No Cayenne Pepper? Here Are 6 Spicy Substitutes To Give Your Food A Kick

Spicing up a recipe, only to find you’re out of cayenne pepper? Don’t sweat it! With a dash of this and a sprinkle of that from your pantry, you can mimic cayenne’s flavor and fire in no time.

Bright red cayenne pepper heats up cuisines worldwide with its intense burn. But you have tasty options when supplies run dry:

Crushed red pepper flakes add similar punch and work well in dry rubs. Use equal amounts, adding more to taste.

Smoky hot paprika brings its own spin, with less direct heat. Start with a 1:1 substitute.

Chili powder contains cayenne and other dried chilies, plus salt and garlic. Use the same amount, lowering other salt.

A few splashes of Louisiana-style hot sauce gives instant cayenne-like zing. Halve the cayenne amount as a starting point.

Fresh chilies like jalapeño and serrano also substitute. Adjust quantities based on their individual spice levels.

Gochugaru, a Korean red pepper powder, offers fruitier, complex heat.

Getting the exact flavor and fire of cayenne takes some experimenting with substitutes. But these tips will have you nailing that cayenne heat in no time:

• Consider the texture you want – flakes for rubs or powder for sauces.
• Start with less heat – you can always add more kick later!
• Know your fresh chilies – some are fiercely hotter than others.
• Toast dried spices to intensify their flavor.
• Mix and match substitutes to build layered flavor.
• Taste and adjust as you go until the heat level is just right.

If you rely heavily on cayenne for cooking, stock up online through spice sellers like Penzeys and Savory Spice.

With the right substitutes and stocking up online, you can spice up every dish to perfection, with or without cayenne. What’s your favorite way to add cayenne-like heat? Read on for more details on subbing each alternative to nail that cayenne flavor every time!

Why Substitute for Cayenne Pepper?

There are a few reasons why you may need to swap out cayenne pepper in a recipe:

• You don’t have it on hand – Cayenne can be tricky to find in some grocery stores. Substitutes can save a dish when you’re in a pinch.
• You want more/less heat – Substitutes let you dial the spice level up or down. Cayenne can be fiercely hot for some palates.
• Allergies – If you or someone you cook for is allergic to nightshade vegetables like peppers, substitutes let you avoid cayenne.
• Change of flavors – Alternatives like paprika and hot sauce bring their own spin to a dish.

Luckily there are many ingredients you can use in place of cayenne to add a kick of heat and brilliant color.

6 Tasty Substitutes for Cayenne Pepper

1. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Red pepper flakes are one of the easiest stand-ins for cayenne pepper. They bring a similar punchy heat.

Use an equal amount of crushed red pepper flakes in place of cayenne. The flakes have a coarser texture, so adjust amounts to your taste. Their flavor is interchangeable in most recipes.

2. Hot Paprika

Smoky, rich hot paprika mirrors the heat of cayenne pepper with its own distinct flavor.

Swap in an equal amount of hot paprika for cayenne and tweak from there. Hot paprika shines in stews, chilies, soups, roasted vegetables, and more.

3. Chili Powder

As a blend of dried, ground chili peppers, chili powder makes a handy substitute for straight cayenne pepper.

Use a 1:1 ratio, then taste and adjust as needed. Chili powder tends to be saltier due to added garlic and seasonings. You may want to reduce other salt in a recipe.

4. Hot Sauce

For a quick cayenne stand-in, use a few shakes of Louisiana-style hot sauce. Tabasco, Crystal, and Cholula all work well.

Start with about half as much hot sauce as the cayenne pepper called for in a recipe. You can always add more! Vinegar-based sauces will taste different than cayenne.

5. Fresh Chilies

Fresh hot peppers like serrano, jalapeño, or Fresno can substitute for cayenne. Seed and dice them up.

The amount will vary wildly depending on the chilies’ individual heat. Start with less and add more for your desired kick.

6. Gochugaru

This Korean red pepper powder offers fiery heat and a complex, slightly sweet flavor. It shines in kimchi, stews, and dipping sauces.

Use an equal amount in place of cayenne and adjust to preference. Keep in mind gochugaru has a deeper, fruitier taste.

Tips for Getting the Right Flavor and Heat

When substituting for cayenne:

• Consider the dish – Choose options like hot sauce for wet dishes and red pepper flakes for dry rubs.
• Start small – It’s easier to add more heat than tone it down.
• Know your chilies – Serrano and habanero pack more punch than jalapeño. Adjust amounts accordingly.
• Toast spices for deeper flavor.
• Mix and match subs to build flavor complexity.
• Taste as you go and tweak until it hits the perfect heat level and taste for you.

Can’t Live Without Cayenne? Buy it Online!

If you use a lot of cayenne pepper, it pays to buy it in bulk online. Spice purveyors like Savory Spice Shop and Penzeys offer high-quality cayenne powder and flakes.

With so many tasty substitutes on hand plus online sources for the real thing, you can always add a kick of heat and brilliant color to your dishes. Adjust and mix substitutes until you find your perfect cayenne pepper match.

So don’t let the absence of cayenne in your pantry diminish your cooking – with these handy stand-ins, you can still spice up any dish. What’s your go-to substitute for cayenne pepper?