10 Dried Chile Pepper Recipes

Wondering how to use those dried chile peppers languishing in your pantry? Or perhaps you know how but just need a little inspiration? These recipes will have you reaching for them again and again. And if you need a refresher course on the difference among them, check out our cheat sheet of dried chile peppers.

Four lamb shanks with coffee and ancho chile on a rectangular white plate on a white and grey marble surface.
This lamb shanks with coffee and ancho chile recipe uses smoky coffee and slightly sweet and peppery ancho chiles instead of broth or tomato sauce.
Recipe
An open Mason jar of adobo sauce with a spoon resting on the lid beside it.
Adobo sauce is best known for being the sweetly earthy sauce that bathes canned chipotle peppers. It’s an authentic and ridiculously versatile Mexican staple that’s easy to DIY. Here’s how to make it at home.
Recipe
Two wrapped tamales on top of an open corn husk.
These red chile pork tamales are the real authentic Mexican deal. And they taste as though they were lovingly crafted by the loveliest abuela imaginable, crafted to be slightly spicy with pulled pork. Here’s how to make them at home, step by step.
Recipe
Three blue bowls filled with ancho chile soup on a wooden table.
This ancho chile soup recipe is made with a chile-spiked broth, queso fresco, avocado, sour cream, and fried tortilla strips.
Recipe
A basting brush with chipotle maple barbecue sauce
This chipotle maple barbecue sauce is made by slowly simmering crushed tomatoes, maple syrup, brown sugar, chipotle peppers, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic cloves, and dry mustard. It’s perfect on ribs, chicken, and pork.
Recipe
Four ancho pork and potato tacos topped with cubed pork and potatoes, sliced radish, sour cream, and cilantro.
These ancho pork and potato tacos are a cheater’s way to have tacos on the table in just 45 minutes by relying on spice-rubbed pork chops and tender potatoes wrapped in corn tortillas.
Recipe
A white bowl filled with New Mexican red pork chili, garnished with red onion and cilantro.
This New Mexican red pork chili is made in the slow cooker using cubed pork butt, chili powder, broth, chipotle chiles, coffee, raisins, and cilantro. It’s easy, set-it-and-forget-it comfort food.
Recipe
A glass dish filled with chipotle mayonnaise with a typed label below.
Chipotle mayonnaise will add a little smoky spice to your favorite everyday condiment. Honestly, you'll be smearing this ultra delicious and smoothly satisfying gorgeousness on everything.
Recipe
A large silver spoon holding a scoop of homemade chili powder with some spilled on the side.
With this homemade chili powder in your pantry, you’ll never need (or want!) the store-bought stuff again.
Recipe

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