Chile pepper recipes for those who like it hot, featuring fresh chile peppers such as jalapeno, serrano, Thai, shishito, and habanero peppers in everything from tacos to salads, eggs to soup. You’re certain to exactly the level of heat you want. Or, as some would say, need. Forget the difference among all the peppers? Check out our fresh chile pepper primer.

A cast-iron skillet filled with chilaquiles on a wooden cutting board with a block of queso fresco and half a jalapeno beside it.
Christopher Hirsheimer
1 of 14

Chilaquiles

These chilaquiles are a quick, authentic, and very satisfying Mexican breakfast, made with day-old tortillas, eggs, and cheese.
Recipe
White oval dish with four chicken drumsticks, chopped green tomatillos, cilantro, onion, sliced chiles.
Erin Kunkel
2 of 14

Braised Chicken with Tomatillos

This braised chicken with tomatillos has a slightly tart green sauce made from tomatillos, onions, peppers, garlic, lime, and cilantro that’s perfect with chicken cooked until falling apart tender, whether on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.
Recipe
A white plate of larb--salad greens, ground beef, onions, and cashews.
Ellen Silverman
3 of 14

Thai Beef Salad ~ Larb

This Thai beef salad is one of my favorite meals–at home and when eating out. Spices, tangy lime juice, pungent fish sauce, tender beef, and loads of veggies make this a well-rounded dish.
Recipe
A person squeezing lime juice over an open pulled pork taco.
Nik Sharma
4 of 14

Pulled Pork Tacos

These pulled pork tacos with apple-serrano slaw are made with shredded pork cooked with a blend of Indian spices. Taco Tuesday just got a whole heck of a lot more interesting.
Recipe
Sautéed Shishito Peppers
Christopher Hirsheimer
5 of 14

How To Cook Shishito Peppers

Knowing how to cook shishito peppers results in perfectly blistered peppers with a mildly tingly, almost sweet heat. Japanese shishitos are quite distinct and relatively sweet. Set them out at a backyard barbecue or cocktail party with cold beers or margaritas and watch them disappear.
Recipe
A bowl filled with Sichuan tofu noodles and a pair of chopsticks resting beside
Nassima Rothacker
6 of 14

Mapo Tofu Ramen

This mapo tofu ramen is made with ramen noodles that are smothered in a mouth-tingling sauce of tofu, ground pork, plenty of chiles, preserved black beans, and bean sauce. An easy and comforting mash-up of Chinese mapo tofu and Japanese ramen.
Recipe
A person scooping a spoonful of green chile macaroni and cheese from a bowl.
Aubrie Pick
7 of 14

Green Chile Macaroni and Cheese

For this green chile macaroni and cheese, Lisa Fain mixes Anaheim peppers, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, onions, cream, spices, snd a topping of finely crushed tortilla chips.
Recipe
A white plate topped with roasted cauliflower with jalapeño and capers.
Johnny Miller
8 of 14

Roasted Cauliflower with Jalapeño and Capers

Roasted cauliflower has been the darling of the veggie world for a while. But this version goes beyond with jalapeno peppers, capers, lemon zest, and parsley. Think of it as roasted cauliflower 2.0.
Recipe
A bowl of authentic Vietnamese pho with rice noodles, beef, lemon, basil, and scallions in it and a pair of chopsticks resting on top of the bowl.
David Leite
9 of 14

Authentic Vietnamese Pho

Vietnamese pho is a soup made with a beef broth rich with ginger, onions, star anise, fish sauce, and onions. Into that go rice noodles, beef, scallions, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs.
Recipe
A person mashing avocado into a bowl of easy guacamole on a table with salt, avocado, cilantro, lime, and chiles.
Hélène Dujardin
10 of 14

Easy Guacamole

This easy guacamole is simple as heck and embraces a minimalistic philosophy with its authentic Tex-Mex approach that keeps ingredients to the essentials. Quick. Healthy. And the real deal.
Recipe
A wooden bowl filled with tom yum goong soup with mushrooms, lemongrass, shrimp, and cilantro in a broth.
Battman Studios
11 of 14

Tom Yum Goong Soup

Tom yum goong translates to an easy and authentic Thai spicy shrimp soup made with lemongrass, galangal, mushrooms, and fish sauce. Yum!
Recipe
A sliced steak chimichurri with a gravy boat filled with chimichurri on the side.
tbralnina
12 of 14

Steak Chimichurri

Steak chimichurri is a classic Argentinian dish that marries tender grilled beef with a punchy herb and vinegar sauce. Here, rib eye steak is marinated in the chimichurri, grilled to perfection, and served with more chimichurri on top.
Recipe
Four bottles of pepper sherry.
Steve Baxter
13 of 14

Pepper Sherry

This pepper sherry is a popular Caribbean condiment made, with hardly any effort, from hot chile peppers and sherry or rum. Drizzle or splash it over eggs, rice, beans, stew, tacos, and more for unexpected intrigue.
Recipe
A bowl of pico de gallo with a spoon resting inside set on a piece of parchment in a rimmed baking tray.
Todd Coleman
14 of 14

Pico de Gallo

This pico de gallo recipe, made from tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime, and chile, is a form of fresh salsa. A Mexican and Tex-Mex staple.
Recipe



About David Leite

David Leite has received three James Beard Awards for his writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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