You may have come across “chili sauce” as an ingredient for your next great recipe find. But this term is just about as generic as can be in the world of spicy food. What is chili sauce, exactly? And what would be a good chili sauce substitute if you don’t have what’s called for in the pantry? Let’s review your top chili sauce alternatives, as well as one commonly used, but not recommended.

Chili peppers offer a range of potential health benefits due to their nutritional content and the presence of capsaicin, the compound responsible for their heat. Some of the potential benefits of chili peppers include:

Got dried paprika peppers and ready to grind them up? Let’s spice things up in the kitchen! Here’s a fun and easy way to grind your paprika:

The heat level in hot sauce usually exceeds that of chili sauce. Hot sauce is meant to add a spicy kick to dishes, whereas chili sauce aims for a balance between heat and other flavors.

Joint problems - more specifically bone and joint problems - are thought to be associated with chronic inflammatory responses. Some studies suggest that a daily supplement of 500 milligrams to 2 grams of curcumin can optimize knee pain.

Paprika Products: Enhancing Culinary Creations

The flavor and heat level of paprika can vary depending on the type of pepper used. Sweet paprika is made from sweet red peppers, such as bell peppers, and has a mild, sweet flavor with little to no heat. On the other hand, hot paprika is made from hotter varieties of red peppers, such as cayenne or chili peppers, and has a spicier, more intense flavor.

Why We Love It: If you love a hot sauce with considerable heat but don’t want to sacrifice flavor, this one’s for you. With a blend of habanero and ghost peppers along with tomato paste, garlic, and a few of our favorite seasonings, this hot sauce packs enough heat to hold its own in chilis, soups, gumbos, and more. 

In recent years, the demand for paprika in China has been steadily increasing, as consumers become more adventurous with their cooking and seek out new flavors. This has led to a rise in the production of paprika in China, as farmers and producers work to meet the growing demand.

CHIPOTLE POWDER

Why We Love It: If you’re a habanero devotee, this hot sauce surely won’t disappoint. We’ve combined one of our favorite hot peppers with ingredients like carrots, onion, and honey, for a bold yet balanced flavor. The ingredients play off one another for a versatile hot sauce that you can use on anything from tacos and beans to chicken and spaghetti—seriously!