Top 12 Paprika Substitutes

Why People Love Paprika

Before talking about substitutes, let's first get to know more about paprika. Paprika is a popular spice made from ground sweet red peppers, specifically from the Capsicum Annuum plant, which includes bell peppers and chili peppers.

Paprika originally comes from North America but became famous in Hungarian (so it is also known as Hungarian paprika) and Spanish cuisines. Paprika has a mild, sweet taste with just a hint of peppery heat.

It is not too spicy, making it perfect for adding flavor without overwhelming your dish. The bright red color of paprika adds a lovely, vibrant touch to your meals.

Types Of Paprika

• Sweet Paprika: Mild and sweet, great for adding color and flavor.
• Hot Paprika: Spicy and bold, perfect for those who love a bit of heat.
• Smoked Paprika: Also known as Spanish paprika, adds a deep, smoky flavor to dishes.

Best Options For Paprika Replacement

Here are some great paprika substitutes that can bring a similar flavor and color to your meals.

1. Red Pepper Flakes 

Unlike the mild and sweet taste of paprika, crushed red pepper flakes bring a spicy kick with a Scoville heat level ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 units. The flavor is more robust and fiery, which can add a nice depth to your meals.

Making crushed red pepper flakes at home is simple—just dry some red chili peppers, remove the stems, and crush them using a grinder or a mortar and pestle.

When using crushed red pepper flakes as a paprika substitute, use about half the amount of paprika called for in the recipe to avoid overpowering the dish with heat.

Try it in:

• Spicy Chicken Wings
• Chili Con Carne
• Deviled Eggs
• Spiced Roasted Vegetables
• Tomato Soup

2. Chipotle Chili Powder

Chipotle powder can be the best paprika substitute if you're looking to add a smoky, rich flavor to your dishes. Chipotle powder offers a deep, earthy taste with a medium heat level of about 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units. This makes it spicier than regular paprika but less hot than other chili powders.

You can make chipotle powder at home by smoking fresh jalapeños until they're completely dried, then grinding them into a fine powder.

When using chipotle powder as a substitute for paprika powder, start with half the amount of paprika called for in the recipe to manage the heat and smokiness. The main drawback is the difference in flavor; chipotle powder's strong smokiness might not suit all dishes that call for paprika.

Try it in:

• Smoky Chili
• BBQ Chicken Rub
• Spicy Guacamole
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Grilled Shrimp Tacos

3. Tomato Powder

Tomato powder, made from dried tomatoes, can be a unique paprika alternative, offering a rich, tangy flavor without any heat. It offers a distinct taste that’s sweet and slightly tart, making it suitable for dishes where you want to enhance the tomato flavor.

To make tomato powder at home, simply slice tomatoes thinly, dry them in a dehydrator or oven until they are completely crisp, and then grind them into a fine powder.

When a recipe calls for paprika, you can use an equal amount of tomato powder as a substitute. One downside is that tomato powder lacks the smoky or spicy notes of paprika, so it won't deliver the same flavor profile.

Try it in:

• Tomato Basil Soup
• Homemade Ketchup
• Pasta Sauce
• Meatloaf
• Pizza Sauce

4. Cayenne Pepper Powder 

Cayenne pepper powder is one of the spiciest paprika substitutes you can find in your spice cabinet. It has a fiery flavor with a heat level of about 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville units, so it's much hotter than regular paprika.

If you want to make cayenne pepper powder at home, simply dry some cayenne peppers, remove the stems, and grind them into a fine powder.

When you replace paprika with cayenne pepper powder, start with only a quarter of the amount of paprika called for in the recipe to avoid making the dish too hot.

The main disadvantage is that cayenne lacks the smoky notes and sweetness of paprika, so it might change the overall flavor profile. Try it in:

• Spicy Chicken Tacos
• Fiery Chili
• Cajun Shrimp
• Hot Wings
• Spiced Roasted Nuts

5. Hot Sauce 

Hot Sauce can be a great replacement for paprika if you want to add some extra kick to your dishes. Hot sauces come in various flavor profiles, from mild to extreme heat, with Scoville levels ranging from 1,000 to over 16,000,000 units. This makes them much spicier than paprika, which is typically sweet and mild.

Making hot sauce at home is easy—just blend together fresh chili peppers, vinegar, salt, and a bit of garlic powder. If a recipe calls for paprika, use hot sauce sparingly; start with a few drops and adjust to taste.

One downside is that hot sauce lacks the earthy notes and vibrant red color of paprika, which might change the look and overall flavor of your dish.

Here are five recipes where you can use hot sauce as a substitute for paprika:

• Spicy Chicken Wings
• Zesty Tomato Soup
• Fiery Tacos
• Spiced Potato Salad
• Tangy BBQ Ribs

6. Achiote Powder

Achiote powder can be a vibrant spice to substitute paprika in your recipes. It provides a slightly earthy and nutty flavor with peppery and sweet undertones, but it's not very spicy, with a heat level that can go up to 40,000 Scoville units.

To make achiote powder at home, simply grind dried annatto seeds into a fine powder. When you replace paprika with achiote powder, use an equal amount since both have similar vibrant red hues.

