Try These Great Substitutes For Cayenne Pepper posted by Taylor Munsell Pin Share Tweet Email SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. If you’re looking for a substitute for cayenne pepper, you’ve come to the right place! From jalapeno peppers to black pepper, we’ve got you covered. So don’t let the lack of cayenne pepper stop you from making your favorite dish — try one of these substitutes instead! This list contains cayenne pepper substitutes that won’t compromise your recipe. Table of ContentsSubstitutes for Cayenne PepperJalapeno Powder PaprikaRed Chili FlakesChili PowderGochugaruHot SauceOther Chili Pepper OptionsChipotle Powder Spice Mixture Thai Peppers Cayenne Pepper FAQ Substitutes for Cayenne Pepper Cayenne is a common ingredient in many recipes. It is a spicy seasoning made of ground and dried cayenne peppers. It has a heat range of 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat units on the Scoville Scale. Cayenne pepper can be substituted with another ingredient for many reasons. Maybe cayenne pepper is too hot? Maybe you ran out of cayenne pepper and don’t have any? No matter the reason, these substitutes can help you in your time of crisis. Jalapeno Powder Jalapeno pepper is a good substitute for cayenne pepper. If you have a garden or pots of plants, you might be able to grow your jalapeno peppers and make your jalapeno powder. Although this can be tedious and may not yield immediate results, you will be rewarded with fresh jalapeno peppers as well as the satisfaction of knowing you grew them yourself. Once your peppers are dried and ground, you can keep them for a long period without having to go to the supermarket to buy them. You can simply cut your jalapeno peppers into thin slices, remove the seeds, and then place them in the oven for 12-16 hours to become brittle. Then, you can put your jalapeno peppers in a blender or grinder until they reach the desired consistency. Paprika Paprika is a popular option, and it can be found in most grocery stores. It is also a chili paste made from ground chili peppers (the paprika pepper). Although you will get the same flavor profile, paprika is noticeably milder than cayenne pepper. Double the amount of cayenne pepper in the recipe if you use it. Substitution: Double the amount of paprika to make cayenne. Red Chili Flakes Red chili flakes can also be found in most grocery shops. It is also available at pizza shops to add some flavor to your pizza slices. They are made from dried chili peppers. They have not been ground so there will be a texture difference. This won’t be an issue in most cooked recipes. You may need to use more chili flakes than cayenne. Substitution: Use the same amount as red chili flakes to make cayenne. Chili Powder Chili powder can be substituted for cayenne because it is made from a variety of dried chili peppers. They are usually made from darker red peppers, which are sometimes smoked. Before you use it, make sure to taste it. This may affect the flavor of your recipe. Before you use it, give it a quick smell and a small taste test. Substitution: The amount of chili powder and cayenne should be equal. Gochugaru Gochugaru is a mixture of red pepper flakes and coarse ground. It is used in Korean cooking. It is made from sun-dried chili peppers and may have a slightly smoky taste that can alter the final flavor of your recipes. It is still vibrant and flavorful and can be used as a substitute for cayenne. Substituion: Use equal amounts of gochugaru and cayenne. Hot Sauce Hot sauce can be substituted for cayenne by adding a few drops of it. A Louisiana Style Hot Sauce is the best. Substitution: Use half-to-equal amounts of hot sauce to cayenne. Other Chili Pepper Options Many other chili peppers have similar heat and flavor to the cayenne pepper. The serrano peppers are among the most popular, with a similar level of heat. Red Serrano peppers are a great substitute if you can grow them. Red or orange aji peppers can be substituted depending on their heat levels. This option is only possible if the peppers can be cooked into the dish. Substitution: 1 ounce of fresh peppers per 1 tablespoon cayenne powder. Chipotle Powder This ingredient is a great way to recreate the spicy, hot flavor of cayenne pepper. There are many types of chipotle powder and they can all be found in your local grocery stores down the herbs or spices aisles. Chipotle powder and chili peppers are hugely popular in Mexican cuisine. This popularity has made them one of the most popular spices for adding heat to recipes. Spice Mixture A spice mixture is a great way to add heat to your recipe, even if you