I have ordered a special burrito, just the way I like it and they serve these as free appetizers with their salsa tray. Well, I couldn't believe it, but these were actually almost, if not altogether, better than my made to order burrito itself! I could eat these all day!
holly says
So simple and they worked perfect for a roasted tomato salsa I was making.
Danielle says
Glad to hear it!