This jalapeño jelly recipe is a deliciously sweet and spicy spread for toast or crackers and can even be used as a glaze or sauce on meats.
It is made up of jalapeño peppers, bell peppers, lots of sugar, vinegar, and pectin. While you may be tempted to reduce the sugar, don’t. This is meant to have lots of sugar – it’s a jelly after all! It also helps to balance out the heat from the jalapeños perfectly. Our favorite way is to serve it as a topping with cream cheese and crackers.
If you love jams and jellies, you are sure to love this Jalapeño Jelly, aka hot pepper jelly! Yes, the flavor is a little different than your typical Strawberry Jam, but it is so good! The sweet with the heat is addictive!
If you love jalapeños, you’ll love our Jalapeno Poppers and dip.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Sweet and spicy. It delivers that perfect balance of sweet fruitiness with a kick of jalapeño – a delicious combination!
- Use it as a dip or glaze! Beyond toast, it’s amazing on cream cheese with crackers, glazed over meats, or even mixed into dressings.
- Prepped in 15 minutes. Making jalapeno jelly yourself is simpler than you think and incredibly satisfying, plus it makes fantastic gifts!
Jalapeño Jelly Ingredients and Substitutions
- 10 jalapeno peppers, half seeded – about 1¼ cups chopped jalapeños. If you want to have a hot pepper jelly, leave in all of the seeds; for a milder jelly, remove all of the seeds and the membrane.
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped – about 1⅛ cups
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped – or orange bell pepper, about 1⅛ cups
- 5½ cups sugar – do not reduce or substitute the sugar
- 1½ cups white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt – We like the balance of flavor this adds, but it can be omitted.
- 1 (3-ounce) pouch liquid pectin
How to Make Jalapeño Jelly?
- PREP. Wash the jars with hot, soapy water and keep them warm while making the jelly. Place the lids in a small saucepan on the stove on a low simmer. Fill the water bath pot about halfway with water. Let it come to a simmer while making the jelly.
- BLEND. Pulse the jalapeños and bell peppers in a food processor until the peppers are finely chopped. Empty into a mesh strainer and drain off excess liquid.
- HEAT. Place the chopped vegetables in a large stock pot and add the sugar, vinegar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 10 minutes. Add the pectin and boil 1 more minute. Remove from the heat
Jarring the Jelly
- FILL JARS. For water bath canning, ladle the jelly mixture into hot, sterile jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. After filling the jars, wipe the rims with a paper towel and then top with the lids. Screw on the rings using just your thumb and index finger until you meet resistance, then do a ¼ more turn. This will ensure that they are on, but not too tight.
- HEAT. Place the jars on the rack in the pot of simmering water. Add more water until the jars are covered by 1-2 inches. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, process for 10 minutes. (Add 1 more minute for each 1000 ft elevation above 1000 ft.)
- After 10 minutes, remove the jars and place them on a kitchen towel about 1 inch apart. After a few minutes, you should start to hear the jars seal with a pop. Leave the jars untouched on the counter for 12-24 hours.
- STORE. Store properly sealed jars in the pantry for up to 12 months. Refrigerate unsealed jars for 3-4 weeks.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- For a mild jelly, remove all of the seeds and membrane; for a hotter jelly, keep the seeds and membrane in. We prefer half-seeded for the best sweet and spicy flavor.
- To avoid runny jelly, drain the excess liquid from the chopped jalapenos.
- If making at a high elevation, add 1 more minute for each 1000 ft elevation above 1000 ft. to the time you boil in the water bath.
- Always check to ensure the lid has sealed before storing on the shelf. Refrigerate unsealed jars for 3-4 weeks.
- Ways we like to use this jelly: A glaze for steak, pork, or salmon, put it on top of vanilla ice cream, use it like regular jelly, make a spicy PB&J sandwich, and put it on top of cream cheese to make a cracker spread.
Jalapeño Jelly Recipe
Equipment
- mason jars
- lids
- water bath pot
- water bath kit
Video
Ingredients
- 10 jalapeno peppers, half seeded
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 5½ cups sugar
- 1½ cup white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 (3-ounce) pouch liquid pectin
Instructions
- Wash the jars with hot, soapy water and keep them warm while making the jelly. Place the lids in a small saucepan on the stove on a low simmer. Fill the water bath pot about halfway with water. Let it come to a simmer while making the jelly.
- Place the jalapenos and bell peppers in a food processor and pulse until peppers are finely chopped. Empty into a mesh strainer and drain off excess liquid.
- Place the chopped vegetables in a large stock pot and add the sugar, vinegar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 10 minutes. Add the pectin and boil 1 more minute. Remove from heat.