don’t have cayenne pepper. These spice mixtures may already include cayenne pepper. This will allow you to spice up your recipe. Some will not contain cayenne pepper, but many other spices such as chili powder, paprika, and curry powder will be contained in one jar or packet. Because it has so many profiles, a spice mixture is a great way to create a well-rounded spicy dish. Some spice combinations will work better for certain recipes than others. For example, some spices are designed for Indian cuisines such as dahl or curries, while others are for Mexican cuisines such as tacos and fajitas. Before adding spices to a recipe, make sure you check the ingredients list. Thai Peppers If you feel unsafe, you can always substitute cayenne pepper with Thai peppers. They are not easy to find in international grocery stores so you will have to search around for them. However, if you love spice, it’s worth the effort. Thai peppers have twice the heat of cayenne peppers, with 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units. They are a great choice if you want to make your dinner guests’ eyes widen. If you are afraid of spicy foods and cayenne pepper, it is best to avoid them unless you don’t want to set your stomach on fire. Cayenne Pepper FAQ Is cayenne pepper and paprika the same thing? Despite their similarities, cayenne pepper is not the same as paprika. Both are made from dried chilies and powdered. Both are bright red and can be used to spice up dishes.Cayenne powder is made with dried cayenne peppers. Paprika, however, is made from dried red capsicum peppers. This means that cayenne tends to be more spicy than paprika.Paprika is sweeter, while cayenne has a more intense taste.Hot paprika is a mix that usually contains cayenne. Although this is a better substitute, there are many options depending on the blend.You can substitute cayenne for paprika by adding more. This will give it a more spicy kick. Although the flavor match may not be perfect, both add heat and depth to enhance a dish. Is it possible to use cumin as a substitute for cayenne pepper? Although you cannot use cumin to replace cayenne pepper, spice mixes that contain cumin can be used as a substitute. Cumin is a spice that brings warmth and earthiness to a dish rather than heat.Cayenne has an earthy flavor but a higher heat level. Cumin can be substituted for cayenne to lose the fiery power of cayenne. Cumin is also brown, while cayenne is orange, so the dish’s appearance would be altered.Cumin is a common ingredient in many spice mixes. These can be substituted for cumin. Cumin can be substituted for cayenne to lower the heat. You will get a similar earthiness from this spice, but it should be used sparingly.Too much cumin can alter the flavor of the dish. Can red pepper be substituted for cayenne pepper? Red pepper flakes can be substituted for cayenne pepper. However, they don’t have the same heat level. You may need to double the number of red pepper flakes if you are making this substitution.There are some other differences that you should be aware of. Red pepper flakes are made of peppers that have been dried and crushed. This is what gives them their flaky appearance.Cayenne peppers can be dried and ground to make powder. This makes them much finer. This difference will not affect most dishes, but it is worth considering.Red pepper flakes have the advantage of being used regularly so that you are familiar with their spice level. Red pepper won’t alter the flavor of a dish, other than its spiciness. This is great for complex flavor profiles. What’s the difference between chili powder and cayenne pepper? Chili powder is made from a mixture of dried and ground chili peppers. Cayenne pepper is simply ground cayenne pepper. This gives you a different taste and heat level.Chili powder has a wide range of flavors, from mild to spicy. Cayenne pepper is spicy, but only chili powder can be. Chili powder can sometimes be made with smoked chilies to give it a unique taste.When used in delicately balanced dishes, this can cause problems. Although chili powder can be used as a substitute for cayenne pepper in some dishes, it is best to use it slowly and to taste it frequently. You should be sure to check its heat level first.You may need to add more chili powder than you would cayenne pepper for a milder flavor. Be careful not to overpower the dish with other flavors. A Spicy Conclusion Thanks for checking out our list of cayenne pepper substitutes! We hope you found one that will work perfectly in your dish. Keep experimenting until you find the perfect substitute for cayenne pepper. And as always, happy cooking!
