Struggling to find a substitute for chipotle powder? Read on to familiarize yourself with some of the closest alternatives that will provide the same spiciness to your dish.
Chipotle powder is the most loved ingredient for its earthy smokiness and the correct amount of heat. Extracted from the fine grounding of dried jalapeno peppers, it is diversely used in both American and Mexican dishes.
Honestly, your dish can taste bland if you consider skipping chipotle powder in your recipe. But do not panic. We have curated a list of the best alternatives that will replace chipotle powder in a pinch.
Outline
13 Best Substitutes for Chipotle Powder
1. Ancho Powder
Known as Poblano pepper before drying, ancho powder is one of the closest substitutes for chipotle powder. They have a size similar to bell pepper with subtle undertones of raisins, making them taste sweeter than chipotle powder.
If you are looking for a sharp, pungent taste in your dish, this ancho powder might not be your ideal substitute. However, it matches chipotle powder in its rich, fruity taste and dark appearance.
It can be efficiently utilized in marinades, tacos, meat rubs, grilled chicken, and sandwiches. Be cautious while adding it to pasta or salads as it slightly alters their appearance.
How to substitute: Add two teaspoons of ancho powder to replace one teaspoon of chipotle powder in any recipe. However, you can substitute it in a 1:1 ratio if you desire mild heat in your dish.
2. Aleppo Pepper
Popularly available in Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern cuisine, Aleppo pepper has an attractive red color that will not fail to catch your eye. Though it works well in both dry and fresh form, people often use a semi-dried version of Aleppo pepper that is finely ground.
If it is the firefly smokiness of chipotle powder that you have been craving, Aleppo pepper might leave you disappointed. However, it works as a fantastic substitute for mild spicy and tangy dishes.
Aleppo peppers are adaptable with almost all other ingredients in a recipe and nicely complement those flavors in salads, meats, and beans. It also works wonders when added to dips, kebabs, and veggies.
How to substitute: Use double the amount of Aleppo pepper to replace the chipotle powder mentioned in your recipe.
3. Cayenne Powder
If you are concerned about your health but cannot let go of the spicy madness in your dishes, cayenne powder is your ideal alternative. With its fiery heat and earthy flavors, it comes closest in taste to chipotle powder.
Mexican recipes are extremely rich in cayenne powder. You can easily locate it in eggs, fried chicken, seafood, sauces, and dry rubs. Be cautious with the amount added to your recipe as it leaves a burning sensation on the palate.
How to substitute: Half the amount of cayenne powder can best substitute chipotle powder in any recipe.
4. Paprika
Easily available and a widely used ingredient, paprika adds brilliant red color to your dish along with the heat and spice of chipotle powder. Although prepared from pimiento peppers instead of jalapeno peppers, paprika comes closest in replicating the flavors of chipotle powder.
You will often find the taste of paprika in barbecue sauces, egg dishes, and marinades. They can also be efficiently utilized in chicken stew, beef, and pork.
Additionally, if you are someone wishing to lose weight, paprika has a complementary advantage for you. Its anti-obesity benefits enhance fat metabolism by reducing calorie consumption, leading to decreased body weight.
How to substitute: An equal quantity of paprika can be used to replace chipotle powder.
5. Peri-peri seasoning
This seasoning is a mixture of spices with paprika as its key ingredient. Besides, it contains a blend of oregano, dried onion, ginger, garlic, and coriander, which serves as a great substitute for chipotle powder.
A spoonful of peri-peri seasoning is a blast of flavors that will surely leave your palate satisfied. It has the right proportion of spice, heat, and tanginess that will perfectly go with any recipe demanding chipotle powder.
This mixture can be utilized in salads, rolls, sandwiches, and grilled vegetables. Besides, it compliments lemon juice and oil when added to steak, chicken, or pork marinades.
How to substitute: Use a 1:1 ratio to replace peri-peri seasoning for chipotle powder.
6. Crushed Red Peppers
If you are just craving the spiciness of chipotle powder and its smoky taste is not of much concern to you, consider using crushed red pepper. A mixture prepared by grounding several different spices, it serves as a fantastic alternative to chipotle powder.
Crushed red pepper can be easily available in packed bottles in any supermarket. With its fiery taste and tangy undertones, you can enjoy it in stews, curries, pizzas, pasta, soups, and sauces. It has a sufficient amount of vitamin C, which is good for your skin and hair growth.
