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Grilled peppers and onion are the perfect summer side dish! Fire up the grill for your main dish, and cook these on the side to make it a meal.
Why we love this recipe
Here’s how to make a summer meal in no time: grilled peppers and onion! Fire up your grill for the main event, and toss these babies on the side. These colorful veggies transform into the most incredibly flavorful side dish: they’re tender, charred, smoky, and sweet all at once.
Peppers and onions are one of Alex and my absolutely favorite things to throw on the grill for summer meals. But we didn’t write down the recipe, until now! Here’s how to make this treat pairs well with all the grilled dinner ideas, be it salmon, shrimp, tacos or portobello burgers.
Ingredients for grilled peppers and onions
The great thing about grilled peppers and onion is: they taste incredible with almost no seasonings! You need no fancy spice blends for this one. Just good old salt! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 3 bell peppers: we like using multi-colored for a splash of color
- Red onion
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt
How to make grilled bell peppers and onion
You’ll need a grill basket (or aluminum foil) for this method. Why? The onion in particular is so thin that it tends to fall through the grates if you place it on them directly. A grill basket keeps all the veggies together and heats them evenly. Here are some tips on how to do it (or go right to the recipe):
- Make sure to preheat the grill basket on the grill!
- Slice the peppers and onion into thick strips: about 1 ½ inches thick. Mix with olive oil to coat and salt.
- Grill about 10 to 15 minutes, until the veggies are charred and tender. Toss them a few times to ensure even cooking. That’s it!
Use aluminum foil if you don’t have a grill basket!
Don’t have a grill basket? No problem. Here’s the grill basket we use, if you’d in the market for one. Or you can make a make-shift grill basket out of aluminum foil! Here’s what to do:
- Fold a large piece of aluminum foil in half and prick several holes in it with a fork.
- Fold up a 1-inch rim around the edge to make a makeshift tray. This isn’t required, but it’s helpful to keep all the veggies in the tray. Then you can use it like you would a grill basket!
Variations on grilled peppers and onion
You can vary up the seasonings on these grilled peppers and onion as much as you’d like! They’re beautifully sweet and tender without extra seasoning. But there are endless variations! Here are some ideas:
- Cumin and lime. Add a hint of cumin before grilling (¼ teaspoon), then spritz with fresh lime juice.
- Taco seasoning or fajita seasoning. Make them fit for a Mexican-style feast.
- Cajun seasoning. Love heat? Sprinkle with a little Cajun seasoning before or after grilling.
- Old Bay. Add big flavor with a little shake of Old Bay seasoning.
Ways to make them into a meal
Grilled peppers and onions often make an appearance on our patio in the summer months! Often it’s as part of a random assortment of grilled items. But if we’re entertaining, here are some meals we might pair it with:
- Grilled fish. Go for Grilled Salmon or Grilled Halibut.
- Grilled shrimp. Try Grilled Shrimp, Cajun Shrimp, Blackened Shrimp, Grilled Scallops, or Grilled Shrimp Tacos (perhaps adding some of the Mexican-style seasonings listed above).
- Use as a taco filling. Add refried beans and grilled peppers to a tortilla, and you’ve got quick vegetarian tacos.
Dietary notes
This grilled peppers and onion recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
Slice peppers into 1 1/2-inch wide strips and onions into thick wedges or half-moons. This ensures even cooking and allows for nice grill marks.
No precooking is needed. The grilling process will soften and char the vegetables perfectly.
A grill basket is helpful for keeping smaller pieces from falling through the grates. If you don’t have a basket, you can thread the vegetables onto skewers or use a grill pan.
Grilled Peppers and Onion
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Grilled peppers and onion are the perfect summer side dish! Fire up the grill for your main dish, and cook these on the side to make it a meal.
Ingredients
- 3 multi-colored bell peppers
- 1 medium red onion
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450 degrees). If using the grill basket, place it on the grill while preheating. Or, fold a large piece of aluminum foil in half and prick several holes in it with a fork, then fold up a 1-inch rim around the edge to make a makeshift tray.
- Cut the peppers into 1 1/2-inch wide strips. Cut the onion into wide strips and separate the layers with your fingers. Place them in a bowl and mix with the olive oil and kosher salt.
- Grill in the grill basket or on the foil tray for 15 to 20 minutes until tender, turning the vegetables a few times to ensure even cooking.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Vegetables
- Diet: Vegan
More grilled vegetables
Grilled vegetables are our go-to easy side dishes in the summer! Here are some of our other favorites:
- Onions, Peppers, Zucchini and Squash Perfect for summer.
- Perfect Corn, Corn in Foil, or Elote The best ways to cook this seasonal treat.
- Perfect Potatoes, Potatoes in Foil, Sweet Potatoes, or Carrots Classic!
- Portobellos or Mushroom Skewers Full of meaty, smoky flavor.
- Cauliflower or Broccoli Charred florets of goodness.
- Asparagus, Green Beans, Avocado, Bok Choy, or Brussels Sprouts Unique, tasty and easy.
- Romaine, Kale, or Cabbage These leafy greens are fantastic grilled.
I love the simplicity of this recipe. Perfect as a side for my Mediterranean meat grilling. Great job!