14 Best Substitutes for Jalapeño

You are having a hard time finding a substitute for jalapeno as you cannot find it at the supermarket. Jalapeno is a typical spice in Mexican cuisine. So finding a substitute for it is extremely essential if you want to cook Mexican dishes when there is no jalapeno on hand.

This article is your lifesaver. You will have the opportunity to experience and know different spices to substitute for jalapeno that bring a similar flavor to the dish jalapeno gives. In addition, the substitutes that I introduce in this post are also pretty easy to find.

The information that I am about to provide is extremely valuable, so you should put all your attention in the article so as not to miss any fantastic substitute.

Explore 14 Best Alternative Choices For Jalapeno

It is not difficult to find an alternative to jalapeno, but you need to know about those ingredients to make the most of them. This article will give you 14 best alternatives for jalapenos.

Substitutes for jalapenos with hotness under 10000 Scoville units

1. Bell Peppers
2. Banana peppers
3. Pepperoncini
4. Smoked paprika powder
5. Anaheim peppers
6. Poblano peppers
7. Pickled jalapenos
8. Fresno peppers

Alternatives for jalapenos with hotness over 10000 Scoville units

9. Serrano peppers
10. Red pepper flakes
11. Cayenne pepper powder
12. Fresh cayenne chili
13. Hot sauce
14. Habanero peppers

The table below will give you a quick and convenient view of the substitutes for the jalapeno. I hope it will be helpful for you.

Some Incredible Information About Jalapeno That You Should Know

Before looking into substitutes for jalapeno, I will provide you some helpful information about jalapeno so you can get your first look at this fantastic spice. Keep reading as all amazing things are waiting for you.

Jalapeno or chili jalapeno is one of the popular chili varieties in Mexico. It has a hot spicy taste, thick skin, few seeds, and are easy to separate. Jalapeno is a famous spice in cooking.

Jalapeno peppers have green color when harvested and will turn red when they ripe. When smoked and dried, jalapeno peppers are called Chipotle peppers.

The origin of its name comes from the town’s name in Mexico, where jalapeno was first grown. Jalapeno has a spiciness of about 2,500 to 10,000 SHU ⁽¹⁾. Jalapeno is often used for making salads, pizzaz, and soups, especially pickled.

How To Use Jalapeno In Cooking?

Fresh jalapenos can be chopped, sliced, or diced, depending on the intended use. You can cut the peppers into small cubes to add a bit of spiciness to salsa or salad if you want each bite to be stimulated by the spiciness.

Since they are relatively mild, jalapeno peppers can be eaten whole. It is stuffed with cheese, then breaded and deep-fried. This is a popular appetizer in Mexican restaurants in the United States.

Additionally, minced jalapenos are widely used in bottled salsas, sauces, and bottled sauces. It also can be dried and smoked. The fried ground chili version can be used as a condiment. And you can often find it in canned adobo sauce.

Diversify Your Spicy Ingredients With Wonderful Substitutes Of Jalapeno

It is time for you to discover fantastic alternatives to jalapeno. These alternative ingredients will be graded by their spiciness according to the Scoville scale for your convenience in the application.

Moderately Spicy With Hot Alternatives Under 10,000 Units

In this part, I will give you substitutes for jalapeno that have spiciness from 0 to 10000 units. You can rely on this spiciness scale to choose the right replacement for the jalapeno. I hope you will make a reasonable choice after reading this part.

1. Chooses Bell Peppers If You Do Not Want To Eat Spicily

If you do not want to eat spicy food but still would like to add chili to your dish as a substitute for jalapeno, you can choose the lowest spiciness alternative, bell peppers. Bell peppers have a hotness of 0 units on the Scoville scale.

Because of their very low spiciness, bell peppers can only give a crispy texture to dishes as jalapenos, but not for a similar taste. It is pretty suitable for children.

You can use bell peppers for grilled meats or grilling with other vegetables. In addition, you can roast or stuff bell peppers to create amazing dishes. Using bell peppers in place of jalapenos to add to pizza or sandwich is a fantastic idea.

