4 Top Chili Powder Substitutes You Can Find in Your Kitchen

Chili powder is a key ingredient in southwestern dishes. You've likely used it in chili, but it's also common in recipes like tortilla soup, taco fillings, and baked beans. While chili powder varies by brand, it typically consists of a blend of chilies or a mix similar to taco seasoning, including spices such as cumin and onion powder.

Chili powders generally feature a blend of mild to medium chilies, with paprika being the most common base. Other peppers like Arbol, pasilla, chipotle, and cayenne can also be included.

What Flavor Does Chili Powder Have?

The taste of chili powder can vary by brand. Some are more pungent, others have a smoky or sweet flavor, but all of them include dried peppers. Most chili powders contain a significant amount of paprika, so if you're a fan of that taste, you'll likely enjoy chili powder.

If you're a chili enthusiast, try tasting a variety of chili powder brands to explore their unique flavors. Since chili powder is made from different types of peppers, it can sometimes have a bitter edge. Always sample a bit of the new chili powder to get a sense of the flavors it will contribute to your dishes.

Chili powder is often formulated as a one-stop seasoning for chili soup, meaning it may contain additional spices like cumin, coriander, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, and even cinnamon. Check the ingredients list before purchasing to understand the specific blend you're getting.

How to Create Your Own Chili Powder

Like many spice mixes, homemade chili powder allows you to adjust the flavors to your liking. Here's a basic recipe to create a chili powder perfect for chili soup, enchiladas, tortilla soup, taco filling, and more:

Start with three parts sweet paprika, then add one part each of cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and a pinch of cayenne. Want a smoky kick? Toss in some chipotle powder or smoked paprika. Craving heat? Increase the cayenne. For extra flavor and spice, you can also incorporate ground chilies like Aleppo, chile de Arbol, Urfa biber, crushed red pepper, or guajillo.

Top Chili Powder Alternatives

Taco Seasoning

Taco seasoning is quite similar to chili powder, consisting of a variety of spices, though it can differ greatly between brands. If your dish calls for chili powder, taco seasoning could work well for certain Mexican-American recipes like taco meat for burritos or nachos. However, it might not be the ideal choice for chili soups or other dishes that don't have a distinct "taco" flavor profile.

To make this substitution, take a quick look at your recipe and the taco seasoning ingredients, then leave out any spices that are already included in the seasoning mix. Be cautious with added salt, as taco seasonings often contain salt, so you might want to reduce the amount of extra salt you use.

Paprika

Sweet Hungarian paprika is often the primary component in chili powder. If that's all you have, it's a perfect substitute for chili powder in equal proportions. If you have different paprika varieties, like spicy Spanish or smoky paprika, blending them with the sweet paprika can give your dish a richer flavor. Depending on your heat preference, try using one teaspoon of sweet paprika with half a teaspoon each of spicy and smoked paprika if the recipe calls for two teaspoons of chili powder.

Find the recipe here:

Chile Powders

Chile powder (with an "e") is made from a single type of chili, such as guajillo, pasilla, or the commonly used cayenne. When you want a distinct chili flavor and don’t mind a bit of heat, like in stewed Mexican-style beans, use chile powder for a more focused peppery taste.

The flavor profile will vary depending on the powder you use. These powders tend to be much hotter than chili powder, so if you're substituting, use half a teaspoon of chile powder for every teaspoon of chili powder called for in the recipe.

Hot Sauce

In a pinch, hot sauce can add a spicy kick to dishes like slow cooker Texas pulled pork, which typically calls for chili powder. However, hot sauce contains vinegar, so using it will shift the balance of the dish and introduce more acidity. You can balance this out with a little sugar. Use two dashes of hot sauce per teaspoon of chili powder, adjusting based on the heat level of your sauce and your taste.

Sauces like Valentina, Tapatio, and Cholula offer a strong chile flavor without overwhelming spice or excessive vinegar, making them great choices for this substitution.