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Homemade Hot Pepper Jelly

Author:Jennifer Stewart Published:July 22, 2015April 16, 2025 Updated:April 16, 2025

Make your own Hot Pepper Jelly at home with no canning equipment needed! This easy method is great for whipping up a jar or two and keeping in the fridge for any snack emergency or quick appetizer.

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Make Your Own Sweet and Spicy Pepper Jelly

Have you ever tried pepper jelly? It’s a delicious way to add some zip to your favorite snacks.

Store-bought pepper jelly is pretty good, and easy in a pinch, but homemade is always better! The great thing about making your own is that you control how sweet or spicy it turns out.

Homemade also makes an awesome gift for your friends, family, and neighbors. If you like them that much 🙂

homemade red pepper jelly recipe without canning equipment

What is Pepper Jelly?

Pepper jelly is a sweet and spicy jelly made from bell peppers and jalapenos. Enjoy it as if it is any other jelly or sauce like on chicken wings, pork chops, and even ham.

But my favorite way is slathered over a block of cream cheese and eaten with Ritz crackers. It will have you craving it all the time! The sweet and spicy flavors are amazing together.

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ingredients for jelly that include sweet peppers and hot peppers

Ingredients Needed

Bell Pepper – Use your favorite bell peppers but I like green and red bell peppers for the color

Jalapeno – Fresh jalapeno peppers or increase heat with serrano or habanero peppers.

Vinegar – White distilled vinegar or sub cider vinegar.

Sugar – White granulated sugar. I haven’t tried this with sugar substitutes.

Spices – Kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper.

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How to Make Hot Pepper Jelly at Home

First: Add all the ingredients to a large saucepan.

Second: Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat.

the red peppers give it a pretty, bright color

Third: Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 hours or until the volume is reduced by 1/3.

Fourth: Remove the hot jelly from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

How long does it last?

This is not your traditional canning recipe for the root cellar or for long term storage. This is a quick jelly technique that doesn’t use any liquid pectin, so you need to store it in the refrigerator once you make it.

Then make sure you use it within 2 weeks. Because of the peppers, I don’t recommend freezing it. It’s easy enough to make a batch when you need it.

spoon this homemade pepper jelly over crackers and cheese

Choosing the Best Peppers

For sweet flavor, red, yellow or orange bell peppers are perfect. Green bell peppers work too but they won’t give much color to the jelly and they are pretty neutral in flavor.

For heat, jalapeño peppers are a good middle-of-the-road hot pepper choice. If you go with all jalapeños, the jelly will have a nice kick but most people can handle it. Use less or remove the seeds and ribs if you want it milder.

For extra heat try adding some habanero or serrano peppers. Those are quite hot so add small amounts if you don’t want face-melting jelly!

love this jelly over a block of cream cheese. It's cool and spicy!

Best Ways to Use Pepper Jelly

Once cooled, homemade pepper jelly is ready to be eaten! My favorite ways to eat it or over cream cheese or goat cheese on Ritz crackers. Or stuffed in my mini cheese balls!

But it doesn’t stop there. Use it as a dipping sauce for chicken wings, spread it on a burger like my lamb sliders, or add to your next charcuterie board and let everyone decide what to smear it on.

You might even try it instead of grape jelly on these meatballs!

Pepper jelly also makes a super unique gift on its own or as part of a homemade goodie basket. Tie a cute ribbon and tag around the jar for easy presenting.

stack of jars of jelly make great gifts!

Is hot pepper jelly a southern thing?

I believe it started out as one but you can find it all over the country, not just in the South.

I will say that this is the first place I tasted it and fell in love with it. Now I eat it on just about everything!

Tapas Tips & Tricks

Chop peppers into small, similar sized pieces.
Use a combination of red and green bell pepper for color.
Add in yellow bell peppers for more sweetness.
Look for green jalapeños that are crisp and shiny for best results.
Remove the seeds and ribs if you want to keep the heat level down.
Chop the peppers in a food processor for easier prep.
Substitute white vinegar for apple cider vinegar if desired.
Use a heavy-bottomed pot or dutch oven when cooking the jelly.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!

homemade hot pepper jelly is a great condiment for sandwiches!

Skip the expensive store-bought and make your own pepper jelly at home! Perfect for friends and neighbor gifts too!