The Fresno pepper looks and tastes much like a jalapeno, but slightly hotter. Fresno peppers mature from green to red as they grow, and increase in heat. Learn more from Chili Pepper Madness.
About Fresno Peppers
Scoville Heat Units: 2,500-10,000 SHU
Capsicum Annuum
The Fresno pepper looks and tastes almost like the world's most popular chili pepper, the jalapeno, but it can be slightly hotter. At its hottest, it reaches the heat level of a mild serrano pepper, which can be somewhat spicy for some.
In fact, the Fresno pepper looks so much like a red jalapeno that people often confuse them for one another.
What Does a Fresno Pepper Look Like?
Fresno peppers mature from green to bright red as they grow, and increase in hotness, but they are often harvested and sold as green.
The green peppers are mild to medium hot, while the mature red Fresno is quite a bit hotter, surpassing the jalapeno.
They grow to about 2-3 inches long and have a diameter of about one inch. The skins are glossy and smooth, and the peppers curve slightly.
Fresno Pepper Uses
Fresno chile peppers are commonly grown in the U.S. and are popular for making ceviche and salsa, and general every day cooking. The green peppers can be used in many types of dishes to add great flavor, but the hotter red version may be better for dips or salsas.
They are often an accompaniment to rice and black beans and other simple dishes.
Because of their overall flavor, it's no wonder the peppers are frequently added to salsas and used for hot sauces.
Fresno Pepper Flavor - What do Fresno Peppers Taste Like?
Fresno peppers are just slightly spicier than jalapeno peppers, but they also offer a fruitier taste. Some say they are smokier, but I don't feel that is very pronounced.
Green Fresno peppers have a more vegetal flavor compared to the mature red peppers, which grow hotter and more fruity as they age. Red Fresno peppers still offer wonderful flavor and a touch of heat for spicy recipes.
The biggest difference between a Fresno chili and a jalapeno pepper is the thickness of the pepper walls. Fresnos have thinner walls, which can change how you cook with them. They aren't thin like a habanero pepper, but definitely thinner than a typical jalapeno, so consider this for your recipe planning.
I personally enjoy dehydrating them for grinding into powders. They make excellent spicy red seasonings or chili flakes. I love them for hot sauces as well.
How Hot is a Fresno Pepper?
On the Scoville Scale, Fresno Peppers range from 2,500 to 10,000 Scoville Heat Units. This is similar in range to the jalapeno, which tops out at 8,000 SHU, with an average of about 5,000 SHU. They aren't overly hot peppers. Bell peppers, by contrast, have 0 SHU.
It's a great heat level for your everyday cooking, at least for those who enjoy a bit of a spicy kick, but not too much.
Pepper Origin
The Fresno pepper was first cultivated by Clarence Brown Hamlin in 1952. It is named after Fresno, California, where Hamlin worked and propagated the pepper.
Looking for Fresno Pepper Seeds or Plants?
Check out my chili pepper plants and chili pepper seeds resources pages. You can sometimes find them in grocery stores.
Fresno Pepper Substitutes
If you're unable to find Fresno peppers in your location, here are some alternatives.
- Jalapeno Pepper - In just about any case, the jalapeno is the best substitute for a Fresno pepper in terms of both heat and flavor, as they are so similar in many ways.
- Cayenne Peppers - Cayenne peppers are quite a bit hotter, but their thin walls and similar flavor profile would work for recipes like hot sauce, salsa, and making chili powders.
Mike's Personal Notes
I have grown Fresno peppers in my home garden several times over the years. They are very productive with lots of pods on the plants, and quite easy to grow.
The thinner walls can be an issue if you want to use them as part of a mire poix or Cajun Holy Trinity, where you're just chopping them and cooking them. The flavor is definitely fruitier than a jalapeno.
As mentioned, I really enjoy them for making chili powder blends or for making either salsas or hot sauces. I definitely encourage you to give them a try.
Got any questions? Ask away! I'm happy to help.
NOTE: This post was updated on 9/28/21 to include new information. It was originally published on 9/22/13.
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Tom Chute says
hi mike,
i bought some seeds claiming to be Fresno Supreme chilli's but most of them are 6" plus and don't look like Jalapeno's at all. if you could emil me i can send a picture and maybe you could shed some light.
Thanks
Tom
Mike Hultquist says
You can shoot me an email, Tom. mike@
LC says
Hey there - Should a ripe pepper (my little fresno plant has only 1) be twisted off or cut off?
Thanks!
LC
Mike Hultquist says
Usually you can just snap them off, LC.
Beuce says
Good website!
Over the season with proper soil, if left to turn fully red, what kind of yield does one Fresno Chili Pepper plant produce?
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks. You can get dozens of pods, and the plant keeps producing, depending on the length of the season. Great peppers!
Ron rushbrook says
Hi, I have 2 bushes of super Fresno peppers , they are a great crop but raw (without seeds) they have no heat. I recently grilled one and it blew my head off with the heat. Is it usual that don’t have heat raw but develop when cooked (red)
Mike Hultquist says
Not really, Ron. A lot can depend on what you're eating them with, but sometimes the overall heat can bloom in certain dishes.
Amanda says
Mine are growing upside down. Do yours do that?
Mike Hultquist says
Yes, they often do.
Blake says
Which way is right side up?
I suppose gravity might have a say in it.
Rayford warren Latham says
I'm making red hot sauce and thought i would try them for my sauce. I usually use jalapeno and cayenne together to make my sauce. Can you send me a good receipe for a red hot sauce? I just usally do a hit and miss receipe. Thank you so much. Rayford Latham, Scottsboro, al.
Mike Hultquist says
Rayford, I have a lot of different hot sauce recipes that you can review here: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/hot-sauces/. Enjoy!
Bruce says
I ordered several kinds of pepper seeds last Winter and grew them in the garden. One company sent me the wrong seeds and I don’t know what it is. I’ve talked to the guy who sent them to me and he said he had to fire a couple people. Anyway, maybe you have some idea what I have. It looks like the pepper (Fresno) you show here, about 3” long, thin walled, hotter than jalapeno, go from green to red, but the skins are tougher I think. I roasted and peeled them. They are much hotter than my jalapeños. I dried out some in the whole pod stage and they dried easily on the counter top over a few weeks. I’m fermenting a jar of them now. I make hot sauces so it would be nice to know what it is in case we and others like the results.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
It's hard to tell based on that, Bruce, but if you can take a photo, I might be able to help.
John G says
I’m into my second year with my Fresno pepper plants and they are producing more than the first year! Love them pickled.
Jim Z says
So, I am pretty sure I have fresnos growing. They are growing upright, which throws me off a bit. They have finally turned red, but I am wondering if I should wait until they are no longer growing upright to harvest them? Thoughts?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jim, really just let them ripen to a nice vibrant red, and nice and firm. Then they should be good to harvest.
Cindy says
Just ate our first homegrown Fresno pepper. Roasted 2 with tomatoes. Made salsa. Absolutely delicious! Next time will pick sooner
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Cindy! I've grown these many times. Great for salsa!