60 of Our Favorite Spicy Recipes

These spicy recipes feature everything from chipotle peppers to the best homemade sriracha sauces you'll ever try. You'll be fanning the flames in no time with these untameable fiery flavors.

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Spicy Hungarian Tilapia Stew

Photo: Squire Fox; Styling: Kaitlyn Du Ross

Spicy Hungarian Tilapia Stew Recipe
Talk about packing some heat: This stew is fiery-fantastic, and we absolutely love it. You can alter the spiciness by using a milder pepper (such as banana pepper or Anaheim chile) or adjusting the amounts and types of paprika.

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Spicy Shrimp Noodles

Caitlin Bensel

Spicy Shrimp Noodles Recipe

These superfast bowls satisfy with filling brown rice noodles and fresh shrimp. If you can’t find brown rice noodles, substitute your favorite whole-grain linguine or fettuccine.

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Spicy Chorizo Monkey Bread

Time Inc. Video Studios

Spicy Chorizo Monkey Bread Recipe

Slightly spicy, cheesy and rich, this savory twist on monkey bread is tender on the inside and crispy on top. Fresh chorizo can be found at the grocery store or Mexican market, and the drippings are a perfect binding agent in the bread.

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Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken

Photo: Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken Recipe
Don't be deceived, although citrusy-glazed, this kickin' chicken packs a major punch.

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White Bean and Chorizo Soup

Photo: Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

White Bean and Chorizo Soup Recipe

Fresh chorizo sausage gives this soup its vibrant red-orange hue and fiery flavor.

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Spicy Zucchini Salad

Caitlin Bensel

Spicy Zucchini Salad Recipe

Fiber- and protein-packed chickpeas bulk up this late-summer salad.

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Spicy Eggplant With Plums

Caitlin Bensel

Spicy Eggplant With Plums Recipe

This combo of spicy char, sweet fruit, and creamy yogurt is a surefire hit. For a tasty swap, try halved pitted cherries in place of plums.

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Korean Steak Sandwiches

Photo: Annabelle Breakey

Korean Steak Sandwiches Recipe
Spicy slaw made with Korean chili paste gives this steak sandwich it's heat.

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Roasted Red Pepper Hot Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Roasted Red Pepper Hot Sauce Recipe
Roasted 3 pepper sauce adds a delicious warmth to any dish. It's so good, we're considering toting around the entire bottle.

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Spicy Tomato-Cucumber Salad

Caitlin Bensel

Spicy Tomato-Cucumber Salad Recipe

This elegantly simple salad is summer in a bowl. Sunshine-yellow and ruby-red wedges of juicy tomato anchor this dish with a hefty dose of lycopene, a heart-helping, cancer-fighting antioxidant. Cucumber and bell pepper bring their crunch to the party, while lemon and chile keep things lively with heat and zing. Remember—summer tomatoes are extra juicy, so plan to serve this salad soon after making it for the most concentrated flavor.

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Chicken Kebabs with Spicy Sauce

Jennifer Causey

Chicken Kebabs with Spicy Sauce Recipe

That jar of salsa hanging out in the back of your fridge has more in store for it than a date with a bag of tortilla chips. This easy chicken kebabs recipe will help you teach that lycopene-rich salsa some tasty new tricks.

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Toasted Chile Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Toasted Chile Salsa Recipe
Using toasted chiles is a must. It adds a smoky complexity to this dunkable salsa that fresh chiles can't.

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Spicy Chorizo Corn Chowder

Photo: Annabelle Breakey

Spicy Chorizo Corn Chowder Recipe
Some of corn's best partners--medium-hot chiles, chorizo, and basil--join up in this simple dish. It's substantial enough to call a chowder, but light enough for summer.

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Spicy Scallops with Watermelon Salsa

Caitlin Bensel

Spicy Scallops with Watermelon Salsa Recipe

Here we season quick-cooking scallops with inspiration from Caribbean pepper pot recipes. To get a nice sear on the scallops without any sticking, be sure to thoroughly pat your scallops dry and preheat the skillet until it’s nice and hot. The spicy scallops are cooled by the sweet, minty watermelon salsa. Ask for “dry” sea scallops at the fish counter. Other scallops have been treated with a sodium solution that prevents them from browning nicely and can make the texture of the meat less pleasant.

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Spicy Veggie Hash

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Spicy Veggie Hash Recipe

Cumin, cinnamon, and red pepper add warmth to this Peruvian-inspired sweet potato hash.

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Spicy Thai Shrimp Cakes

Jennifer Causey

Spicy Thai Shrimp Cakes Recipe

If you’re a fan of crab cakes, you’ve got to try these Thai-flavored shrimp cakes. The sweet, salty taste of shrimp really shines through when seasoned with the classic Thai trifecta of flavor: fish sauce, lime juice, and chili sauce. To ensure even cooking and cakes that hold together well, be sure to take an extra minute to finely dice all the veggies. To turn any leftovers into lunch, serve shrimp cakes on a toasted whole-wheat English muffin with a smear of Sriracha mayo, lettuce, and tomato.

