Best Spicy Food We Tried in 2024

Spicy foods aren’t for everyone. But if you wound up on this article, then they’re clearly for you and you only want the best. We tried a bunch of hot sauces, pepper-laden condiments, and fiery frozen foods and snacks in 2024, but two stood out way above the rest. Here are the two best spicy foods we tried. Upgrade your condiment shelf with both of them, ASAP.

Runner Up

Zab’s Original Datil Pepper Hot Sauce

Amazon

We tried a lot of hot sauces in 2024, but Zabs Datil Pepper Hot Sauce stood out above the rest as something special. Datil pepper sauce is a Florida staple—perfect for seafood—but this one is made by Los Angeles-based Zab’s. According to Florida expat managing editor Gwynedd Stuart, this sauce is mustardy (kinda like Carolina BBQ sauce) with a slow burn that keeps you coming back for more. If you’re looking to expand your hot sauce collection, start with this one.

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Winner

J.P. Graziano Hot Giardiniera

Taste Real Chicago

As we found out in our search for the best giardiniera, there’s not a lot of jarred stuff out there (at least, not outside of the greater Chicagoland area). But that doesn’t make this stuff any less delicious. We tried three heat levels of J.P. Graziano Giardiniera and the hot one was the best bar far. It’s seriously hot. Like, really spicy, thanks to the mix of serrano peppers and red peppers, which mingle with green olives, carrots, and tiny cauliflower florets. Obviously this would be great on an Italian beef sandwich, but don’t let your imagination end there. Use this stuff on a burger or a hot dog or stir it in with tuna and mayo for a killer, spicy tuna salad. Even if you can’t handle heat, we think you should try it. The suffering is worth it.

Credit: Liv Averett / Taste Real Chicago

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

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About the Author

Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients. Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now). Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test! Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.