Roasted Peppers and Onions

Here’s how to make roasted peppers and onions! Bake the colorful strips until tender and charred, then serve as a healthy side dish.

There’s no such thing as too many healthy side dish ideas, right? Often we get stuck in the same old salad rut. So here’s a non-standard idea that’s colorful and packed with nutrients: Roasted Peppers and Onions! It’s not rocket science, but it’s something we don’t always think of. The sweetness of the roasted peppers with tender and charred onion is so irresistible, you won’t want each bite to end. You can make them as a side dish, or use them as a component for sandwiches, tacos, burritos and more.

Want a similar recipe in half the time? Try Sauteed Peppers and Onions.

How roast peppers and onions

The nice thing about roasted peppers and onions: these tasty vegetables take about the same time to cook. How long to roast peppers and onions? They need just 25 to 30 minutes in a blazing hot oven. Here’s what to know about making roasted peppers and onions:

• Use high heat. Crank up that oven! A temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit makes them perfectly tender and charred.
• Cut the veggies, then toss with seasonings. Slicing the peppers and onions into thick strips make them easy to roast. Toss with olive oil, dried oregano, and salt. It sounds like a restrained seasoning, but it’s just what you need to complement the natural sweetness.
• Roast for 25 to 30 minutes. Both peppers and onions take about 25 minutes to get tender at 450 degrees. While they roast, prep the other components of your meal!

How to French cut an onion

When we make roasted peppers and onions, we like to use the “French cut” approach for cutting an onion. What does that mean? Here’s a little breakdown on how to French cut an onion:

• Cut off the ends and slice in half: With a large chef’s knife, cut off the top and root end of the onion. Stand the onion on the flat cut side, and cut it down the center.
• Remove the paper: With your fingers, remove the paper and outer layer of the onion.
• Cut following the curve of the onion! Place the onion half on its flat side. Then cut slices following the curve of the onion, from the tip to the root. Go to minute 1:40 of our How to Cut an Onion video to see!

Bell pepper nutrition

This roasted peppers and onions recipe is a favorite around here because it’s colorful, tasty, and it’s full of vitamins. In fact, did you know that peppers are an even better source of Vitamin C than oranges? That’s right! Here’s a little more nutrition info about bell peppers:

• Peppers are loaded with Vitamin C. A medium red bell pepper provides 169% of your daily vitamin C! (Source) That means eating 1 serving of this roasted peppers recipe provides 126% of daily needs, since it uses 3 bell peppers.
• Peppers may improve eye health and prevent against anemia. Some studies indicate peppers could cut the risk of macular degeneration and low iron (Source).

Serving roasted peppers and onions as a side dish

Roasted peppers and onions are a versatile healthy side dish for loads of different mains. A favorite way to pair them is with a pasta like mac and cheese: it adds back a little nutrition into the meal. Here’s what we’d serve them with:

• Salmon: Try with Miso Salmon, Blackened Salmon, Cajun Salmon, Quick Broiled Salmon, or Pan Seared Salmon.
• Shrimp: Add this dish to Easy Pesto Shrimp, Garlic Butter Shrimp or Blackened Shrimp.
• Pasta: Serve alongside Creamy Shrimp Pasta, White Sauce Pasta, Baked Rigatoni Pasta or Homemade Mac and Cheese.
• Veggie Mains: Try them with Baked Eggplant Parmesan or Vegan Sloppy Joes.

More ways to use roasted peppers and onions

But don’t save them just as a side dish! This recipe works just as well as a component of a larger meal. Here are some ideas on other ways to use roasted peppers and onions in your cooking:

• Grain bowl: Toss them in an Easy Grain Bowl or Easy Rice Bowl.
• Burrito: Roll them up in a Black Bean Burrito.
• Fajitas. Add black beans and stuff into a tortilla with fajita veggies (add fajita seasoning while you’re at it).
• Sandwiches: Toss into an avocado grilled cheese or hummus sandwich.
• Breakfast scramble: Throw a handful into a breakfast vegetable scramble or omelette.
• Pizza: Add them as a colorful topping to white pizza or flatbread pizza.

This roasted peppers and onions recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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More vegan side dishes

Want to whip up more sides that are healthy and plant based? Here are some of our favorite vegan sides:

• Try a pan of colorful Ultimate Sauteed Vegetables
• Bake up Sweet Potato Fries or Sweet Potato Wedges
• Make uniquely delicious Easy Roasted Onions or Simple Sauteed Onions
• Make a skillet of charred and tender Sauteed Peppers
• Throw together 5-minute Easy White Beans
• Try these sweet and herby Perfect Sauteed Carrots or Boiled Carrots