Mexican-Style Pepper & Recipes For Full Volume Flavour

August 14, 2026
double layer beef tacos with cheese & sauce

When peppers hit the pan, the whole kitchen wakes up. That sizzle, that colour, that smell – it’s time to Make Some Noise. With the right recipes and a few Old El Paso favourites, you can turn simple pepper dishes into proper Mexican-inspired nights in, packed with Full Volume Flavour and zero stress.

This guide brings together an easy mix of pepper recipes you can cook at home, from quick chicken and pepper dishes to punchy pepper beef recipes and family-friendly eats. We’ll walk you through each one in a relaxed, step-by-step way, so you can pick what suits your mood, your fridge and your crowd.

Why Peppers Belong At The Heart Of Mexican-Style Cooking

Peppers are one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen. They bring sweetness, crunch and colour, and they soak up spices beautifully. Red, yellow and green bell peppers each bring their own personality to a dish, from gentle and sweet to bold and punchy. That means your favourite dishes with peppers can go anywhere your mood takes you. 

In Mexican-inspired cooking, peppers work across the board: tucked into fajitas, layered into quesadillas, stirred into rice or folded into tacos. Old El Paso meal kits, sauces and fillings are designed to help you build those flavours quickly, so you can Dine Loud and Proud without spending hours in the kitchen. 

Vegan & Veggie Bell Pepper Dishes For Easy Weeknights

Looking for plant-based dishes with Full Volume Flavour? These vegan and veggie dishes will bring bold spices, hearty textures and plenty of colours to your table. 

Vegan Portobello Mushroom & Pepper Fajitas

This vegan delight combines the meaty texture of portobello mushrooms with the sweetness of bell peppers. Thin slices of portobello mushrooms and strips of red and yellow peppers are tossed with Old El Paso seasoning, then fried until tender and slightly charred at the edges. Load them up into warm tortillas with salsa and guacamole. This one is ideal for a relaxed midweek dinner, or as a centrepiece when you’re feeding a mix of vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters. 
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chilli and garlic one pan rice meal

Vegan Crunchy Bean and Pepper Pockets

If you're after dishes with peppers that are fully plant-based, these Vegan Bean and Pepper Pockets are a great pick. Peppers, onions and black beans are cooked with seasoning, then served with cabbage and salsa in separate bowls so everyone can fill their own pocket their own way at their own pace. 
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Chicken & Pepper Dishes for Crowd-Pleasing Comfort

Chicken and peppers are a perfect combination. The chicken brings protein and bite, while the peppers add sweetness, colour and crunch. These chicken and pepper dishes make for easy weeknight meals that still feel special. 

Crunchy Rainbow Chicken Fajitas hero

Crunchy Rainbow Chicken Fajitas

This Crunchy Rainbow Chicken Fajitas recipe is all about colour and texture. The chicken is coated in Old El Paso seasoning and baked until golden and crispy, then loaded into warm tortillas with a rainbow of fresh veg and a drizzle of salsa. It’s a simple yet fun way to add more veg to the plate while keeping dinner exciting. 
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Fiesta Chicken Quesadillas

Fiesta Chicken Quesadillas with Peppers

Quesadillas are a brilliant way to use up leftover peppers and chicken, and this recipe turns them into something special. Shredded chicken is layered with sliced peppers, spring onions and a generous handful of cheese between tortillas, then baked until crisp and gooey. Serve them with salsa on the side. They’re great for sharing, movie nights or just quick lunches. 
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Old El Paso fajitas filled with chicken curry and vegetables sitting on a bed of lettuce

Chicken Curry Fajitas with Peppers

For something a little different, try this Chicken Curry Fajitas recipe! Chicken, peppers and onions are cooked together with curry powder and a splash of sour cream, then spooned into warm tortillas with lettuce. It will be a comforting twist on the usual fajita nights. 
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Beef & Pepper Dishes for Full-On Comfort

Combined, beef and peppers bring big, comforting flavours and these dishes offer the kind of hearty satisfaction that makes a weeknight dinner feel like an occasion. 

beef

Tender Beef and Pepper Tacos

Fancy a pepper beef recipe that feels like a treat? These Tender Beef and Pepper Tacos are a strong candidate. The steaks are seasoned and seared quickly in a hot pan to lock in the juices, while peppers and onions are cooked in the same pan until lightly charred. Everything is then spooned into soft tortillas with salsa and a squeeze of lime. The sweetness of the peppers balances the richness of the beef, creating a hearty and bright taco filling. 
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Beef Fajitas with Guacamole Salsa

Beef Fajitas with Guacamole Salsa take that same idea and turn it into a sizzling centrepiece. Strips of beef are marinated with Old El Paso taco seasoning, then cooked quickly with a mix of colourful peppers and onions. Served with warm tortillas, a fresh guacamole salsa, sour cream and coriander, it’s an ideal dish for sharing, letting everyone build their own wraps and adjust the heat to their liking. 
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Makes Some Noise With These Pepperoni Dishes

Looking for even more ways to pair your peppers? These pepperoni pizza tortilla pockets are a great mess-free option for lunch or dinner that kids especially will love. 

Pepperoni Pizza Tortilla Pockets

Pepperoni Pizza Tortilla Pockets

Our Pepperoni Pizza Tortilla Pockets are a brilliant twist on classic bell pepper dishes. Crispy pepperoni, peppers and onion get stirred through pizza sauce and loaded into tortilla pockets with mozzarella cheese, then microwaved until melty. They’re perfect for game nights, after-school snacks or quick Friday dinners when you want to Make Some Noise without ordering in.
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Easy Pepper Dishes & Recipes For Every Mood

There’s a pepper dish or recipe for every mood and every table. With Old El Paso meal kits, seasonings and sauces, you can build Mexican-style meals that are quick, colourful and full of personality, whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a crowd. 

Next time you spot a few peppers in your fridge, think of them as the starting point. Grab your favourite Old El Paso pack, warm up the pan and let the sizzle do the talking. Dine Loud and Proud, invite everyone to get stuck in, and enjoy the Full Volume Flavour that happens when peppers, good company and easy cooking come together.

Faqs

  • How do I stop peppers from going soggy in these dishes with peppers?
    Cook peppers over a fairly high heat and avoid overcrowding the pan so they sear rather than steam. Add them towards the end if you like extra crunch, especially in fajitas, quesadillas and tacos.
  • Can I swap the meat in your chicken and pepper dishes for something else?
    Absolutely! Find your alternatives and simply swap them with chicken, keeping the same Old El Paso seasoning and peppers. Just adjust the cooking time so your chosen protein is cooked through but still tender.
  • How do I choose and prepare peppers for bell pepper dishes?
    Look for firm peppers with shiny skins and no soft spots and mix colours for the best flavours: red and yellow are sweeter, green is more savoury. Slice off the top, remove the seeds and membrane, then cut into strips for quick-cooked dishes like fajitas and quesadillas, or chunks for tacos and tortilla pockets.
  • What’s the best way to cook peppers for bold flavours in dishes with peppers?
    Leave them in a hot pan with a little oil so they char slightly rather than steam. Adding them after you cook your meat, like in a pepper beef recipe, lets them soak up all those tasty juices and spices. If they're getting soft, toss them into a fajita or quesadilla where they'll cook down beautifully.