What Are Red pepper flakes and How Can I Use Them?

Red pepper flakes rewards a little know-how: how to choose them, cook them, store them, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 1,337 recipes to cook with them.

What are red pepper flakes?

Crushed red pepper , also known as red pepper flakes, are a condiment consisting of dried and crushed (as opposed to ground) red chili peppers. Crushed red pepper flakes are made from hot dried red peppers.

Crushed red pepper shakers have become as standard as salt and pepper on tables at Italian restaurants and especially pizza parlors in the United States. So common, in fact, are the red pepper flakes as a pizza ingredient that the spice is also known as "the pizza pepper".

Red pepper flakes are not made of one type of chili, but from various combinations of ancho, bell, cayenne and more. Often there is a high ratio of seeds, which intensifies the heat of the pepper.

Crushed red pepper flakes are used in pickling, chowders, gumbos, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and sausage. As chilis have become more popular the styles and varieties of peppers used to make crushed red pepper has also increased.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 tbsp (5g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 15Calories from Fat 7

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.9g 1%

Saturated Fat 0.2g 1%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 1mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 2.8g 1%

Dietary Fiber 1g 5%

Sugars 0.5

Protein 0.6g

Vitamin A 42% Vitamin C 6%

Calcium 1% • Iron 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find red pepper flakes: Red pepper flakes are usually found in the spices section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Red pepper flakes are a member of the Spices and Herbs US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 红辣椒片
British (UK) term: Red pepper flakes
en français: flocons de piment de poivrons rouges
en español: hot pimiento rojo

How much do red pepper flakes weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 tbsp	5 grams
1 teaspoon	1 grams

Spices and Herbs

Allspice 904 Allspice berries 37 Star anise 178 Aniseed 23 Bay leaves 2049 Caraway seeds 321 Cardamom pods 100 Cardamom seeds 317 Celery seeds 283 Chervil 65

Recipes using red pepper flakes

There are 1337 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Sausage & Broccoli Minestrone Soup

Warm up with this hearty yet thrifty sausage and broccoli minestrone soup. An easy comforting twist on the classic Italian dish, perfect for chilly days.

Cheese & Corn Chowder

This simple, creamy, comforting chowder combines tender potatoes, sweet corn kernels, and cheese in a lightly spiced milk-based broth. It’s a quick, hearty soup perfect for chilly days, ready in about 30 minutes and serving 4 as a main dish.

Squash Noodle all’Arrabbiata

The mere sight of this cute-looking yummilicious noodle, served on a plate, will make you salivate, and if you eat it, it will make you reinvigorated too. This Italian dish is a brilliant blend of arrabbiata sauce and squash in the form of noodles. The carefully spiralized noodle and diced tomatoes make this dish very appealing to the eyes. But it doesn’t stop there, its appearance is as great as the taste. Oh… The squash noodles are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre which make the body healthy. They also have a minimal amount of fat, are rich in protein and are relatively low in calories and carbs. It is a great source of energy for the body—and a great delight to the mouth! That’s also very important. Now, let us see how we can prepare this tempting dish. Shall we!

Hamburgers on the Halfshell

Hamburgers on the halfshell, open-faced raw beef burgers broiled on a bun with tomato sauce, onions, pepper, and melted cheese. A pantry-clearing weeknight version of the classic burger.

Best Bacon Cheddar Muffins

Savory bacon cheddar muffins with sharp aged cheddar, crumbled crisp bacon, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for warmth. Golden, fluffy, and ready in under 40 minutes.

Vegetable Spaghetti Sauce

This delicious spaghetti sauce is loaded with heart healthy ingredients. After trying this sauce, you will always skip the store-bought ones.

Satay Peanut Chicken

Satay peanut chicken skewers marinated in peanut butter, soy, lemon, garlic, ginger, and red pepper, then grilled and served with the reserved sauce for dipping. A Southeast Asian classic with a kick.

Zesty Meatball Sandwiches- Crock Pot

Try something different for lunch with this scrumptious dish you can use to make amazing sandwiches.

Rosemary Lemon Grilled Chicken Recipe

A sensational treat for your taste buds as well as tummy, the Rosemary & Lemon Grilled Chicken is a no-fuss recipe that can be had anytime of the day. Packed with flavours, it is a healthy and nutritious alternative to other fried chicken recipes. A meal by itself, it can also be served with a side of salad, mashed potatoes and gravy for an extravagant meal experience.

Pasta Shells with Salmon, Tomatoes & Toasted Bread Crumbs

This easy and simple recipe also came out delicious. Lemon juice added a touch of refreshing taste, and the overall flavour was well balanced. Giving this dish a five star.

Casual Korean Mak Kimchi

Mak kimchi ferments chopped napa cabbage with daikon, garlic, carrot, anchovies, and chili flakes for a quick-style Korean kimchi. A 2-day countertop ferment that keeps for 10 days.

Quick Pickled Carrots - Japanese-Style

Tangy, sweet Japanese-style pickled carrots, thinly sliced or julienned, ready in hours. Perfect as a side for sushi, rice bowls, grilled meats or for wraps.

Japanese Beef Stir-Fry

Japanese-style beef stir-fry with thinly sliced flank steak, snow peas, red pepper, escarole, and fresh ginger in a soy-brown sugar glaze. A fast, colorful skillet dinner.

Guacamole Burgers

Grilled guacamole burgers topped with homemade avocado salsa, chili powder, and red pepper on toasted English muffins. A smoky, creamy Mexican-inspired burger recipe ready in 30 minutes flat.

Tangy Lemon Orzo

Quick lemon orzo pasta tossed with olive oil, sauteed bell peppers, green onions, and fresh parsley. A bright, zesty side dish ready in 20 minutes with an optional Parmesan finish.