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Spicy Sausage and Portobello ‘Pizzas'

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Spicy Sausage and Portobello ‘Pizzas' Recipe
Top baked portobello mushrooms with sausage, onions, tomatoes, and mozzarella for a delicious "pizza" appetizer or side dish.

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Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe

Coconut milk tames the heat and combines deliciously with shredded chicken breast in Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup.

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Sweet and Spicy Pepperonata

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Sweet and Spicy Pepperonata Recipe
Use a variety of hot and sweet peppers in red, orange, and yellow for superior flavor and color in this dish. Serve as a side with grilled meat or fish, or as an appetizer spooned over grilled bread.

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Spicy Jalapeño-Red Pepper Jelly

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Ivy Odom; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Spicy Jalapeño-Red Pepper Jelly Recipe

This sweet heat jam is perfect for gifting and is delicious served over soft, creamy cheeses (like goat cheese, cream cheese, or Brie), whisked into salad dressings, and used as a glaze for grilled meats. If you want to kick the heat up a notch (it’s a gentle warm, as is), use 2-3 more jalapeños.

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Kickin' BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Kickin' BBQ Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
Most people use 6-inch tortillas for tacos, but we apply healthy new math and use them for quesadillas. Upsizing to an 8-inch tortilla nearly doubles the surface area, meaning twice as much cheesy filling. Suddenly, your sensible meal becomes an 800-calorie heavyweight. Start with a 6-incher, and pile on the lean meats, veggies, and cheese. Crisp in a hot skillet with cooking spray instead of butter to save 7g sat fat.

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Spicy Jalapeño-Red Pepper Jelly

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Ivy Odom; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Spicy Jalapeño-Red Pepper Jelly Recipe

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Spicy Moroccan Chicken Skewers

Photo: Johnny Autry; Food Styling: Charlotte Autry; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr

Spicy Moroccan Chicken Skewers Recipe
Serve with hot cooked couscous. Give the couscous nutty flavor by toasting it in a hot pan before you rehydrate it.

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Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon Recipe

Season the bacon a day ahead so it can absorb the rub.

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Fiery Chicken Thighs with Persian Rice

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Fiery Chicken Thighs with Persian Rice Recipe
Although the buttery rice cuts through the heat of the chicken, use less chile paste if you are not a huge fan of spicy foods for a less-fiery experience.

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Spicy Clam, Chorizo, and White Bean Soup

Jennifer Causey

Spicy Clam, Chorizo, and White Bean Soup Recipe

The classic Spanish combination of briny littleneck clams—the smallest and most tender of the clam clan—smoky chorizo, and tender white beans come together in seamless soup harmony. Turn this liquid lunch into a robust meal with our quick and easy garlic bread—perfect for sopping up every last drop.

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Chunky Hot Sauce

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Harget

Chunky Hot Sauce Recipe
Fermentation is the secret to this robust, piquant sauce. Use your favorite chiles here, or blend fiery ones with sweet ones to customize your own. As for the consistency, we love the sauce in all of its chunky glory, but if you want a smooth, looser take, press it through a wire-mesh strainer.

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Spicy Breakfast Taquitos

Photo by Kelsey Hansen

Spicy Breakfast Taquitos Recipe
Plus, the easiest creamy hot sauce

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Spicy Sausage and Chard Pasta

Photo: Alex Farnum; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Spicy Sausage and Chard Pasta Recipe

Willy and Sandy Hermann, readers from Orinda, California, shared this easy one-dish meal with us. They like to use hot sausage, but mild is good too. You can use the chard stems for soup if you like.

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Make Spicy Home Fries in Under 30 Minutes

Photo by Hector Manuel Sanchez

Make Spicy Home Fries in Under 30 Minutes Recipe
Go big or go home fries

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Fiery Tofu and Coconut Curry Soup

Photo: Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Fiery Tofu and Coconut Curry Soup Recipe
This spicy tofu soup incorporates common Thai cuisine ingredients, such as ginger, soy sauce, red curry paste, coconut milk, and cilantro.

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Make Spicy Home Fries in Under 30 Minutes

Photo by Hector Manuel Sanchez

Make Spicy Home Fries in Under 30 Minutes Recipe
Go big or go home fries

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Choi's Napa Cabbage Kimchi

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Choi's Napa Cabbage Kimchi Recipe

This fiery kimchi closely resembles the award-winning product that Chong Choi and her son Matt Choi sell at the Portland State University Farmer's Market stand and at grocery stores throughout the Pacific Northwest. Although Chong warns that only gochugaru (ground Korean chiles) will produce an authentic flavor, you can make a delicious kimchi with a combination of dried mild New Mexico chiles and hotter Thai or arbol chiles.