How to substitute: Add two teaspoons of crushed red peppers to replace one teaspoon of chipotle powder in any recipe.
7. Guajillo Powder
Another fantastic substitute for chipotle powder is guajillo powder, most popularly used in Mexican cuisine. It has a characteristic flavor with a mix of both sweet and spicy undertones.
Guajillo powder works magic when used in fish and chicken dishes. However, it can also be consumed in sauces, soups, marinades, and salsas. Additionally, it has a rich amount of Vitamin B6 and C which makes it a deliciously healthy alternative.
How to substitute: An equal quantity of guajillo powder can be used to replace chipotle powder in any recipe.
8. Pasilla Powder
Often mistaken for ancho powder because of its similar appearance, pasilla powder is another substitute that can replace chipotle powder in a pinch.
Pasilla does not match the heat levels of chipotle powder, but when added with other ingredients, it best compliments the flavors of your dish. You can easily utilize it in tacos, salsa, fish, and soups.
When added to your recipe it provides a dark black color with fruity undertones that will remind you of berries and grapes. Be cautious with the amount of pasilla powder used as its black hue might alter the look of your dish.
How to substitute: Use a 1:1 ratio to replace pasilla powder with chipotle powder.
9. Adobo Seasoning
A mixture of spices with paprika as its main ingredient, adobo seasoning is another alternative that can replace chipotle powder in any recipe. This spice has a mild heat with fruity undertones that provides your dish with lip-smacking flavors.
Its name is derived from Spanish, meaning ‘to marinate,’ as it is efficiently used in marinating chicken and fish. You can even utilize it in soups, veggies, sauces, and beans.
Dried adobo seasoning is preferred over wet one, as it is easy to store and can be used in a wide range of recipes. Also, adobo spice has a rich amount of manganese, iron, and calcium, thus serving as a healthy addition to your meal.
How to substitute: An equal quantity of adobo seasoning can be used to replace chipotle powder in any recipe.
10. Gochugaru Powder
Also known as Korean chili powder, gochugaru works well as a chipotle powder alternative. Though possessing a slightly sweet and fruity flavor to your dish, it comes closest to the intense heat levels of chipotle.
Gochugaru powder is a staple in Korean recipes and the major reason for the bright red color of kimchi. It can also be satisfactorily replaced in chicken, sauces, soups, and fish.
How to substitute: Use double the amount of gochugaru powder to replace the chipotle powder mentioned in your recipe.
11. Chili Powder
One of the most easily available ingredients in almost all kitchen cabinets or nearby supermarkets, chili powder comes next in the list of substitutes for chipotle powder.
Chili powder is a mixture of spices that include garlic powder, dried chilis, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and onion powder. These ingredients provide it with a peculiar taste that resembles chipotle powder in its spiciness and heat levels.
It is specifically used in Latin American recipes like enchiladas and tacos. However using it in other dishes like soups, sauces, and meats is of no harm.
How to substitute: Add one teaspoon of chili powder to replace one teaspoon of chipotle powder in any recipe. However, you can add more according to your taste and preference.
12. Black Pepper
Having a characteristic smokiness and spicy flavors, black pepper can easily replace chipotle powder in any recipe. Where chipotle powder leaves your palate stimulated with its fiery heat, black pepper goes further and even provides warmth to your throat.
It helps in elevating the taste of your dish when added to stews, soups, stir-fries, salads, veggies, sauces, meat, pasta, or fish. Black pepper is also rich in health benefits as it prevents cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases.
How to substitute: Use a 1:1 ratio to replace black pepper with chipotle powder.
13. Hot Sauce
The hot sauce works best to spice up the flavors of any boring recipe. Prepared from the combination of several spices, its heat, and smoky taste make it an ideal substitute for chipotle powder.
Garlic, vinegar, onion, salt, and chili peppers ideally go into the making of a hot sauce. However, experimenting with the quantity and types of ingredients added will only make it better.
How to substitute: An equal quantity of hot sauce can be used to replace chipotle powder in any recipe.
The delicious spiciness of chipotle powder is hard to resist. But with these substitutes, you need not suppress your cravings. Choose your ideal alternative from this list and finish cooking the recipe that you have kept on hold.
