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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Each month, our chefs send you a selection of 4 handcraftedspice blends and curated recipes to use the spices from a specific region or country. Recipeshave shopping lists and step-by-step cooking instructions using our spice blends.Each month is liketaking a culinary tourofa new place!
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FAQs
Top Substitute for Chipotle Powder: Smoked Paprika
What flavors are similar to chipotle? ›
Chipotle Powder Substitutes: Ground Spices
- Smoked Paprika. Smoked paprika is made of dried chili peppers that are smoked over an oak fire and then ground into a fine powder. ...
- Chili Powder. ...
- Cayenne Pepper. ...
- Ancho-Chile Powder. ...
- Gochugaru. ...
- Peri Peri. ...
- Pasilla Powder. ...
- Aleppo Pepper.
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 ancho chili powder the same as chipotle? ›
Ancho chile powder is made from the sweetest dried chile, and has a moderately spicy but rich flavor. Chipotles are dried, smoked jalapeño chiles, and chipotle chile powder has a smoky, sweet, spicy 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 like chipotle but better? ›
Qdoba Mexican Eats, Moe's Southwest Grill, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, and Rubio's Coastal Grill are Chipotle's main competitors. Although it is fast-food-oriented rather than fast-casual, Taco Bell has also started to compete with Chipotle by improving the quality of its food.
What seasonings are in chipotle powder? ›
Chipotle powder is a mildly spicy chili powder made from chipotle peppers, which are smoked and dried jalapeno peppers. It is perfect for adding smokiness and flavor to many dishes.
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 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.
Chipotle chiles have a high heat level, so they make a good substitute for guajillo chiles. Chipotle chiles also come in powder forms, which makes them a good option for a guajillo chili powder substitute.
What's the difference between chipotle chili powder and regular chili powder? ›
Both are made from smoked chilies. Ancho chili powder is made with poblano peppers and has a lot in common with chipotle powder. Both consist of dried, ground peppers. Chili powder, on the other hand, contains a blend of ground red chiles with various spices, like cumin and oregano.
Is guajillo the same as ancho? ›
While it's true that ancho peppers can make a good substitute for guajillo chiles in a pinch, you'll find that they do have slightly different flavor profiles. Both can have earthy, sweet hints, but the guajillo will be much lighter and have more hints of plum or other fruits than the ancho pepper.
What gives Chipotle its flavor? ›
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 a Chipotle pepper just a dried jalapeño? ›
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.
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.
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.
What makes chipotle different from its competitors? ›
Chipotle's motto of “food with integrity” was inspired by what founder Steve Ells learned about American food production. Ells became committed to serving food that was ethically and naturally produced, which Chipotle claims results in meat that is tastier than what other restaurants serve.