2. Banana Peppers Will Bring Crunchiness To Your Dish

Like bell peppers, banana peppers are an ingredient you can add to create a crunchy texture to substitute for jalapenos without being too spicy. You should use it if you want to create crunchiness. Banana peppers only have a spiciness of about 0 to 500 units.

Banana peppers when ripe have a beautiful color with red, green, or orange. If you are making salads or salsa but cannot find jalapenos to add to the dishes, you can use banana peppers because its tangy flavor can go well with salads and salsa.

3. Replace Jalapenos By Pepperoncini Peppers In Italian Dishes

Another alternative to jalapenos with a spiciness of about 100 to 600 units on the Scoville scale is pepperoncini. This is an ingredient that you can easily find in markets and supermarkets.

Pepperoncini has a mild taste suitable for those who can not eat spicy food. This is an ingredient used pretty much in America. In addition, when preparing Italian dishes that require jalapenos, you can also use pepperoncini instead because it is really suitable.

You also can use jalapenos to replace pepperoncini peppers in some dishes. However, you need to moderate the level of pepperoncini peppers because jalapenos are spicier than this pepper.

4. Smoked Paprika Powder Will Be An Amazing Replacement For Jalapeno

If you are looking for a spice to replace jalapenos when you run out of jalapenos, you can consider smoked paprika powder as an appropriate choice. It will bring moderate spicy, smoky flavor, and a bit of light sweetness to the dish.

The smoked paprika powder has a mild flavor. The smoked paprika powder comes in different varieties. Some are about 250 units, and others are about 1,000 units. Since it has lower hotness than jalapenos, add paprika powder until you get the flavor you want.

Listen to these amazing directions to make smoked paprika powder effectively for cooking.

5. Anaheim Peppers Will Help You Forget The Nostalgia Jalapeno

Another choice to add to your nachos without the jalapenos is anaheim peppers. Compared to jalapenos, anaheim peppers have a milder taste and are not as hot as the spiciness, about 500 to 5,000 units.

Compared to jalapenos, anaheim peppers are crispier and sweeter. You can also use anaheim peppers to replace poblano peppers. Anaheim peppers will bring the best flavor in making stuff peppers. It is good to add in soups, salad, and roasted jalapeno salsa.

An alternative is to give your dish a crunch and also add a bit of spice to the dish. This is a reasonable choice if you do not want to eat too hot. When cooking, you should add anaheim peppers in a 1:1 ratio with jalapenos to get a high result.

6. Diversify The Flavor Of Your Dishes With Poblano Peppers

Like jalapenos, poblano peppers are also used quite a lot in Mexico. Mexicans also often use poblano peppers as a substitute for jalapenos in case they run out of jalapenos. Compared to jalapenos, poblano peppers have a milder taste and thick skin.

Poblano peppers have a fairly mild heat with about 1,000 to 1,500 units. This would be a good alternative to jalapenos without creating too hot for the dish. If you want to create the heat like jalapenos, you should use a large amount of poblano peppers.

However, to ensure the flavor of the dish, you should add little poblano peppers and taste to check the situation of the dish. You can increase it until the dish gets the taste you want. You can use poblano peppers instead of jalapenos in making fried, grilled, stuffed dishes.

7. Another Fantastic Alternative For Jalapeno – Pickled Jalapenos

If you run out of fresh jalapenos and want to find an alternative to add to your dish, you should choose pickled jalapenos. Pickled jalapenos are made from soaking jalapenos with vinegar, salt, and a few other ingredients.

When using pickled jalapenos, you should be aware of the amount of salt in the dish to use it appropriately. Pickled jalapenos are less spicy than fresh jalapenos with about 2,500 to 5,000 units.

If you want a hot taste like fresh jalapenos, you should add more pickled jalapenos when replacing fresh jalapenos. Using pickled jalapenos to replace jalapenos in salsa, salads, and nachos to create different taste to the dishes.

Learn these fantastic instructions to make delicious pickled jalapenos to replace fresh jalapeno peppers.

8. Choosing Fresno Peppers Is An Incredible Idea

Fresh peppers are what I think are the perfect substitutes for jalapenos because they have a similar heat to jalapenos. Fresno peppers will give you the spicy taste you want when you run out of jalapenos with a scale of about 2,500 to 10,000 units.

