While cooking, you may suddenly realize you have run out of an important ingredient like chili powder. That shouldn’t worry you at all. Fortunately, a few fantastic chili powder substitutes are easy to find.
Some of those possible replacement ingredients may even already be in your pantry.
Chili powder is commonly used in traditional Latin American dishes like tacos and enchiladas. Many popular Asian recipes also make heavy use of chilies.
A spoonful of chili powder can add a hot kick to soup, grilled meat, a pot of beans, stew, or vegetables.
Best Substitute for Chili Powder
Chili powder gives your dishes a classic, vibrant red color, and distinct taste and aroma.
Finding an alternative is easy When you run out of chili powder. But none of those alternatives will give you the same heat and distinct flavor you desire.
Here are some replacement ideas in a pinch.
1. Homemade Chili Powder
It is easy to make your own chili powder, and you may already have those spicy ingredients in your pantry. This homemade spice blend will have the authentic flavor of chili powder.
You can simply combine the necessary spices in a bowl and mix. Store it in a sealed jar (preferably in a glass jar), and it will stay good for several months.
Paprika, made from dried and ground peppers (bell peppers), is the chief ingredient in this spice mix. Ground paprika gives a blend of pungent and sweet tastes to the mixture. If available, use smoked Paprika. This can give a lovely smoky depth of flavor to the blend.
Another important ingredient in chili powder is cayenne pepper. Add just a few pinches of cayenne according to the pungency you prefer. People opposed to high pungency should avoid it altogether.
You can vary the other ingredients in the chili powder recipe according to your taste preferences.
The flavor will vary according to the type of pepper used to make this spice blend or the peppers used as substitutes.
A standard seasoning blend of generic chili powder is made with the following ingredients (recipe for 40 grams):
- ⅛ cup of sweet Paprika
- ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon of regular Paprika (optional).
2. Smoked Paprika
Paprika is a good choice instead of chili powder. You can use either regular or smoked Paprika. Normal Paprika is made from crushed and dried chilies. Paprika is made of smoke-dried and then ground chilies.
Most people prefer to use Paprika for its strong flavor and aroma.
Compared to chili powder, the heat level of Paprika is mild but somewhat hot and sweet.
Adding a few other ingredients to ground Paprika can achieve a replica of chili powder. You may also try smoked paprika substitutes like Gochugaru, A spicy chili paste called Sambal oelek, cayenne powder, or ancho powder.
3. Red Pepper Flakes
Red pepper flakes, or chili flakes, are made from a mix of dried peppers from the Capsicum annum family. Crushed red pepper is a kitchen spice rack staple in most homes. These flakes can be used in place of a chili powder mixture.
If you wish, you can grind the chili flakes to achieve the consistency of chili powder. Use a mortar and pestle or an electric spice grinder to grind the flakes into a fine powder. Alternatively, equivalents of red pepper flakes such as ground cayenne pepper, gochugaru, or even hot sauce can replace chili powder mix.
4. Ancho Chili Powder
Ancho chilies are dried chili pepper commonly used in Mexican cuisine. It is the dried version of the poblano pepper. This chili is best known for its sweet, earthy, and spicy flavor.
The poblano pepper is used in several chili blends. It has a complex and distinguishable flavor that stands out from the rest.
Undoubtedly, ancho pepper works well instead of chile powder in most recipes. Using approximately half the chile powder is enough to produce the same pungency level. Also, see if ancho powder substitutes like Guajillo pepper powder, Pasilla powder, or chipotle powder are usable in recipes that call for chili powder.
5. Chipotle powder
Chipotle chili powder is made from dried and ground chipotle chilies. This smoke-dried, ripe jalapeno chili pepper is commonly used for seasoning.
Also, its smoky heat makes it a great ingredient in barbecue sauces and grilling rubs.
Jalapeno chili is hotter than most of the chili powder blends available to you. Use it sparingly. Preferably, chipotle chili powder in 1/3 quantity is enough to give a good hot kick to your dishes. You may also consider ingredients similar to chipotle powder, such as chipotle powder, chipotle adobo sauce, and pasilla de Oaxaca.
6. Hot Sauce
When you are left with no option but to find the best chili powder substitute, the last resort is hot sauce.
Hot chili sauce adds a hot kick to soups, stews, and sauces.
Just a spoonful of hot sauce will be good enough to give a hot flavor to two servings of your dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you substitute taco seasoning for chili powder?
Yes, taco seasoning spice blend and chili seasoning are identical, except for a few minor differences. But the Cajun seasoning is a better alternative.
Can I use chili powder instead of Paprika?
Yes. Chili powder is hotter than paprika chile. Paprika provides a sweet flavor to cool down the heat, but smoked Paprika will add a delicious, subtle smokiness.
Can I use fresh red chili instead of chili powder?
Fresh chili peppers are versatile but not a great substitute for chili powder, and vice versa. Chili powder contains a blend of different hot ingredients and gives a stand-alone flavor to your dish. Fresh chili is used mainly to add heat to a recipe that calls for it.
What spice is similar to chili powder?
Similar ones are the ingredients that go into making chili pepper powder: cumin, cayenne pepper, oregano, Paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.