What Is Chili Powder?

Chili is a classic American dish that is made in a wide variety of ways. There’s the classic bowlful topped with shredded cheese and onions and bell peppers. There’s that weird, watery Skyline chili that the people of Cincinnati pour over spaghetti noodles. And there’s Texas red, that amazing chili that absolutely never includes beans and should always be thought of as the one true representation of chili. No matter what kind of chili you want, there’s one nonnegotiable ingredient: chili powder. But what is chili powder? What spices are in chili powder? Is chili powder spicy? Chill out and let’s learn about chili powder!

What is chili powder? 

It really depends on where you’re shopping. In the UK and other areas where a big bowl of chili may not be a common meal, the term chili powder is used to describe a seasoning made out of one or a combination of chile peppers. In areas where it’s more common to eat a big bowl of chili (aka chili con carne), chili powder is a spice blend used to make that dish. Of course, there’s some crushed chili peppers in there, along with a mix of other spices.

What’s in chili powder?

So, what spices are in chili powder? Well, that depends on region and recipe. Usually chili powder includes some sort of powder from a spicy chili like cayenne. Paprika is often used as well. Paprika itself is a powder made from chili peppers. Chili powder also usually includes some oregano, cumin, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. In some areas you’ll find ancho chili powder or pasilla chili powder in chili powder as well. 

Is chili powder spicy?

With all those powdered peppers, chili powder must be spicy as heck, right? Not necessarily. You can find chili powder sold in mild and hot varieties. The difference between these is the amount of cayenne included. Some of those hot chili powder mixes really go hard on the cayenne and make eye-wateringly spicy chili. You can buy premade chili powder and look at the label to find the spice level, or just simply make your own to your own taste. I like to make mine with a kick of cayenne and some ancho chili powder. 

What is ancho chili powder? 

Ancho chili powder is straight up dried and pulverized ancho chilis. You know those big green poblano peppers? Once those ripen they can be dried out and become ancho peppers. It’s the circle of life! Which, coincidentally, is my favorite song to sing while I eat my chili.


About the Author

Will Morgan

Will Morgan, a freelance contributor to Sporked, is an L.A. based writer, actor, and sketch comedy guy. Originally from Houston, TX, he strongly believes in the superiority of breakfast tacos to breakfast burritos. Will traveled the world as one of those people that did yoyo shows at elementary school assemblies, always making a point to find local and regional foods to explore in whatever place he was, even in rinky-dink towns like Tilsonberg, ON. Will spends his birthdays at Benihana’s. Let him know if can make it.

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