Fresno peppers are less crunchy than jalapenos because the wall is not as thick. However, if you want to add spiciness to the dish, you should use Fresno peppers. Green jalapenos are less spicy than Fresno peppers.

Although it is about the same heat as jalapenos, it is a good idea to add a bit of Fresno peppers first and taste the dish to test the spiciness and flavor. Then add and adjust until you get the flavor you want. Therefore, a ratio of 1:1 for replacement is the best idea.

Explode The Spiciness With Jalapenos’ Alternatives With The Heat Over 10,000 Units

If you are looking for other alternatives to jalapenos, you can try the following ingredients that heat over 10,000 units. I hope this list will satisfy you and help you to have more choices than jalapenos.

9. Increase The Heat With Serrano Peppers

Serrano peppers are an alternative that can increase heat to your dishes but still ensure flavor stability. So, serrano peppers will be an excellent choice for you. Serrano peppers are less crunchy than jalapenos since their skin is thinner.

Because of its thin skin, you should not use serrano peppers in making stuffed dishes. It is better when used raw or pickled.
With a heat of about 10,000 to 30,000 units, you should use serrano peppers in a reasonable amount to ensure the flavor of the dish even though serrano peppers have the same taste as jalapenos. Use 1/10th of the serrano peppers for 1 jalapeno pepper.

10. Using Red Pepper Flakes As An Incredible Replacement For Jalapenos

Have you ever used red pepper flakes to substitute for jalapenos in cooking? If not, you should try replacing jalapenos with red pepper flakes. The result will surprise you. Red pepper flakes are suitable for those who want to increase the spiciness of dishes.

The SIU in red pepper flakes is from 30,000 to 35,000 units, you should not add too many red pepper flakes at once if you do not want to throw away your dish because of its high spiciness.

Let’s start with a teaspoon of red pepper flakes and increase if needed. Or use ½ parts of red pepper flakes to replace 1 part of jalapenos.

11. What Happens When Using Cayenne Pepper Powder To Substitute?

If you want an ingredient to replace jalapeno that still brings the heat to the dish, you should use cayenne pepper powder. In addition, your dish will not have the same texture change as when you use jalapenos.

Cayenne pepper powder is suitable for those who do not like the crispness and texture of jalapenos. Cayenne pepper powder has a heat of about 30,000 to 50,000 units. This shows that it is 12 times spicier than jalapenos.

Therefore, when using cayenne pepper powder as a substitute for jalapenos, you should use cayenne pepper powder in a ratio of ½:1 to replace jalapenos will be the most suitable.

12. Fresh Cayenne Chili Is A Perfect Solution When Running Out Of Jalapeno

Fresh cayenne chili is a perfect choice to add heat and spiciness to your dishes. Fresh cayenne chili will help you forget the nostalgia for jalapeno peppers. When used in dishes, cayenne chili will help create a strong flavor for the dish.

Fresh cayenne chili will give the dish a crunch if you need it. In addition, its mild sweetness will make your dishes more flavorful. With a spiciness scale of about 30,000 to 50,000 units, fresh cayenne chili will be much hotter than jalapenos.

Therefore, you should not use too much fresh cayenne chili as a substitute for jalapenos. Add a moderate amount and increase if you want more spicy. To replace 1 jalapeno, you should use ½ fresh cayenne chili.

13. Hot Sauce Is An Easy-To-Find Replacement For Jalapeno

Besides the ingredients provided, you can also use hot sauce to replace the jalapenos. It is a reasonable option if you do not like the texture of jalapenos. Trust me! This alternative will not disappoint you. Moreover, hot sauce is a fairly easy ingredient to find.

Most hot sauces have a heat scale of about 50,000 units on the Scoville scale. Hot sauce will be spicier and hotter than jalapenos, so you should be careful when seasoning. You should add a little hot sauce, then check and increase when you are not satisfied.

If you want to make hot sauce at home, here is what you should know.