However, one disadvantage is that achiote has a more distinct, earthy flavor, which may not suit all dishes that call for paprika. Try it in:

• Tacos Al Pastor
• Spiced Rice
• Marinated Grilled Chicken
• Roasted Vegetables

7. Aleppo Chili Powder

Aleppo chili powder offers a delightfully earthy flavor with hints of fruitiness and mild heat, typically around 10,000 Scoville units. This makes it a bit hotter than paprika but still manageable for most palates.

You can make Aleppo chili powder at home by drying Aleppo peppers and then grinding them into a fine powder. When using as an alternative for paprika, use slightly less Aleppo chili powder due to its higher heat—try using about ¾ of the amount called for in the recipe.

One disadvantage is that its distinct, earthy flavor may not perfectly match all dishes that use paprika. Try it in:

• Spicy Hummus
• Grilled Chicken Marinade
• Roasted Vegetables
• Spiced Fish Tacos
• Smoky Tomato Soup

8. Ground Ancho Chile 

Ancho chili powder, adding rich and smoky depth to your dishes, has a sweet, mildly fruity flavor with earthy undertones and a mild heat level, typically between 1,000 to 1,500 Scoville units. This makes it a bit spicier than regular paprika but still quite gentle.

You can make ancho powder at home by drying poblano peppers and then grinding them into a fine powder. When you replace paprika with ancho chili powder, use an equal amount since the heat difference is minimal.

One disadvantage is that ancho powder has a more pronounced smoky flavor, which might not suit all recipes calling for paprika. Try it in:

• Chili Con Carne
• Spicy BBQ Sauce
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Mexican Rice
• Grilled Chicken Rub

9. Guajillo Chili Powder

Guajillo chili powder offers a tangy, slightly sweet taste with a hint of smokiness and moderate heat, typically ranging from 2500 to 5,000 Scoville units. This makes it spicier than regular paprika but still family-friendly.

You can make guajillo chili powder at home by drying guajillo peppers and grinding them into a fine powder. When substituting for paprika, use slightly less guajillo chili powder due to its higher heat—about ¾ of the amount called for in the recipe.

One disadvantage is that its distinct tangy flavor might not suit all dishes that typically use paprika. Try it in:

• Enchilada Sauce
• Spicy Beef Stew
• Tacos
• Chili Beans

10. Liquid Smoke

Liquid smoke is a great alternative to smoked paprika in recipes. It offers a deep, smoky flavor without heat, ideal for those who like smokiness in milder dishes. With no Scoville rating, liquid smoke delivers a rich, smoky taste.

Making liquid smoke at home can be tricky. It requires capturing and condensing smoke from burning wood chips, not the simplest kitchen task. Luckily, you can buy liquid smoke at grocery stores or online from retailers like Amazon or specialty spice shops.

When replacing smoked paprika with liquid smoke, start with a few drops and adjust to taste. One downside is that liquid smoke doesn't have the subtle heat of smoked paprika, so you might miss that slight kick. Also, it's strong and can overpower a dish if not used sparingly.

Try it in:

• Smoky Beans
• Grilled Vegetables
• Meat Marinades
• Smoky Tomato Soup

11. Bell Peppers

Bell peppers have a sweet, crisp taste and no heat, as they range from 0 to 0 on the Scoville scale. This makes them perfect for family-friendly meals where you want to avoid any spiciness.

You can make your own bell pepper powder at home by drying the peppers and grinding them into a fine powder. Simply slice the bell peppers thinly, dehydrate them using an oven or dehydrator, and then blend them into a powder.

Use about 1.5 times the amount of bell pepper powder to replace smoked paprika since it has a milder flavor. One disadvantage is that bell pepper powder won't provide that smoky taste, so your dish might lack a bit of depth. Try them in:

• Roasted Chicken
• Vegetable Stir-Fry
• Tomato Sauce
• Potato Salad
• Meatloaf

12. Maras Pepper Flakes

Maras pepper flakes can be a wonderful spice for replacing smoked paprika in your recipes. These Turkish pepper flakes have a rich, slightly smoky flavor with a hint of fruitiness and moderate heat, typically ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 on the Scoville scale. This makes them perfect for adding a bit of warmth without overwhelming spiciness.

You can make Maras pepper flakes at home by drying Maras peppers and then crushing them into flakes. Simply slice the peppers, dry them using an oven or dehydrator, and then crush them.

Use an equal amount of Maras pepper flakes to replace smoked paprika in your recipes. One disadvantage is that while they offer some smokiness, they might not provide as intense a smoky flavor as smoked paprika. Try them in:

• Grilled Chicken Rub
• Roasted Vegetables
• Shakshuka
• Spicy Hummus
• Chili Con Carne

Which Paprika Alternative Will You Use?

To wrap up, numerous alternatives exist to using paprika in your dishes. From vibrant achiote and Aleppo chili powder to smoky ancho chili and tangy guajillo chili, each spice offers a unique flavor profile to enhance any dish.

Liquid smoke and bell peppers also serve as milder, non-spicy options. Maras pepper flakes are great for adding the right amount of heat without overpowering your taste buds.

Experimenting with these spices can bring new depths of flavor to your recipes. While not exact substitutes for paprika, they can add a unique twist to your dishes.