How to Make Homemade Chili Flakes: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
By Rebecca St.Clair
Learn how to make homemade chili flakes with this quick and easy tutorial. All you need are peppers and an oven or dehydrator! These homemade flakes are more aromatic, flavourful, and customizable the classic store bought version.
Turn your own garden-fresh spicy peppers or store-bought chili peppers into this classic pantry staple. Chili flakes are a must for anyone who loves bold flavour, natural ingredients, and they are so easy to make!
Perfect to add a fiery kick to your dinner, topping pizza, pasta, soups, and more! These crushed red pepper flakes can be made with a variety of spicy peppers, for your own unique flavour and degree of spiciness.
This recipe is sure to brighten up your spice rack. Learn how to dry and crush your favourite hot peppers into vibrant, bold flakes. Great for cooking, seasoning, and gift-giving!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Simple – Made with only 1 ingredient, your favourite hot peppers!
Preservative free – No artificial flavour, colour, or preservatives!
Unique flavour – Use your favourite hot pepper variety for a unique flavour and spice level.
Long shelf-life – Dried to preserve the flavour and freshness. Store in a cool dark place for years!
How to store homemade Chili flakes
Shelf-stable
These chilis are dried to preserve their colour, flavour, and aroma. Store them in a clean, airtight container, and keep in a cool dry area of your house. Chili flakes can be used and enjoyed for years!
What variety of peppers are best for chili flakes?
Most popular
Aleppo Peppers
- Moderately hot (10,000 SHU)
- Smoky, fruity, Earthy flavour profile.
- Adds warmth with out being overwhelming.
Paprika Peppers
- Mild to Moderately hot (8,000 SHU)
- Sweet, smoky, fruity, earthy flavour profile.
- Adds warmth and fruitiness.
Cayenne Peppers
- Medium hot (30,000–50,000 SHU)
- Bold, smoky, pungent heat.
- Classic chili flakes used in pizza parlours.
For Hot Chili flakes
Serrano Peppers
- Medium hot (10,000–23,000 SHU)
- Grassy, citrusy, sharp heat.
- Popular for salsas, hot sauces, and chili paste.
Habanero Peppers
- Very hot (100,000–350,000 SHU)
- Fruity, floral, slightly citrusy, with an intense delayed heat.
- Adds a unique balance of heat and fruity flavour.
Ornamental Peppers
Grown for their vibrant colours, compact size, they are often very hot.
- Hot (30,000-50,000)
- Check the specific variety for specific heat and flavour profile.
Extreme Heat (Use with Caution!)
Ghost Pepper
One of the hottest chili peppers in the world!
- Extremely hot (850,000 to over 1,000,000 SHU)
- Smoky, slightly sweet and fruity with an intense, lingering burn.
- Extreme chili flakes and hot sauces.
- A small amount can overpower a dish. Always wear gloves when handling and avoid touching your face and eyes, and mucous membranes.
Carolina Reaper
The world’s hottest chili pepper!
- World’s hottest (1,400,000 to over 2,200,000 SHU)
- Sweet, fruity flavour, hints of cherry and chocolate with an intense searing heat.
- Ultra-hot sauces, spicy challenges, chili powders, and extracts.
- A small amount can overpower a dish. Always wear gloves when handling and avoid touching your face, eyes, and mucous membranes.
How to dehydrate hot peppers for chili flakes using an oven
Follow the same steps as the dehydrator method to wash and prepare the peppers.
Preheat your oven to 140°F to 170°F (60°C to 75°C). Fan on, convection mode, or forced air if available on your oven. This will improve airflow and even drying.
Arrange the peppers spread out on a lined a baking sheet.
Dry in the oven for 4 to 8 hours, depending on the size and thickness of the peppers.
Turn larger peppers halfway through, to ensure even drying.
They’re done when they feel completely dry, brittle, and crumble easily with your fingers.
Ingredients
Peppers – Use your favourite hot pepper for your own unique taste and heat level!
-Special Equipment – Dehydrator or oven.
How to make Homemade Chili Flakes
- Pick and wash the variety of peppers you want to use for chili flakes.
- Remove excess moisture with a clean kitchen towel.
- Remove the stem with a knife. Use gloves if using a very spicy variety of pepper.
4. For larger or thick peppers, cut in half length wise. Smaller pepper can be left whole.
5. Place the peppers on the tray of the dehydrator and turn on for the time according to the manufacturers directions. (Check above for oven method)
6. Once done the peppers should be hard and crumble into flakes easily just with your fingers.
7. Crush the peppers using a mortar and pestle. You can also use a spice grinder or coffee grinder for this.
8. Place the the flakes into a clean, airtight container. Store in a cool, dry, place.
9. They are ready to use in your favourite recipes!
Homemade Chili Flakes
Turn your own garden-fresh spicy peppers into this classic pantry staple. Chili flakes are a must for anyone who loves bold flavours.
Ingredients
- Hot peppers of choice
Instructions
- Pick and wash the variety of peppers you want to use for chili flakes.
- Remove excess moisture with a clean kitchen towel.
- Remove the stem with a knife. Use gloves if useing a very spicy variety of pepper.
- For larger or thick peppers, cut in half length wise. Smaller pepper can be left whole.
- Place the peppers on the tray of the dehydrator and turn on for the time according to the manufacturers directions.
- Once done the peppers should be hard and crumble into flakes easily just with your fingers.
- Crush the peppers using a mortar and pestle. You can also use a spice grinder or coffee grinder for this.
- Place the the flakes into a clean, airtight container. Store in a cool, dry, place.
- They are ready to use in your favourite recipes!
Notes
Use your favourite variety of hot pepper for a unique flavour and spice level.
Use your oven to dehydrate your peppers at 140°F to 170°F (60°C to 75°C) for 4-8 hours depending on the size and thickness of the peppers.
Nutrition Information
Yield
50Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 0Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 0mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
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