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Green Pepper Jelly

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This Green Pepper Jelly recipe is super easy to make and goes great over a block of cream cheese with some wheat-thin crackers. 

I don't know about you, but I love jelly jars. The jars are so cute and some of my favorites are the ones with the gingham tops on them.

As a little girl, I used to stand in the kitchen and watch my mom every year as she canned all kinds of things. She would make green beans, tomato juice, diced tomatoes, homemade pickles, jellies, and more. Most of my summer as a little girl was spent helping my mom ready the jars for canning.

A couple of years ago, I was given a Ball Preserving and Canning book and let me tell you — if you are planning on trying to can, then you need to have a copy of this book. It is the bible of canning– no joke.

For me, I like canning recipes that don't require a pressure cooker for canning, but if you are going to make things like green beans and such you will need one.

However, this recipe uses the other method of canning — the water bath. This was my first time doing a water bath can and it was so easy.

I picked up these really cute jelly jars on Amazon. They always make them with the cutest designs from quilted to plain and sometimes you can get them in the prettiest blue color.

They look great when you pass them on as holiday gifts.

Also, if you are going to can, you don't need these items, but they are very helpful — a Ball Jar Lifter and a Ball Collapsible Jar Funnel.

Trust me when I say you will want these two items because it will make your life so much easier when you make your jelly.

How to Make Hot Pepper Jelly

What makes this spicy jelly “green” is the green bell peppers and jalapeno that you use. Use more bell pepper than you do jalapeno peppers so that it has less heat.

Start by processing the green peppers and hot peppers in a food processor until finely minced. These minced peppers are really what makes the pepper jam. Pour them into a large bowl and set aside until ready to use.

Green Pepper Jelly step 1

I use my Ninja processor because it does such a fabulous job. It eliminates me having to use both a blender and a food processor. It does the job of both.

Once the peppers are minced, combine the pepper mixture, regular white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, and sugar in a large pot and bring to a rolling boil over medium high heat.

Green Pepper Jelly Step 2

When this first starts cooking, it is going to smell very peppery, but don't worry. That smell soon goes away and pretty soon the sugar takes over and the smell is amazing.

Now, remove the hot jelly from the heat and add in the liquid pectin and if you want it to be a vibrant green, you can add a bit of food coloring.

You can use any brand you like, but the one I trust more than any other is Certo. It's pretty inexpensive and goes a long way. If you don't want to use pectin, you can add citric acid or lemon juice to acts as a natural thickener.

While the jelly is on a full rolling boil on the stove, it's time to sterilize the jars.

Green Pepper Jelly Step 5

Here is how to sterilize the jars

To sterilize jars before filling them with jams, pickles, or preserves, wash jars and lids with hot, soapy water. Rinse well and arrange jars and lids open sides up, without touching, on a tray. Boil the jars and lids in a large saucepan, covered with water, for 15 minutes.

Use tongs when handling hot sterilized jars, to move them from boiling water. Be sure tongs are sterilized too, by dipping the ends in boiling water for a few minutes.

As a rule, hot preserves go into hot jars and cold preserves go into cold jars. All items used in the process of making jams, jellies, and preserves must be clean. This includes any towels used, and especially your hands.

After the jars are sterilized, you can preserve the food.

Once your jars are sterilized, you can fill them with your jelly and seal them. Be sure to leave about 1/4″ of headspace at the top of the jar so that it can seal properly.

Green Pepper Jelly Step 6

Place the lids and seals on the top of the jars, and screw down tightly. Now, fill a pot with enough water to cover the jars. Be sure to add some kind of rack to the bottom. I found one online at Amazon that works great for any size pot.

Place the mason jars in the pot with the rack and water and heat for about 10 minutes.

Remove from the water bath, place jars on a towel on the counter, and allow it to rest and cool. You will eventually hear a “pop” sound come from each of your jars as they are sealing.

A few hours later, be sure to press on the top of each jar and make sure that the center has sunk. That means it has been sealed. Then store the jelly in either the refrigerator or give it to someone to enjoy. You can also store them on the shelf since they are shelf-stable.

You can also make this jelly with red peppers and make a red pepper jelly. This one is my favorite pepper jelly recipe. You could even make it extra spicy by using habanero peppers.

These make great hostess gifts. I like adding it to a basket with a loaf of fresh homemade sourdough bread and a cookbook. This is a great way to give a heartfelt gift to someone.

Green Pepper Jelly Top Picture

I like to eat mine on top of cream cheese with wheat crackers — it is SO darn good! This would look great on a Christmas Charcuterie board. I use cream cheese but you can use goat cheese or whatever kind of creamy cheese you want. This makes for an easy appetizer served with lots of crackers.

Looking for other jam and jelly recipes? Check these out!

Yield: 4 pints

Green Pepper Jelly

Green Pepper Jelly

This green pepper jelly is the easiest and most delicious homemade jelly you can make

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 small green bell peppers
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded
  • 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
  • 6 cups sugar
  • 4 tablespoons of pectin
  • 4 drops green food coloring

Instructions

  1. Process bell pepper and jalapeno pepper in a food processor with 1/2 cup of the vinegar until finely minced.
  2. Combine pepper mixture, remaining vinegar, and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Let cook for 1-2 minutes at a rolling boil.
  3. Remove from heat and add pectin and food coloring. Pour into sterilized jars and seal.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

100

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 52Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 12gProtein: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

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Lucy

Wednesday 17th of January 2024

Is it better to use apple cider vinegar in the green pepper relish? Thanks

Jennifer Sikora

Monday 22nd of January 2024

You can use what works for you. I always have white distilled vinegar on hand which is what I use.

Brenda Leigh Yates

Thursday 10th of November 2022

I did make the pepper jelly using red bell peppers , I used three large and two small jalapeno's , removing the seed from one . There so many recipes on line , I may have cooked the juice with the liquid pectin a little too long. The jelly is delicious .

Jennifer Sikora

Wednesday 16th of November 2022

Glad to hear you liked it! I do have the red pepper jelly recipe on the blog too. It is a bit different.

Judy P

Thursday 10th of November 2022

I love pepper jelly, but we eat it with cream cheese and the lg scoop corn chips. The combination of tastes is amazing!!

BJ Roote

Friday 20th of October 2023

@Jennifer Sikora, does this have to be refrigerated after canning or can it be shelved?

Jennifer Sikora

Wednesday 16th of November 2022

That is my favorite way to eat it!

cheri

Sunday 23rd of October 2022

So, if I water-bath this recipe how long to I put them in for?

Jennifer Sikora

Monday 24th of October 2022

10-15 minutes is all you need for a water bath

Nanette

Monday 19th of September 2022

Love pepper jam and this seems perfect. I have the last of the peppers in my garden coming to an end for this season. Because they are such varied sizes, how many cups should I have after processing ? Thanks so much.

Nanette

Thursday 22nd of September 2022

👍

Jennifer Sikora

Tuesday 20th of September 2022

Hi Nanette. I am not really sure how many cups you should have after processing. I never really measured that out.

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