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Penne with Spicy Vodka Cream Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Penne with Spicy Vodka Cream Sauce Recipe

Simple and delicious, Penne with Spicy Vodka Cream Sauce is perfect with a simple salad and a glass of red.

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Grilled Calamari, Watermelon, and Tomato Salad

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Grilled Calamari, Watermelon, and Tomato Salad Recipe

Chris Cosentino of Cockscomb restaurant in San Francisco is known for adventurous dishes like this one, a meet-up of mild grilled calamari (squid), fresh produce, and exciting seasonings. He grills the calamari over almond wood plus regular charcoal briquets; for the home cook, he recommends easy-to-find mesquite hardwood charcoal. To make the dish as fiery as Cosentino likes it, use 2 tbsp. black pepper and 2 tsp. Aleppo pepper, and don't seed the serrano chile.

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Spicy Maple Turkey Breast with Quick Pan Sauce

Photo: José Picayo; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite

Spicy Maple Turkey Breast with Quick Pan Sauce Recipe

If you don't want to spend your entire Turkey Day in the kitchen, this is the entrée for you. A bold spice rub gives the meat big flavor and gorgeous color.

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Fiery Hot Green "Sriracha"

Photo: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Fiery Hot Green "Sriracha" Recipe
Nothing like the real thing, but searingly spicy and tangier.

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Spicy Asian Chicken Thighs

Spicy Asian Chicken Thighs Recipe

Serve these saucy chicken thighs over cooked noodles with a side of steamed broccoli for a well-rounded meal. Thanks to the Instant Pot, this meal comes together in under 40 minutes.

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Caribbean Pork Tacos

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Caribbean Pork Tacos Recipe
The combination of salty char-grilled meat with fiery-sweet salsa makes this a favorite of Test Kitchen Specialist Vanessa McNeil Rocchio's family.

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Spicy Chicken Cacciatore

Spicy Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

Serve this saucy chicken dish over pasta. Transform any leftovers into soup by shredding the chicken and combining the sauce with chicken stock, diced zucchini, and carrots.

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Spicy Chorizo and Lima-Bean Scramble

Photo: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Robyn Valarik

Spicy Chorizo and Lima-Bean Scramble Recipe

This Mexican-style skillet dinner makes a good brunch too. If you can find large yellow canned limas--a variety known as butter beans--choose those over the smaller green limas; they have a deeper, richer flavor.

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Spicy Black Bean Soup with Chorizo

Spicy Black Bean Soup with Chorizo Recipe

This spicy soup recipe requires little attention or effort with the slow cooking power of your Instant Pot. Tip: Dried beans don't have to be soaked—just toss them into the Instant Pot®.

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Spicy Grilled Mango with Chiles and Crema

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Spicy Grilled Mango with Chiles and Crema Recipe
This quick dish is a study in balance: Sweet, spicy, sour, and salty flavors come together harmoniously and for maximum effect. Look for Mexican crema in the supermarket dairy section or in ethnic markets, or substitute crème fraîche. Serve with grilled steak, chicken, or pork chops.

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Carne Asada Pizza

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Claire Spollen

Carne Asada Pizza Recipe
Look for queso fresco in Mexican markets or at your local cheesemonger's. This beefy pie delivers all the zingy flavors of a street taco: tangy lime, pungent onion, fragrant cilantro, and smoky, spicy chiles. The three-cheese blend offers extra meltiness.

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Spicy Tortilla Soup with Shrimp and Avocado

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Spicy Tortilla Soup with Shrimp and Avocado Recipe

Chipotle chile and fire-roasted tomatoes lend smokiness to this tortilla soup recipe.

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Spicy Southwestern Tabbouleh

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Spicy Southwestern Tabbouleh Recipe
This dish is a traditional Middle Eastern tabbouleh that's given a kick with Southwestern spices

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Spicy Soba Noodles with Shrimp

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Spicy Soba Noodles with Shrimp Recipe
Serve these noodle bowls warm, at room temperature, or even chilled. Harissa, a North African spice paste, is available at well-stocked grocery stores, but if you can't find it, use hot sauce.

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Spicy Shrimp with Corn and Quesadillas

Photo: Kana Okada

Spicy Shrimp with Corn and Quesadillas Recipe
These shrimp get their kick from generous amounts of cayenne pepper and ancho chili powder.

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Sangrita de Toro

Photo: Alex Farnum

Sangrita de Toro Recipe
A spicy take on a Bloody Mary, with tequila instead of vodka. The chile salt makes enough for about 6 cocktails. The recipe comes from Silvana Salcido Esparza, chef-owner of Barrio Café and Barrio Queen in Tucson.

