Peppers 101 Pick an ingredient to explore

Peperoncini

Peperoncini (pronounced pep-per-awn-CHEE-nee) are grown on the picturesque, sun-soaked farms of the Mediterranean, then are cured and imported into the United States. Mezzetta was the first company to bring peperoncini to the United States, nearly 40 years ago.

Peperoncini
A map of Greece with the Peloponnese Peninsula highlighted

COLOR

Golden yellow 


FLAVOR & TEXTURE

Mild to Medium heat. Fruity, with a pleasing crunch.


USAGE

Great on sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie boards. Add them to a braised beef roast for exceptional flavor. 

Profile

With their golden color, mildly piquant flavor and crispy texture, Peperoncini are versatile peppers that pair nicely with a number of different cuisines. Because we maintain such high quality standards—we use only the most tender yet crispy peppers—Mezzetta now sells more peperoncini than any other producer in the U.S.

Jalapeño

Jalapeño peppers are moderately hot, 2-3 inches long and have a deep green color when harvested. Our proprietary Tamed™ jalapeños are a unique variation that deliver robust flavor, without extreme heat.

Jalapeno Pepper
A map of North America with Northern California and Mexico highlighted

COLOR

Olive Green


FLAVOR & TEXTURE

Mild to hot spiciness. Crunchy and crisp.


USAGE

For an extra kick, add them to your favorite dish. Perfect for tacos, nachos, chili, pizza, breakfast scrambles, BBQ, or a spicy margarita. 

Profile

Jalapeño peppers have a crunchy texture, crisp flavor and of course, a healthy amount of heat. In order to produce year-round, we source from small, local farms in Northern California in our summer and from Mexico during our winter.

Banana Wax Pepper

Banana Wax peppers belong to the pepper family known as Capsicum. Originally cultivated in Mediterranean climates, these peppers are long and bright yellow with shiny skin; their name is a nod to the fruit they resemble. These peppers are mild to moderately hot with an addictive crunch.

Banana Pepper
A map of North America with Northern California and Mexico highlighted

COLOR

Vibrant yellow


FLAVOR & TEXTURE

Tart, tangy, sweet and crunchy. 


USAGE

Add extra crunch to sandwiches,​
pasta salads, and coleslaw. Take them to the next level by stuffing with cheese and sausage or craft your own homemade pepper jelly.

Profile

In the summer months, our banana peppers are sourced from local family farms in California and in the winter, we source from Mexico. Year-round we pack them at our Napa Valley facility within 24 hours of receiving them to capture the freshest flavors.

Cherry Pepper

Cherry Peppers, also known by their Spanish name Pimiento, earned their name from their size and distinctive heart shape. Appreciated by cultures across the Western world, they grow best in sunny climates with temperatures between 55 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cherry Pepper
Map of North American with Northern California and Mexico highlighted

COLOR

Red and Green 


FLAVOR & TEXTURE

Both tender and crunchy, our Sweet Cherry Peppers are mild, sweet and slightly tart, while our Sliced Hot Cherry Peppers are spicy with only a hint of sweetness.


USAGE

Excellent for snacking, pastas, Antipasti platters, or in a spicy relish. Add to thinly sliced sirloin, onions and provolone cheese for the ultimate Philly Cheese Steak sandwich.

Profile

Cherry peppers come in both red & green varieties. Ours are grown locally and in Mexico, and are characterized by their aromatic flesh and crunchy texture.

Bell Pepper

While they’ve become common ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine, bell peppers are native to the Americas, having been brought to Italy and Spain by Christopher Columbus upon his return from the new world. Did you know red bell peppers are just green bell peppers that have been left on the vine to ripen?

Red Bell Pepper
A map of California with Napa highlighted

COLOR

Dark Red 


FLAVOR & TEXTURE

Tender juicy flesh. Sweet, with light roasted flavor.


USAGE

Perfect for pasta dishes, pizzas, salads, frittatas, and appetizers. Add to hummus or soups for a delicious roasted flavor. 

Profile

Mezzetta Bell Peppers come from local California farms and are roasted and packed within 24 hours of harvest. Bell Peppers are cherished for their smoky, sweet flavor and tender juicy flesh.

Chili Peppers (Cascabellas)

Cascabella peppers, also known as Hot Chili Peppers, have a conical shape tapering to a point and are about 2 inches long. The pepper colors from yellow to orange and finally red when fully ripe.

Cascabel Pepper
A map of North America with Northern California and Mexico highlighted

COLOR

Yellow


FLAVOR & TEXTURE

Spicy, tart, and crisp flavor, with crunchy texture.


USAGE

Salads, burgers, and salsas or as a pickled appetizer

Profile

These spicy, vibrantly-colored, perfectly bite-sized little firecrackers are not for the timid!

Shop products with this ingredient

Explore recipes with this ingredient

Peperon'tini

Peperon'tini

Antipasti Sheet Pan Pizza

Antipasti Sheet Pan Pizza

Grilled Hot Dogs with Pepper Slaw

Grilled Hot Dogs with Pepper Slaw

Jalapeño Brined Fried Chicken

Jalapeño Brined Fried Chicken

Jalapeño-Lime Margarita

Jalapeño-Lime Margarita

Crab Cakes with Jalapeño Tartar Sauce

Crab Cakes with Jalapeño Tartar Sauce

Banana Pepper Chicken Wings

Banana Pepper Chicken Wings

Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

Cheesy Pepper Burger

Cheesy Pepper Burger

Stuffed Cherry Peppers

Stuffed Cherry Peppers

Mezzetta® Mediterranean Breakfast Sandwich

Mezzetta® Mediterranean Breakfast Sandwich

Pepper and Olive Bruschetta

Pepper and Olive Bruschetta

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Lasagna

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Lasagna

Bell Pepper-Basil Gin and Tonic

Bell Pepper-Basil Gin and Tonic

Mezzetta® Bloody Mary

Mezzetta® Bloody Mary

Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

The Perfect Antipasto Platter

The Perfect Antipasto Platter

Jar of Mezzetta Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini next to large salad
Products for the whole family. Bring joy through food using Mezzetta specialty olives, peppers, pickled vegetables, pasta sauces, hot sauces, marinates, and marischino cherries. Visit Mezzetta.com for our whole catalogue and recipes to go with it!
All companies say tastes like Nonna, but your peppers really do. I am 80 and the taste brought back a lot of great memories. Thanks for making good product.”

Richard

Palm Harbor, FL

Peperoncini

Every jar has a journey

It starts in the farms

We travel all across the globe in search of the finest possible ingredients, developing long-term relationships with local farmers. The result? The best possible products for our customers.

Next step - perfecting the product

Once our ingredients enter our factory, the real work begins. In both our test kitchens and production lines, we work tirelessly to ensure Mezzetta products are of the highest possible quality.

The seal of approval

The name Mezzetta on the jar is a promise that you're taking home the best ingredients on the planet. We check our products for quality before, during and after they've left the factory floor.

At last, a seat at the table

Ultimately, the key ingredient to a joy-filled meal is family & friends. Our products should be enjoyed the same way we've always made them - with love.