What are Chipotle Peppers / Chilis?
Chipotle chilis are smoke-dried jalapeño peppers often ground into a smoky-hot dried spice. It’s a go-to spice used in a huge variety of dishes, especially Mexican cuisine. The peppers provide plenty of heat as well as a unique smoky taste to the flavor, adding depth and complexity to any dish. If you don’t want a ton of heat, use less in the dish and you reap the flavor benefits. While its flavor is hard to match, some alternative spices work well! Read on for the best substitute for chipotle.
Chipotle Powder is a spice in high demand. Most commonly found ground in Mexican, Tex-Mex, or other Southwestern-style cuisines, it’s also a great rub for chicken, fish, veggies– even brownies! Don’t worry if you don’t have any on hand, we list the best replacements below.
Top Substitute for Chipotle Powder: Smoked Paprika
Smoked Paprika has all the smoky flavor you crave, making it the best substitute for chipotle. Although it is a much milder spice than dried chipotle or even fresh jalapeños, mix in the desired amount of cayenne pepper to dialup the heat. Use the paprika in about the same quantity you would with chipotle and add a pinch of cayenne (or three for spice lovers) to complete the spice substitute.
Great Substitute for Chipotle Peppers: Ancho Chilis
These dried and ground Mexican poblano peppers pack smoky flavors with alittle heat. Ancho chilis also have a sweet undertone, bringing a new flair to any dish. The powder is milder than chipotle. So, use a little more than the chipotle called for in the dish, or sprinkle in some cayenne pepper for added heat.
Best Substitute for Sauces: Chipotles in Adobo Sauce
If you have this spicy Southwestern sauce on hand, you’re in luck. Made with chipotle peppers covered in adobo sauce (made with vinegar, garlic, sugar, and herbs), this is a best substitute for chipotle used in a sauce. Depending on the dish, use the sauce and / or peppers. If you don’t use all the sauce or peppers, store them in a zipper bag in the freezer for future use. Even if you aren't making a sauce, you will get tons of chipotle flavor in whatever dish you're making!
Best Spice Blend with Chipotle Powder:Piquant Post Chipotle Spice
Authentic Mexican cuisine gets its all-star flavor from more than just chipotle powder. Many spices and aromatics are used to enhance the flavor of all your favorite Mexican dishes. Our crack chefs at Piquant Postcreated a winner with this spice blend by combining chipotlepowder with classic Mexicanchilis, aromatics, and savory ingredients for a hint of umami. Perfect for soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and a dry rub on meats or anywhere you use Chipotle Powder. Mild to Medium heat profile (less heat than straight Chipotle Powder)
Contains: chipotle chili, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, sage, cumin, Mexican oregano, marjoram, porcini powder, and black pepper.
So, next time you find yourself out of chipotle spice, don’t panic! You can still save your dish using any of the above as substitutes.
Recipes where we use Chipotle Powder
Try them with any of our favorite recipes below using Chipotle powder or better yet, Piquant Post Chipotle Spice blend!
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FAQs
Smoked Paprika has all the smoky flavor you crave, making it the best substitute for chipotle. Although it is a much milder spice than dried chipotle or even fresh jalapeños, mix in the desired amount of cayenne pepper to dial up the heat.
What flavors are similar to chipotle? ›
Smoked paprika is a great chipotle powder substitute for those sensitive to spice. This deep red powder is commonly found in most grocery stores and is an easy swap for chipotle powder. Smoked paprika adds a warm smoky flavor and pop of color to dishes without being too spicy.
Can I use cayenne pepper instead of chipotle powder? ›
Cayenne peppers are known for their amazing health benefits. In fact, this is what makes cayenne powder an ideal chipotle powder substitute and a great seasoning for those on a healthy diet. It's very hot – just a sprinkle will take soups, stews, meat or fish dishes to another level.
Is chili powder the same as chipotle? ›
Chipotle and ancho chile powders are dried, ground peppers—not to be confused with chili powder, which is a blend of ground chilies and other spices. Ancho chile powder is made from the sweetest dried chile, and has a moderately spicy but rich flavor.
How to make chipotle from scratch? ›
Instructions
- Lay the peppers in your smoker in one layer, ideally not touching. ...
- Smoke the peppers at least 6 hours, but I prefer all day, like 16 hours. ...