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Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas Recipe

Chipotles can be a touch spicy, but you can use only half of what's called for to decrease heat and still get great smoky flavor.

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New Mexican Red Chile Sauce

Randy Mayor; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

New Mexican Red Chile Sauce Recipe

New Mexican chile powder gives this sauce an authentic spicy, slightly bitter flavor. You can get a similar flavor by substituting 7 tablespoons top-quality sweet paprika mixed with 1 tablespoon ground red pepper. Don't use commercial chili powder in its place, though. Serve with meat, vegetables, or as enchilada sauce.

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Poblano-Jalapeño Chili

Photo: Johnny Autry

Poblano-Jalapeño Chili Recipe
Meaty, juicy, moderately spicy, very delicious.

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Homemade Sriracha

Photo: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Homemade Sriracha

Don't get us wrong—we love the bottled stuff, but making your own sriracha means you can control the heat. Make it as mild or as sweat-inducing as you can handle.

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French Fries with Bulgogi and Caramelized Kimchi

Photo: Con Poulos

French Fries with Bulgogi and Caramelized Kimchi Recipe
Austin is loaded with food trucks, and the Korean-Mexican-Texan mash-up that is Chi'Lantro is one of chef Aarón Sanchez's favorites. For his famous late-night snack, Chi'Lantro chef and owner Jae Kim tops hot french fries with caramelized kimchi, grilled Korean-style beef and a mayonnaise spiked with Sriracha.

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Ancho Chicken Tacos

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Ancho Chicken Tacos Recipe

Create authentic Mexican-style tacos by cooking the chicken in a mixture of ancho chili powder and cumin and serving over corn tortillas topped with slaw and avocado cream.

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El Sancho Barbecue Sauce

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

El Sancho Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Turn up the Texas on this sweet and spicy barbecue sauce by stirring in 1/4 cup of reserved brisket drippings just before serving.

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Grilled Chicken with Spicy Rhubarb-BQ Sauce

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Grilled Chicken with Spicy Rhubarb-BQ Sauce Recipe
Barbecue sauce is hardly an expected place to find rhubarb, and that's part of what we love about this addictive, tangy-sweet sauce tinged with smoky chipotle heat. Extra sauce can be refrigerated for up to one month. Also try it on pork and burgers.

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BBQ Pizza with Slaw

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

BBQ Pizza with Slaw Recipe
The sweet, tangy, spicy barbecue topping comes together in a snap with the help of supermarket rotisserie chicken.

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Lexington Style Grilled Chicken

Lexington Style Grilled Chicken Recipe
Larry Elder says Lexington, North Carolina, pork barbecue inspired him to create this spicy-hot vinegar marinade for chicken.

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Char Siu over Sesame Noodles

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Char Siu over Sesame Noodles Recipe
Chinese-style barbecue, char siu, is robust with sweet, salty, and spicy flavors working in concert, and the light, fresh noodles provide a smooth counterpoint.

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60 of Our Favorite Spicy Recipes

1 of 61

Spicy Hungarian Tilapia Stew

2 of 61

Spicy Shrimp Noodles

3 of 61

Spicy Chorizo Monkey Bread

4 of 61

Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken

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White Bean and Chorizo Soup

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Spicy Zucchini Salad

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Spicy Eggplant With Plums

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Korean Steak Sandwiches

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Roasted Red Pepper Hot Sauce

10 of 61

Spicy Tomato-Cucumber Salad

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Chicken Kebabs with Spicy Sauce

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Toasted Chile Salsa

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Spicy Chorizo Corn Chowder

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Spicy Scallops with Watermelon Salsa

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Spicy Veggie Hash

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Spicy Thai Shrimp Cakes

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Spicy Sausage and Portobello ‘Pizzas'

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Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

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Sweet and Spicy Pepperonata

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Spicy Jalapeño-Red Pepper Jelly

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Kickin' BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

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Spicy Jalapeño-Red Pepper Jelly

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Spicy Moroccan Chicken Skewers

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Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon

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Fiery Chicken Thighs with Persian Rice

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Spicy Clam, Chorizo, and White Bean Soup

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Chunky Hot Sauce

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Spicy Breakfast Taquitos

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Spicy Sausage and Chard Pasta

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Make Spicy Home Fries in Under 30 Minutes

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Fiery Tofu and Coconut Curry Soup

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Make Spicy Home Fries in Under 30 Minutes

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Choi's Napa Cabbage Kimchi

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Penne with Spicy Vodka Cream Sauce

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Grilled Calamari, Watermelon, and Tomato Salad

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Spicy Maple Turkey Breast with Quick Pan Sauce

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Fiery Hot Green "Sriracha"

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Spicy Asian Chicken Thighs

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Caribbean Pork Tacos