Jar the Jelly
- Ladle jelly into hot, sterile jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. After filling the jars, wipe the rims with a paper towel and then top with the lids. Screw on the rings using just your thumb and index finger until you meet resistance, then do a ¼ more turn. This will ensure that they are on, but not too tight.
- Place the jars on the rack in the pot of simmering water. If needed, add more water until the jars are covered by 1-2 inches. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, process for 10 minutes. (Add 1 more minute for each 1000 ft elevation above 1000 ft.)
- After 10 minutes, remove the jars and place them on a kitchen towel about 1 inch apart. After a few minutes, you should start to hear the jars seal with a pop. Leave the jars untouched on the counter for 12-24 hours.
- Jelly that is sealed properly can be stored on the shelf. If a seal did not form or if you opened the lid and broke the seal, jelly can be stored in the fridge.
Notes
- For a mild jelly, remove all of the seeds and membrane; for a hotter jelly, keep the seeds and membrane in.
- To avoid runny jelly, be sure to drain the excess liquid from the chopped jalapenos.
- Always check to ensure the lid has sealed before storing on the shelf. If they haven’t been sealed, place them in the fridge to be used within a few weeks.
- Ways we like to use this jelly: A glaze for steak, pork, or salmon, put it on top of vanilla ice cream, use it like regular jelly, make a spicy PB&J sandwich, and put it on top of cream cheese to make a cracker spread.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
We like to fill the jars with water and then microwave them for about 2 minutes. Alternatively, fill the jars with water and place them on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven. When ready to use, empty the hot water and fill the jars with the jelly.
Many jars will seal fairly quickly, and you’ll hear those characteristic “pings” within minutes or an hour after the water bath. You will still want to leave the jars undisturbed on the counter for 12 hours to fully seal. Gently press the center of the lid. If it does not spring up or move, it’s sealed. If it moves up and down, it’s not sealed.
Store properly sealed jars in the pantry for up to 12 months. Refrigerate unsealed jars for 3-4 weeks.
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I love your recipe and have been making it for years now to rave reviews!!
I was wondering if you ever double your batch? I did one time and it is the only time mine didn’t set. Your thoughts please. Thank you.
So delicious and easy to make. I did use twice the amount of pectin but it came out perfect 👌
I haven’t made hot pepper jelly in years, but in my previous attempts I never heard of adding salt. What’s your reasoning for the salt…what does it do? And is it optional?
We think it just adds to and enhances the flavor, but you could omit it if you prefer.
This is a huge hit with everyone that eats it!! Amazing!
Thank you so much for this…it is now part of my yearly garden harvest recipes. Words just can’t describe the taste, the perfect match between sugar and spice. I had only pectin powder, so added by small amounts and ended up using the full 2 oz box (57 grams), it came out beautifully, just the perfect jelly consistency. I also used a yellow bell pepper instead of green…less tart I would guess…it won’t last long around here for sure. Keep up the great recipes
Thank you for sharing! I’m so glad to hear that the jelly is a favorite!
I made this in two batches – one with white vinegar, jalapenos and serranos, and one with apple cider vinegar and serranos only. I think I liked it even better with apple cider vinegar. It seemed to make it sweeter, while the serranos brought some definite heat.
Thanks for sharing what you did! So glad you enjoyed the jelly!
What happens if jelly is too thick once it cools?? Can I add anything to thin it. Am hoping there is a fix!!
You should be able to thin it a bit with water or fruit juice. I’m sure you could do a little internet search of just what to do to salvage it!
Update to my comment left earlier.
I was concerned that my jelly would not set however I am happy to report that by squeezing out the pepper juice in a cloth worked great.
My co-workers love your jelly recipe and asked me to share it with them.
Yay!! So so happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing.
I love your recipe it tastes sooooo delicious!! I gave away so many of my first batch I had to make it twice. The first batch did not set 🙁 first time it’s ever happened to me. So I redid it following the directions on the Certo package and it worked.
I just finished my second batch when draining the peppers this time I put in a towel and squeezed out the juice first. When I took the jars out of the bath the jars seem to be very runny I’m hoping they will set up this time. I’ll keep you posted.
My jelly did not set either so might want to really squeeze out the liquid from the peppers or reduce the vinegar by using pickling vinegar.
I used your method of squeezing out the pepper juice with a towel. I’ve never made jelly before and it set on my first attempt. Thank you for the tip and I definitely attribute my success to your good advice.
Thanks for making the recipe and sharing your own tips and tricks!
For my first time making jelly or canning anything ever this recipe was awesome! Thanks for the easy directions. It came out perfect! Very tasty!
You’re welcome! So glad you gave the jelly recipe a try!
Can I use only jalapeno peppers?
Do you have to use liquid pectin? I only have sure jell at home
I would recommend using liquid pectin.
I suppose you could. The sweet bell peppers give the jelly a wonderful flavor though! I would recommend including them.