While most chili powder sold in US grocery stores contains blended spices, this term can also be used for powdered hot peppers on their own. This usage is common in Asian recipes and grocery stores. These powders tend to be much spicier than blended American chili powder.

In addition to producing dried chilli padi, some manufacturers also create a variety of chilli-based products, such as chilli paste, chilli oil, and chilli flakes. These products are perfect for adding an extra kick of heat to any dish and can be used in marinades, sauces, and dressings.

To recreate the spice of hot paprika, the best substitute is another dried chilli, like ground cayenne, aleppo pepper powder, crushed red pepper flakes, red chilli powder, or even a dash of hot sauce. If your recipe calls for smokiness and sweetness, try chipotle chilli powder or ancho pepper powder. Chipotle powder has a smoky taste, but is hotter than paprika with a more earthy flavour, lending itself to barbecue sauces, rubs and chillis. Due to the difference in heat, use a ¼ teaspoon of chipotle powder for every teaspoon of paprika and adjust depending on your taste buds.

If you’re looking to replicate the flavour of sweet paprika add a pinch of sugar or some honey. Adding mild chilli powder or tomato powder works too. Bell peppers are another great substitute for sweet paprika and they come from the same Capsicum annuum family. Mild, sweet and aromatic, bell peppers give the same delicious taste and aroma, while adding a splash of colour too. When buying your bell peppers, make sure they’re nice and ripe.

One of the best substitutes for paprika is cayenne pepper. It’s a spicy chilli pepper, used to flavour many different cuisines and quite similar in colour. It’s a lot stronger and hotter than paprika, so if you’re using it as a substitute in your cooking, make sure you use a lesser quantity. If you have a lower tolerance to spicy food, you can add salt, cream, chopped tomatoes or more liquid (water or broth) to try and dial down the heat.

Like paprika, chilli powder packs a lot of flavour and is another worthy substitute. It’s also not as spicy as cayenne pepper, so you can use the same quantities.  The same goes for cajun spices. A combination of black and white pepper, plus other herbs and spices, it can work as a good substitute for smoked or sweet paprika, offering a similar flavour. But you won’t get the same beautiful red colour – more of an orange, warm hue.

You can also use cumin instead of paprika. But it’s a lot hotter, so go easy on the quantities. Like cajun spices, you won’t achieve the gorgeous red colour of paprika, as cumin has more of a yellowy-brown colouring, but you’ll still get an earthy flavour with hints of bitterness and sweetness.

Heat Level: Medium

So, if bell peppers are in the same scientific classification as cayenne chili pepper, why aren't bell peppers hot? It comes down to a chemical compound called capsaicin. This chemical is the sole reason why a jalapeño is spicy and bell pepper is not. A bell pepper has no capsaicin. Capsaicin attaches itself to the mucous membranes in our mouths which in turn send out the fiery sensation. That heat in your mouth (or hands) will vary greatly depending on what type of chili pepper you've eaten. Peppers are ranked by their heat, or the amount of capsaicin they contain, on a scale called the Scoville Scale. Their capsaicin concentration is given a number on the scale and it is called Scoville Heat Units. Bell peppers do not have capsaicin, so they have zero Scoville Heat Units, therefore they are way at the bottom of the Scoville scale. 

Like regular chili powder, only use cajun spice when you're in a pinch or if it's the only Hungarian paprika substitute available in your pantry and you can't run to the grocery. That's because it contains several ingredients.

Another entry on my list that you might not be expecting is liquid hot sauce because, again, the texture is different. But when it comes to heat and color, any liquid hot sauce is a good substitute for paprika.

Bulk paprika is an excellent option for those who use this versatile spice frequently. Purchasing paprika in bulk offers significant cost savings compared to buying smaller quantities. Bulk paprika for sale is typically available in various forms, including sweet, hot, smoked, and bittersweet, catering to diverse culinary preferences. Suppliers often provide paprika in large bags or containers, ranging from 1 kilogram to 25 kilograms, making it convenient for restaurants, food manufacturers, and culinary enthusiasts. Buying in bulk ensures a steady supply of high-quality paprika, reducing the need for frequent reorders and lowering overall costs.

Hot or spicy paprika is, of course, hot and spicy. You may also see hot paprika referred to as Hungarian paprika. It’s not as hot as pure cayenne pepper, but it can definitely pack a punch, adding a spicy kick to almost any dish. Hungarian paprika comes in eight different varieties, each with varying degrees of heat and flavour, but the most common is édesnemes – known for its pungent, peppery flavour and sweetness.