Chili Powder VS Chili Seasoning - Olde Town Spice Shoppe (2024)

FAQs

Is chili seasoning and chili powder the same? ›

Is chili powder the same thing as chili seasoning? No. Chili powder is made with ground chilis and sometimes the addition of paprika, cumin and Mexican Oregano. Chili seasoning is a combination of 8 spices used to make chili or other recipes that call for chili seasoning.

Chili powder is a crucial ingredient in many dishes, but if you're banking on making a special dish like Dad's Favorite Chili, and realize you're out of chili powder, here are some alternatives you can use without compromising too much flavor: Paprika. Ancho chile powder. Cayenne powder.

Best for Classic Chilis: Gebhardt Chili Powder

If that sounds like you, get your hands on Gebhardt Chili Powder. Gebhardt's blend of paprika, cayenne and garlic paired so well with the beef in our go-to chili recipes.

Technically, there are as many (or more) types of chile powders as there are chile peppers because chile powder, in its simplest form, is dried chiles, which have been ground down into a fine powder. The variations can expand further by sun-drying, smoking, charring, and blending.

Coriander and Cumin Blend: A blend of ground coriander and cumin can offer a flavorful alternative to chili powder. Start with equal parts coriander and cumin and adjust to taste. Use this blend in dishes such as curries, soups, and rice pilafs for a fragrant and aromatic flavor profile.

The Takeaway

Chile powder is ground chile peppers without any additives. Chili powder is a blend of ground peppers, spices, or salt that is traditionally used to flavor chili. The recipe will tell you the kind of chile powder to use, like ancho chile powder or chipotle chile powder.

It is versatile enough to use on a wide variety of dishes beyond your famous chili. Try using on nachos, enchiladas, bean dip, chicken wings, and hamburgers.

In summary, while both chili powder and dark chili powder are made from ground chili peppers, dark chili powder is made specifically from ancho chilies and has a sweeter, smokier flavor and a deeper color than regular chili powder.

Spices: Freshly ground cumin is a must. If it's not fresh, then don't bother. Secret Ingredients & Technique: I like extra hot chili, so I round up all spicy ingredients. I cool it down by piling on lots of fresh fixins' including scallions, cilantro, and sour cream.

Look for ingredients like ground dried chiles, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano. The label can also be an indicator of a mild, super-spicy (if it contains cayenne), or smoky-flavored (if it contains smoked paprika) chili powder.

Does all chili powder taste the same? ›

While chili powder has chili in it, it can vary vastly when it comes to spice level. The variety of chile in the different blends impacts the heat level, making some mild and others very hot. Our blends fall on the mild to medium scale, as the spice level is more for flavor rather than heat.

What is the difference between paprika vs. chili powder? The main difference between paprika and chili powder is paprika is a singular chile while chili powder is often a combination of chiles as well as other ingredients such as cumin and garlic powder.

This chili seasoning recipe features flour, chili powder, red pepper, onion, garlic, and cumin. The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen.

If you're sitting at home staring at your packet of taco seasoning and wondering if it can be used for the chili recipe you're preparing tonight, then save yourself a trip to the grocery store. That taco seasoning will work out just fine. Vice versa is true as well. Go ahead and use chili seasoning on your taco beef.

Similar to chili powder, taco seasoning contains many different spices and can vary widely from brand to brand. If your recipe calls for chili powder, taco seasoning might be a sufficient stand-in for some Mexican-American dishes like ground beef for burritos or nachos.

The biggest difference is that red chili powder is made from ground chilies that have been dried with the seeds still in. Regular chili powder is simply ground chilies with no seeds, just like paprika. Red chili powder also tends to be hotter, although this is certainly not always the case.