Grilled Peppers and Onions – The Perfect Summer Side Dish
There is just something simply amazing about grilling season. You get to spend time outside cooking your favorite foods on a grill without warming up the entire house. The grill can also add another flavor layer and smokiness dimension that can’t be achieved with other cooking methods.
Grilled peppers and onions can make a difference to any meal as they provide a tender yet crisp texture to your plate.
Ingredients Needed to Cook Grilled Peppers and Onions
To cook a delicious plate of grilled peppers and onions, you, of course, need onions, bell peppers, and olive oil. For seasoning, you will also want to have some salt and black pepper on hand.
You can find bell peppers in just about every color at your local store, and this recipe works with any of them. So, don’t be afraid to reach for your favorite red bell pepper or yellow bell pepper. The peppers also add a good touch of vibrant color to your dish.
Thinking of making sauce for your roasted vegetables? Find out the best sauce.
Steps to Make Grilled Peppers and Onions
Grilled peppers and onions are easy and quick to make and are the perfect side for just about any meal, especially if you want a healthier option at dinnertime. It only takes about 5 minutes to prep, and the cook time is only 15 minutes.
All you really have to do is throw your onion and pepper strips into a bowl, toss them with olive oil, and then season them with pepper and salt as desired. Once you have perfected your seasoning, it’s time to throw them on the grill!
You should note that your cut up veggies might want to slip through your grill gates the moment they begin cooking, so you will want to get a grill basket to hold your mix. You can place your grill basket onto your grill while preheating it for a quick cooking time. Once hot, you can then transfer your veggies to it.
A word of caution, while you might be tempted to pour your veggies directly into the grill basket, you shouldn’t. This is because the grill basket can be hot, and the extra olive oil could result in a flare-up once it hits the flames. You have to be careful when cooking with oil!
After carefully putting your bell peppers and onion into the grill basket, close your grill lid and cook the peppers for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, open the lid to toss your veggies around and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Repeat the process until the peppers are done. You will know they are done as they have charred edges and are soft.
Remove your grilled peppers and onions. To lock in the heat, you can cover your grilled peppers and onions with tin foil.
Recommendations When Cooking
One thing you should never do is overcrowd your grill basket. Doing so will result in your veggies taking slightly longer than 5 minutes to cook. Furthermore, they are less likely to have char on them. That being said, they are still bound to be delicious.
When grilling, you should reach a temperature of around 375°F. But keep in mind that this number is really only a recommendation. If you are grilling something else alongside your peppers and onions, such as grilled chicken, then the temperature is determined by the chicken.
How to Serve Your Grilled Peppers and Onions
You can serve your tasty grilled peppers and onions as a side dish with just about any other grilled food items. If you make grilled sausage, you can cook the additional veggies on the side instead of adding them to skewers. Or, if you are feeling fancy, use those skewers!
Grilled peppers and onions are perfect for fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, and just about any other Tex-Mex favorites. Grilled peppers and onions can also be a great addition to taco salad.
Not sure how to cook your vegetables? Find out the best cooking techniques and tips.
What Can You Do With Grilled Peppers and Onions?
Once you have the basic grilled peppers and onion recipe down, it’s time to get creative. Yes, this is a great topping or side dish for Tex Mex dishes, but you can also incorporate it into your menu in other ways. Here are some ideas.
Quinoa With Grilled Peppers and Onions
It’s already been established that grilled peppers and onions are a healthy and easy side dish to make when grilling, but if you want to boost the nutrition even more, try adding some whole grains. Mixing grilled peppers and onions with cooked quinoa is a great way to kick up the health factor, making it a filling summer side dish.
Grilled Peppers and Onions With Pineapple Salsa
If you’ve tried fruity salsa but prefer something a bit more savory, try adding grilled peppers and onions to your recipe. Finely chop some pineapple, red onions, jalapenos, add a tablespoon of lime juice, and then mix in your grilled peppers and onions. This salsa makes the perfect topping for grilled swordfish.
Top Your Favorite Grilled Meats
Grilled peppers and onions make a yummy topping for just about anything you cook on the grill. Next time you’re grilling hamburgers, hot dogs, fish, or chicken breasts, make a batch of grilled peppers and onions to use as a topping for a little boost of flavor.
Inspired? Pin it!
