If you’re already a fan of spicy foods, then I don’t need to convince you these hot recipes. If you can’t handle spicy foods, then you have to eat spicy foods regularly to increase your spice tolerance. Basically, spice lovers and haters alike need to try these recipes. So read up on the dos and don’ts of eating spicy food and then get cooking.
1. Honey-Sriracha Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Photo by Maggie Gorman
If you don’t like brussels sprouts, I guarantee you just haven’t had them cooked properly. Well that ends now. Marinating the brussels sprouts in honey helps counterbalance their bitter flavor, while the spicy kick from the Sriracha gives them a multidimensional flavor. Even if you love to hate brussels sprouts, you’ll devour these babies in no time.
2. Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Pepper Poppers
Photo by Alexa Gambero
Raw jalapeños are enough to get your mouth burning, but this recipe adds an extra layer of spice with cayenne pepper. Don’t worry. The cheddar and cream cheese filling will help cool your mouth back down. Oh, and then it’s all wrapped in bacon. What more could you want?
3. Spicy Oven-Crisped Chickpeas
Photo by Mulin Xiong
If you’re looking for an alternative to processed potato chips, these oven-crisped chickpeas are the healthy go to snack. They’re salty, crunchy, and of course, nice and spicy. Add as much or as little pepper and chili powder as you want to adjust the spice level. Or use completely different spices to give them whatever flavor you want.
4. Southwest Burgers
Photo by Bonnie Wu
End your summer with a bang by making these super flavorful burgers. Fresh peppers and cumin give the patty itself a good kick. But it doesn’t stop there. Top it off with some hot sauce for even more spicy goodness. Thankfully, the lettuce, mayo, and cheese will keep you from sweating bullets.
5. Spicy Chickpea Burgers
Photo by Charlotte Cohen
We can’t forget about all of the vegetarians out there. We’ve got a spicy chickpea recipe for you that even meat eaters are guaranteed to love. Not only is there Sriracha in the patty itself, but the burger is also topped with Sriracha mayo. They also get added flavor from onion, fresh cilantro, cumin, garlic powder, and peanut butter.
6. Sweet and Spicy Chickpea Curry
Photo by Kevin B. Kiefer
I know this is the third chickpea recipe on this list, but they’re the perfect plain base to pick up all kinds of spicy flavors. In this curry, they soak up tons of spicy from black pepper, Sriracha, and (obviously) curry powder. Balance out the spiciness with a little stevia, and you’ve got yourself a simple, healthy, and delicious dinner.
7. Sweet and Spicy Acorn Squash
Photo by Kendra Vaculin
As fall approaches so does squash season. These sweet vegetables serve as the perfect base for all sorts of spicy flavors. Roasting some acorn squash in the oven with some red pepper flakes makes for a quick and easy dinner side that packs quite a punch.
8. Spicy Pumpkin Soup
Photo by Kendra Valkema
You can also enjoy your spicy squash in the form of soup. Although creamy and comforting, pumpkin soups can be kind of one note in the flavor department. Not so with this recipe. It calls for basically every spice that starts with a c: crushed red pepper, coriander, cumin, and cayenne. A hot pumpkin soup with all of those spices will be sure to warm you up in no time.
9. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Photo by Max Faucher
Buffalo chicken is one of America’s most iconic spicy dishes. Using this Buffalo chicken meatball recipe, you can make everyone’s favorite game day food in under thirty minutes. You can make them for a party or just to enjoy for dinner. Either way, be sure to bring the blue cheese because your mouth will be burning after you take a bite of one of these meatballs.
10. Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Photo by Colleen Daly
Alternatively, you could enjoy your buffalo chicken in sandwich form. With all of the cheese already melted on top, you save the extra effort of having to dip your buffalo chicken. Even better, this recipe offers easy gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options as well, so everyone can enjoy this delectably spicy sandwich.
11. Spicy Mac ‘N Cheese
Photo by Beth LeValley
I love plain old mac ‘n cheese as much as the next person, but sometimes you need more. Sometimes you need spice. So what do you do? You add mustard, hot sauce, and a good heaping of black pepper. All that spice adds some dimension to the rich, creamy cheese. You’ll never go back to plain mac ‘n cheese again.
12. Spicy Lemon Seafood Pasta
Photo by Shalayne Paulia
If you want a spicy pasta that’s a little lighter, check out this lemon and seafood sauce. The tomato based sauce gets all of its spice from red and black pepper. But don’t let the lightness and simplicity of the sauce fool you. It’s got some real heat that will definitely light your mouth on fire.
13. Sriracha and Egg Breakfast Burrito
Photo by Briana Jones
No oven? No stove? No problem. You only need a mug and a microwave to cook eggs. Microwaved eggs might not sound like the most appealing breakfast option, but they’re sure to be delicious covered in melty cheese, drizzled with spicy Sriracha and salsa, and wrapped in a tortilla.
14. Cheesy Jalapeño Bread
Photo by Abby Wang
Another handy tool that lets you skip the oven is your rice maker. You can even make homemade bread in it. It might not be quite as good as fresh bread from a bakery, but with all the flavor from the cheddar cheese and jalapeños, you won’t even notice the difference.
15. Waffle Iron Quesadilla
Photo by Maddie Cole
Using a waffle iron to cook your quesadilla guarantees a crispy exterior, but the most exciting part of this dish lies within the tortilla. Pepper jack cheese, two types of fresh peppers, cumin, and paprika add layer upon layer of spicy goodness. Garnish it with hot sauce for an extra kick and then some sour cream to help cool your mouth down.