Mama Delilah's Pasta Primavera

Hearty and zesty, this is my favorite pasta to make. It's a little bit of work, but comes out as stunning visually as it tastes. Definitely worth the effort. Enjoy!!!

Remember the Alamo Chili

Remember the Alamo Chili: a hearty Texas-style ground beef chili built on fresh hot chilies, garlic, cumin and citrusy Mexican oregano in a rich tomato base. Add beans if you must, and finish with a cool spoonful of sour cream.

Beef & Beans

Slow cooker beef and beans with cubed chuck, salt pork, and pinto beans simmered in tomato paste, garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Old-school cowboy comfort food, low and slow until the beef pulls apart.

Chavos Taco Seasoning

This is my favorite recipe for tacos with a mixture of New Mexican Cuisine as well as other ethnic recipes.

Chili with Kidney Beans

Chili with kidney beans is a hearty crowd-size beef chili built on garlic-browned ground beef, peppers, tomatoes, and red kidney beans, simmered low with chili powder, cloves, and bay. Crowd cooker for game day.

Collard Green Goodness

The first time I tried this version of the recipe, I ate it for all three meals. LOVED it! If you have leftovers, toss in a can of tomatoes, a can of white beans, and whatever veggies you have in the fridge, and make yourself a tasty soup.

Pasta with Olives & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

A fuss-free and delicious one-pan meal is packed with goodness and yumminess, use whole wheat pasta to make it even healthier.

Easy Alfredo Tortellini with Garlic for Two

So easy, so simple, and so deliciously creamy. An easy alfredo sauce enriched with garlic coats the tortellini. Best of all, it's ready in 20 minutes flat!

Vegetable Smoked Tofu Salad with Soy-Maple Dressing

Lots of fresh veggies and smoked tofu are tossed with a flavorful yet light soy-maple dressing.

Spicy Kale & Chick-Pea Stew

Spicy vegan stew of tender chickpeas and hearty kale simmered in a tomato base loaded with chili powder, cumin, oregano, and red pepper flakes. A high-fiber, protein-packed meatless bowl with real backbone.

Breakfast Tortilla Wrap

Breakfast tortilla wrap loaded with cumin-spiced eggs, crisp bell pepper, juicy tomato, and crumbled bacon, all rolled in a warm whole wheat tortilla. A fast, high-protein handheld breakfast.

Bandera Chili

Texas Bandera chili with ground chuck, tomato sauce, lite beer, and jalapeño pinto beans. Bold chili powder and a long simmer build the kind of deep, beefy stew that gets better the next day.

Chickpea Salad with Parsley, Lemon & Sun-dried Tomatoes

It was a chickpea day for me yesterday. Made two different chickpea salads, this is one of them and comes from our member "Franklinfamily". The flavor was refreshingly delicious.

Bob's Beef Chili

Nothing is better than a bowl of warm chili in a cold day. It's cozy and warm you up.

Avocado & Watercress Salad with Soy Dresssing

A light yet flavorful salad. It's refreshing, tasty and easy to make. Lots of textures and flavors. Creamy, crunchy and delicious.

Moorish Albondigas

The spices used in this recipe give these little meatballs a Moorish influence. A variation of a popular item at tapas bars, these albondigas can be served in a broth or with a sauce for dipping.

Indian Spiced Potato Stuffed Bread

These flavorful Indian stuffed bread goes deliciously well with chutney and raita, or any Indian main course.

Chard Panini with Bean Spread

These delicious panini is made with whole grain bread, spread with creamy yet tasty white bean spread, topped with swiss chard that's braised in a mixture of broth and wine. It fills you up, gives you all the nutrients you need, and satisfies your tummy.

Spicy Sesame Beef Stir-Fry

Spicy sesame beef stir-fry with crisp-tender broccoli and sweet peppers in a gingery soy-garlic sauce. The beef is coated in sesame seeds and seared fast for a quick weeknight wok dinner, gluten-free with tamari.

Cheesy & Garlicky White Pizza topped with Fresh Arugula

Several kinds of cheeses are topped on the dough that has been brushed with garlic olive oil. After baking in the oven, topped with fresh arugula and olive oil. Enjoy this refreshing white pizza with arugula!

Barbecued Chicken

Grilled chicken rubbed with a bold homemade spice blend of paprika, chili powder, and garlic, brushed with a sweet ketchup-brown sugar BBQ sauce with a hint of orange. Crispy skin, juicy meat, zero fuss.

Besttexas Chili

Slow cooker Texas-style chili with ground beef, kidney and pinto beans, plum tomatoes, and a touch of warming whole allspice. A 4-hour low-and-slow chili built from pantry staples.

Korean Style Romaine

An easy Romaine lettuce salad with a quick and flavourful Korean style Asian dressing.

Mary's Two Potato Soup

Creamy blended soup combining white and sweet potatoes with curry, turmeric and fresh mint, sautéed with leeks for a vibrant, high-fiber vegetarian soup.

Garlicky - Soy Rapini (Broccoli Rabe)

Simply blanched the rapini, then a quick stir-fry with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil and rice vinegar. The simply tasty dish can be served as a side dish or toss with cooked pasta to make a meal.

Sea Weed, Bell Pepper Salad with Garlic-Sesame Dressing

Another dish from my childhood memories, and it's my all-time favorite dish that my mom used to make very often. All the ingredients are inexpensive, but the salad tastes so refreshing and flavorful.

Sage Fried Baby Peppers, Garlic & Olives

Good olive oil, a few sage sprigs, fresh lemon strips, sweet baby peppers, garlics and mixed Italian olives are sauteed in a pan, and they come out delicious and flavorful. Serve it with some warm crusted bread, you will be additive to these yummy bites after the first attempt.