How Hot is This Chili Recipe?

For this chili recipe, we are using a few different ingredients to add some heat to the dish: Chorizo sausage, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and dried chili. This creates a wonderful layering of heat without overwhelming the other flavors in the recipe.

If you are looking to make your chili more spicy, consider using a fresh chili variety that you’ve cooked with before and have a good gauge of how spicy they are. (See notes below on a few chili varieties to add some serious heat to your chili recipe). 

Spanish chorizo sausage

First off there is the Spanish chorizo itself. We use Spanish chorizo sausage that is raw and made with ground pork meat that’s already added with garlic, smoked paprika, and other seasonings. Chorizo is not usually very spicy, as it is made with smoked paprika, but typically it does carry a little ‘warmth’. Speak to your local butcher if you’re looking for a spicy chorizo sausage. 

Smoked paprika

We used Pimentón de La Vera which is a type of Spanish smoked paprika renowned in Spain for giving recipes a rich smoky flavor. Although it’s labeled ‘spicy’ it isn’t considered very spicy in the world of chili, but well worth using to add that delicious smoky flavor. 

Check out our complete Guide to Hot Paprika, Smoked Paprika, and Sweet Paprika here.

Chili powder

Chili powder comes in various heat strengths between 500 and 1,500 Scoville units. That’s enough to produce a mild burn, but not enough to make food really spicy. 

Cayenne pepper

Another great way to add some heat is using cayenne pepper. Be mindful that cayenne pepper is actually more spicy than chili powder, and is considered a medium-hot chili registering between 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units. It’s also a bright spiciness, meaning you’ll notice it first on the tip of your tongue, although it doesn’t linger for too long. 

Dried chili (red pepper flakes)

As with chilies themselves, there are plenty of different intensities of spice when it comes to dried chili. Red Pepper Flakes (Capsicum annuum) are hot, measuring between 32,000 – 48,000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units). Always check the packaging for how hot they are before cooking with dried chili.  

Some other examples of dried chili: 

• Maras Chiles measure between 4,000-8,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
• Guajillo Chile Flakes are medium-heat flakes that measure between 2,500-5,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
• Korean Chili Flakes measure between 4,000-8,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
• Chipotle Morita Chile Flakes are mild-to-medium chile pepper flakes that deliver somewhere between 2,500-10,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU)

How to Make This Recipe (REALLY) Spicy! 

Of course, how hot and spicy you like your chili really is a personal choice, and this recipe is made to offer a good amount of layered heat from the different spices. We totally get that some like it hot, like really hot, so this section is for you! 

If you want to make an extra spicy version of this recipe, consider using fresh chili, here are a few suggestions with the associated heat values:

Jalapeño Pepper

Typically ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, considered mild to moderately spicy. Jalapeño peppers are easy to find in the USA, UK, Europe, and Australia, with most supermarkets stocking fresh or Jalapeños in a jar. 

Birdseye Chili 

They typically have a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating of 50,000 to 100,000. Most will agree they offer a good spicy kick that lingers.

Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)

Native to India, the Ghost Pepper averages around 1,041,427 SHU, but some individual peppers have been tested at over 1,500,000 SHU.

Hot Dried Chili Flakes

Another quick and easy way to add a spicy punch to your chili is by using more dedicated spicy dried chili flakes:

• Rocoto Pepper Flakes (Capsicum pubescens) are hot pepper flakes that measure between 30,000-80,000 units on the Scoville Heat Unit scale (SHU). They are small, thick-walled peppers with a similar appearance to a dwarf bell pepper. When the Rocoto’s flesh and seeds are dried and crushed, they are a great way to add a fierce heat to any recipe.
• Scotch Bonnet Chile Flakes (Capsicum chinense) are incredibly hot chilies that measure between 100,000-300,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Scotch Bonnets add flavor to many different cuisines and dishes worldwide and are frequently found in hot sauces and condiments.

Chicken and Chorizo

Chicken and chorizo are a match made in heaven and are often paired in Spanish cuisine! You’ll find the combination in everything from hearty Spanish Stews to delicious baked empanadas. 

For this chicken chorizo recipe, the ground chicken mince can be made with chicken breast meat (healthy) or with any of the other cuts of chicken (more fatty) and will absorb all of the flavors of the chorizo sausage once it releases the delicious smoky paprika-infused oil. 

Here are a few more chicken and chorizo recipes:

• Spanish chicken thighs with chorizo and wine
• Spicy chicken and chorizo rice
• Spanish chicken and chorizo pasta
• One-pot Spanish chicken and chorizo stew
• Chicken with cider infused chorizo empanadas
• Smoky Spanish chorizo stew with spinach and chickpeas
• One pan Spanish chicken and rice (Arroz con Pollo)

FAQs

How long does this chicken chorizo chili recipe take to make? 

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
• Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

How hot and spicy is this recipe?

This recipe is considered mildly spicy. Here’s the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) rating for the spicy ingredients used:

• 1 tablespoon Chili powder (500 – 1,500 SHU)
• 1 teaspoon of dried chili (32,000 – 48,000 SHU)
• 1 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper (30,000 – 50,000 SHU)
• 1 teaspoon La Vera smoked paprika (around 590 SHU)
• Spanish Chorizo (around 590 SHU)

How do I make a chili recipe more spicy?

Add fresh chilies such as Jalapeño Peppers, Birdseye chilies, or add more cayenne pepper or dried chili flakes. You can also add a spicier version of dried chili flakes. 

How do I make this recipe less spicy?

Simply reduce or omit the amount of chili powder, cayenne pepper, and dried chili used. Serve with plenty of steamed rice and natural yogurt or sour cream to help diffuse the spiciness. 

Can I use ground pork or beef mince instead of chicken?

Yes absolutely. Ground Pork, beef, or even ground turkey mince can be substituted for ground chicken mince with no change to the cooking times.

Nutrition Facts

*Based on a 200g serving of chicken chorizo chili with no toppings.