76 varieties

Best Peppers for Stuffing

Stuffing peppers need a large cavity, thick walls, and mild-to-medium heat. Poblanos, bell peppers, and Anaheims lead the pack.

76 varieties 6 comparisons 5 heat levels

Use these next-step routes to move from category browsing into substitutions, pairings, and recipes.

About Best Peppers for Stuffing

Stuffing peppers need a large cavity, thick walls, and mild-to-medium heat. Poblanos, bell peppers, and Anaheims lead the pack. We've selected 76 varieties based on their suitability for stuffing. Heat levels range across the full Scoville scale, so there's an option for every tolerance level.

Options range from Chocolate Bhutlah (2M SHU) on the mild end to Banana Pepper (500 SHU) for serious heat. Check our heat level guide to understand what each tier feels like.

Can't find the exact pepper you need? Our pepper substitutes finder suggests swaps based on heat and flavor. You can also compare any two peppers head-to-head.

Notable Varieties

All Best Peppers for Stuffing

76 varieties

Every variety in this collection, sorted by maximum Scoville heat rating. Click any card for the full profile with flavor notes, anatomy details, growing tips, and substitutes.

Bullhorn Pepper
0–500 SHU
Ramiro Pepper
0–500 SHU
NuMex Joe E. Parker
0–0 SHU
Lumbre Pepper
0–0 SHU
NuMex Heritage Big Jim
0–0 SHU
Gypsy Pepper
0–100 SHU
Peperone di Senise
0–0 SHU
Carmen Pepper
0–0 SHU
California Wonder Pepper
0–0 SHU
Melrose Pepper
0–0 SHU
Purple Beauty Pepper
0–0 SHU
Fushimi Pepper
0–0 SHU
Tangerine Dream Pepper
0–100 SHU
Shishito Pepper
50–200 SHU
Biquinho Pepper
80–500 SHU
Cubanelle Pepper
100–1K SHU
Long Hot Italian
100–1K SHU
Pimento Pepper
100–500 SHU
Cherry Pepper
100–500 SHU
Mexibell Pepper
100–1K SHU
Peppadew Pepper
280–650 SHU
NuMex Big Jim
500–3K SHU
Padrón Pepper
500–3K SHU
Anaheim Pepper
500–3K SHU
Santa Fe Grande
500–700 SHU
Alma Paprika
500–1K SHU
Piquillo Pepper
500–1K SHU
Mariachi Pepper
500–600 SHU
Holy Mole Pepper
700–800 SHU
Aji Panca
1K–2K SHU
Ancho Pepper
1K–2K SHU
Poblano Pepper
1K–2K SHU
NuMex Heritage 6-4
1K–2K SHU
Korean Green Pepper
2K–10K SHU
Chilhuacle Pepper
2K–3K SHU
Sangria Pepper
2K–5K SHU
Jalapeño
3K–8K SHU
Fresno Pepper
3K–10K SHU
Red Jalapeño
3K–8K SHU
Cherry Bomb Pepper
3K–5K SHU
Cowhorn Pepper
3K–5K SHU
Purple Jalapeño
3K–8K SHU
Black Hungarian Pepper
3K–10K SHU
Jalafuego Pepper
4K–6K SHU
Bishop's Crown
5K–30K SHU
Hungarian Wax
5K–15K SHU
Hungarian Hot Wax
5K–15K SHU
Buena Mulata
5K–15K SHU
Beaver Dam Pepper
5K–15K SHU
Criolla Sella Pepper
5K–15K SHU
Chinese 5 Color
10K–30K SHU
Bolivian Rainbow Pepper
10K–30K SHU
Manzano Pepper
12K–30K SHU
Peperoncino
15K–30K SHU
Rocoto
30K–100K SHU
Cayenne Pepper
30K–50K SHU
Aji Limo
30K–50K SHU
Numex Easter
30K–50K SHU
Bird's Eye Chili
50K–100K SHU
Sugar Rush Stripey
50K–100K SHU
7 Pot Primo
1M–1.5M SHU
7 Pot Brain Strain
1M–1.4M SHU
Carolina Reaper
1.4M–2.2M SHU
Chocolate Bhutlah
1.5M–2M SHU

Heat Level Distribution

How best peppers for stuffing distribute across the Scoville scale. Click any tier to browse all peppers at that heat level.

Mild 32 varieties Medium 21 varieties Hot 16 varieties Extra-Hot 3 varieties Super-Hot 4 varieties

Heat Range Comparison

Visual breakdown of where each variety falls on the Scoville scale. The bar width shows the documented SHU spread — wider bars mean more variable heat between individual pods. Learn why heat varies in our guide to pepper heat variation.

Banana Pepper 0–500
Bell Pepper 0–0
Sweet Italian Pepper 0–100
Corno di Toro 0–500
Jimmy Nardello 0–500
Aji Dulce 0–500
Paprika Pepper 0–1K
Friggitello 0–500

Related Comparisons

All comparisons →

Side-by-side breakdowns of heat, flavor, and culinary uses. Each comparison covers Scoville ratings, pod anatomy, and substitution options.

Browse all comparisons in our comparison hub, or use the pepper tools for calculators and finders.

Related Guides

All guides →

Deep-dive articles covering the cooking techniques, growing methods, and science behind best peppers for stuffing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Top picks include Banana Pepper, Bell Pepper, Sweet Italian Pepper, Corno di Toro, Jimmy Nardello. We cover 76 varieties total.
Yes — mixing varieties adds complexity. Combine a mild base pepper with a hotter accent pepper for layered heat and flavor.
Sources & References

Explore More

Browse our full pepper database, compare varieties head-to-head, or find peppers by heat level. For cooking inspiration, check our guides and recipes.

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