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Spices & seasonings · Spice blends

Chili powder (blend)

American chili powder: a mild blend of ground chillies with cumin, oregano and garlic for chili con carne.

Also called: american chili powder, chili seasoning

A kind of spices

4 recipes with it

Read the full spice guide: flavour, history and how to use it

Make it yourself: Tex-Mex chili powder

What it is

American-style chili powder is a seasoning blend, not pure chilli: ground mild red chillies (often ancho) mixed with cumin, oregano, garlic and sometimes salt. It is much milder and earthier than Indian red chilli powder or cayenne, so recipes from different traditions using chili powder mean very different things.

How it’s used

  • Chili con carne
  • Tex-Mex tacos and fajitas
  • Rubs for barbecue
  • Seasoning beans and soups

Characteristics

Taste
Mild heat, earthy, cumin-led.
Sold as
ground
Cooking uses
Mainly a seasoning

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Airtight jar away from light; best within a few months.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions. May contain Celery, Mustard — check the label.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Blends may contain celery or mustard; check the label.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
282 kcal
Protein
13.46 g
Carbohydrate
49.7 g
Fat
14.28 g
Fibre
34.8 g
Sugars
7.19 g

USDA FoodData Central: Spices, chili powder.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Paprika, cumin and cayenne — Mix 2 parts paprika, 1 part ground cumin, a pinch each of cayenne, oregano and garlic powder.

Related ingredients

Recipes with chili powder (blend)

More spice blends