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Our homemade chili powder recipe uses dried chili peppers and the perfect spice blend to make an intensely flavorful seasoning that’s better than store-bought.
After finding so many of the store-bought options flavorless, we decided to learn how to make chili powder, and I am so happy that we did.
I use this homemade chili powder for many recipes on Inspired Taste, including our homemade beef chili, vegetarian chili, this easy enchilada sauce, and my favorite fajitas. I also use it as a base for this homemade taco seasoning.
Key Ingredients
Chiles: For the best blend, start with dried chiles. You can buy them at larger supermarkets, Mexican markets, or online (they are inexpensive and last a while in your pantry). I use three types of peppers in my blend:
- Ancho chile peppers, which are mildly spiced but taste rich, sweet, and fruity.
- Guajillo peppers, which are more smoky and moderately hot.
- New Mexico chile peppers, which smell sweet, clean, and pack a little heat.
Spices: To round the flavor of our homemade blend, we stir in ground cumin, oregano, and garlic powder. Then, to add a bit more smokiness and color, I love adding smoked paprika.
Find the full recipe with measurements below.
How to Make the Best Chili Powder
Tip 1: Preparing dried chiles. It’s easy! There are three simple steps:
- Cut the stem and remove the seeds. The seeds can be bitter, so get rid of them. Use a pair of kitchen scissors to cut the stem away and then shake or scrape the seeds from the inside of each pepper. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves to prevent the oils from getting on your hands. Also, be careful not to touch your eyes while working with peppers (ouch!)
- Cut each cleaned pepper into small pieces, then add them to a dry skillet over medium heat and toast until fragrant. This is my favorite part, the kitchen smells incredible!
- Finally, grind them. Add the toasted chile peppers to your blender and blend until finely ground. Wait to open the lid, though. Let the dust settle for about a minute after blending. You don’t want a cloud of ground chiles in your face.
Tip 2: Add spices. Now, it’s time to add spices to make the chili powder taste even more amazing. We add garlic powder, ground cumin, oregano, and smoked paprika. Add everything to a spice jar, shake it up, and store it in a dark pantry for up to six months.
More Recipes with Dried Chiles
Seriously Good Chili Powder
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I’m obsessed with this homemade chili powder made by blending whole dried chiles. You can find dried chile peppers in most large supermarkets and any Latin market. We use three varieties: ancho chile peppers (sweet, fruity, and mild), New Mexico chile peppers (fresh, clean, and moderately hot), and Guajillo chile peppers (smoky and medium hot). You can swap or add other peppers based on what is available. We recommend including something sweet and fruity. They add complexity and flavor (in our case, the ancho pepper).
Makes 2/3 cup
You Will Need
3 dried ancho chiles
3 dried Guajillo chiles
3 dried New Mexico chiles
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Directions
1Use kitchen scissors to cut the stem away and then shake or scrape the seeds inside each pepper. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves to prevent the oils from getting on your hands. Also, be careful not to touch your eyes during or after working with peppers.
2Cut each cleaned pepper into small pieces, then add them to a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast them, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
3Add the toasted chiles to a blender and blend until finely ground. Leave the lid in place until dust settles so you do not get a cloud of ground chile peppers in your face.
4Add ground chile peppers to a spice jar, then top with cumin, garlic powder, oregano, and smoked paprika. Seal the jar and shake.
5Store the chili powder in a cool, dry place for 6 months.
Adam and Joanne’s Tips
- Spicy chili powder: Use hot smoked paprika or add 1/2 teaspoon or more cayenne pepper or chipotle powder
- This recipe was inspired by Alton Brown.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size
1 tablespoon
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Calories
26
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Protein
1g
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Carbohydrate
6g
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Dietary Fiber
1g
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Total Sugars
2g
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Total Fat
0g
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Saturated Fat
0g
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Cholesterol
0mg
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