14. Maximum The Heat And Spicy Of Your Dish By Using Habanero Pepper

Habanero peppers are an excellent substitute for jalapenos, thanks to their unique properties. This is a pepper that has a rather fruity taste. Habanero peppers go well with salsa, nachos, and sauce in case you can not find jalapenos.

Habanero peppers are very hot with a spiciness level of 300,000 to 445,000 units. If you want your dish to be extremely spicy and hot, you can use a small amount to add to the dish and check carefully to decide if you should add more or not.

How Should You Choose A Substitute For Jalapeno?

There are many ways to choose an alternative to jalapenos, but this will depend a lot on your requirements. Basically, the selection of substitutes for jalapenos is based on two main factors which are heat and texture.

1. The Heat Is Lighter And Creates A Crispiness.

Among the substitutes for jalapenos, if you are looking for a substitute that has a slight heat and creates a crunch texture for the dish, you should use bell peppers, banana peppers, anaheim peppers because they have a mild taste and crispy walls.

2. Increase The Heat And Do Not Change The Texture Of The Dish

In case you do not want to change the texture of your dish and still taste like jalapenos, you should consider using hot sauce, cayenne pepper powder, and smoked paprika powder. These are elements that will increase the flavor but still retain the texture of the dish.

3. Create The Maximum Heat For The Dish

With a spiciness scale of about 300,000 to 445,000 units on the Scoville scale, habanero peppers are a perfect choice to create the maximum spiciness for dishes. Habanero peppers are one of the hottest peppers.

What Are Benefits That Jalapenos Can Bring To Your Health?

Jalapenos are not only an essential and common ingredient in cooking; they are also a perfect component for your health. Let’s explore the amazing benefits that jalapenos can bring to your health.

• Jalapenos Are The Rich Source Of Providing Nutrients

Jalapenos are a great source of vitamins, fiber, beneficial minerals, and antioxidants for your body. Vitamin C in jalapeno helps protect the health of your skin. In addition, the calorie content of jalapeno is also pretty low, which is beneficial for your health.

• Jalapenos Are Good For Weight Loss

If you are looking for good food for weight loss, jalapenos are a suitable option. Jalapenos will help speed up metabolism, accelerate fat burning and reduce cravings, thanks to the compound called capsaicinoid.

• Prevent Cancer With Jalapenos

Fortunately for you, according to scientists, jalapenos have an effective cancer prevention effect based on the capsaicin component in jalapeno peppers. Capsaicin helps your body stop the growth of cancer cells and prevent the spread of cancer ⁽²⁾.

• Jalapenos Help Prevent Stomach Ulcers

If you think spicy food like jalapenos will harm your stomach, you are wrong. Jalapenos will help prevent stomach ulcers as well as reducing the effects of drinking alcohol and beer thanks to the capsaicin compound.

• Protect Your Heart Health By Eating Jalapenos

Capsaicin in jalapenos has many benefits for your health. Some factors can cause diseases related to the heart, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. However, the good news is that capsaicin can help decrease the effects of these factors.

• Do Not Worry About Infection With Jalapenos

If you are concerned about food poisoning, jalapenos will help you prevent poisoning effectively. The compounds found in jalapenos are good for reducing the development of bacteria and mold in foods.

FAQs

For you to better understand as well as know more helpful information about substitutes for the jalapeno. In this section, I will help you answer some frequently asked questions about substitutes for the jalapeno.

Have You Chosen An Alternative To Jalapenos Yet?

While the alternatives will not be as effective as jalapenos, one of them provides the closest taste in case you run out of jalapenos. I hope the substitutes that I provide will make it easier for you to cook and not panic when you can not find jalapenos.

In addition, these alternatives also help the taste of the dish become more diverse and less boring. Have you chosen a suitable alternative? Please research carefully to get the best choice. You can also try them all to find the right options.

Do not forget to like and share the article to spread this useful information. If you know any other substitute for jalapenos, do not hesitate to share in the comment section. Thanks a lot!

References

1. .En.wikipedia.org.. Scoville scale – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale.
2. Lin CH, Lu WC, Wang CW, Chan YC, Chen MK. Capsaicin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human KB cancer cells. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 Feb 25;13:46. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-46. PMID: 23433093; PMCID: PMC3599796.