- If you want, you can pull the jalapenos at any time after 6 hours and finish them in a dehydrator set on low heat. ...
- Store them in a bag at room temperature.
Smoked Paprika has all the smoky flavor you crave, making it the best substitute for chipotle. Although it is a much milder spice than dried chipotle or even fresh jalapeños, mix in the desired amount of cayenne pepper to dial up the heat.
What is a competitor to chipotle? ›
Chipotle has expanded rapidly due to the growing demand for Mexican food and the increasing preference for fast-casual dining. Qdoba Mexican Eats, Moe's Southwest Grill, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, and Rubio's Coastal Grill are Chipotle's main competitors.
Is chipotle powder the same as paprika? ›
Chipotle powder has a smokiness to it and um, but it is much hotter than paprika. Smoked paprika and sweet paprika very kind of different have that red powder is to them, but they, it's more added as like that SMO ish kind of flavor has a bit of umami to it, where the Chipotle powder is typically added to be add heat.
What is chipotle seasoning made of? ›
Chipotle seasoning is a blend of smoky and spicy seasonings, usually including chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, and more.
What is a mild substitute for adobo sauce? ›
Ranchero sauce has a zesty, smoky, subtly spicy, and salty flavor but is milder than Adobo sauce's flavor profile. This substitute is best for recipes that don't need the bitter tang or sweetness of the Adobo sauce, such as dips and dressings.
They have a different level of spiciness and depending on that, they are used for specific dishes, for instance, to make our amazing pozole recipe, we used guajillo, which is a long ruby red chilli that is not very spicy, it is used, mainly to give flavour and colour to food, then to make our creamy chipotle enchiladas ...
What type of chili pepper is chipotle? ›
What Are Chipotle Peppers? Chipotle peppers are dried smoked jalapeno peppers. They have an underlying sweetness with bitter and smoky notes. These chiles measure 2,500-10,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), so they deliver medium heat and smoky-sweet flavor.
Can you substitute jalapeños for chipotle peppers? ›
So, you can use fresh jalapeño pepper as a substitute for chipotles in a pinch. This may not always be the right format of ingredient for every recipe. If your recipe requires a dried pepper, you can consider dehydrating your own jalapeños in a dehydrator or the oven.
What is the main ingredient in Chipotle? ›
A chipotle (/tʃɪˈpoʊtleɪ/, /tʃɪˈpɒtleɪ/, chi-POHT-lay, chi-POT-lay; Spanish: [tʃiˈpotle]), or chilpotle, is a smoke-dried ripe jalapeño chili pepper used for seasoning. It is a chili used primarily in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Tex-Mex and Southwestern United States dishes.
How to turn jalapeños into Chipotle? ›
Chipotle peppers are simply red jalapeño peppers that have been smoked and dehydrated. When these are ground up into flakes or powder, you get chipotle powder. So, whether you have a purpose-built smoker, or just a charcoal or gas grill, you can effectively smoke your jalapeños at home.
What are the 7 steps of Chipotle? ›
The Food Safety Seven are Chipotle's “Top 7 Food Safety Things To Remember.” These include: work healthy, work clean, keep produce safe, cook food to correct temperatures, hold hot and cold foods at specified temperatures, maintain sanitary conditions, and call for help when needed.
What kind of flavor is chipotle? ›
Chipotles are spicy and have a distinctive smoky flavor. The flesh is thick, so the chilis are usually used in a slow-cooked dish rather than raw. They can also be lightly toasted on a dry comal or skillet until they are fragrant and slightly swell. When overcooked, they can be very bitter.
What makes chipotle taste like chipotle? ›
Our namesake ingredient, the chipotle chili pepper is a dried and smoked jalapeño produced using the age-old craft of smoking them over pecan wood for several days. These intensely smoky, spicy peppers are the foundation for much of the food we serve - from our chicken, steak, and Barbacoa to our beans and vinaigrette.
Is chipotle similar to paprika? ›
Chipotle powder has a smokiness to it and um, but it is much hotter than paprika. Smoked paprika and sweet paprika very kind of different have that red powder is to them, but they, it's more added as like that SMO ish kind of flavor has a bit of umami to it, where the Chipotle powder is typically added to be add heat.
Is California tortilla like chipotle? ›
The chain's menu is comparable to that of its competitors, such as Baja Fresh and Chipotle Mexican Grill.
