30+ Smoky and Spicy Chorizo Recipes

Chorizo and Bell Pepper Tostadas Recipe

Uncured Mexican chorizo is raw ground pork laced with garlic, cumin, oregano, and chile powder—not the dried, cured links. Try it on a baked potato, too.

Chorizo Meatballs with Manchego Cheese Recipe

Made with Mexican chorizo, ground pork, smoked paprika and Manchego cheese, these savory meatballs are the perfect start to any holiday gathering.

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. 

Taco Truck Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Flavorful as a taco truck, but healthy enough to become part of your regular rotation. We keep calories in check by blending a mixture of higher calorie (but oh-so-flavorful) Mexican-style chorizo with leaner ground pork for the meat filling. And then we keep it light by tucking the filling into sweet, fresh butter lettuce leaves—like a cross between a taco and a lettuce wrap. The quick-pickled carrots and jalapeños add authentic taco-truck flavor. Be sure to use fresh Mexican-style chorizo sausage (found near other refrigerated bulk sausages) instead of dry-cured Spanish-style chorizo.

Chicken with Chorizo and Tomato Salsa Recipe

We add smoky Mexican pork chorizo, quickly seared, to a fresh tomato salsa for a little extra heat. Chicken breast halves cook in the chorizo drippings for even more flavor.

Tri-Pepper Chorizo Stuffing Recipe

Mexican pork chorizo in Tri-Pepper Chorizo Stuffing takes your stuffing on a tasty trip south of the border.

Chorizo and Kale-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Zucchini-Arugula Salad Recipe

A combo of superlean ground turkey and rich ground pork gives you the ideal mix of flavor and texture while staying nice and light.

Sheet Pan Nachos with Chorizo and Refried Beans Recipe

Messy? Maybe. Worth it? Yes. The secret to fully loaded nachos that won’t fall apart in your lap? A mixture of salsa and refried beans acts like the “glue” to help the toppings stick to the tortilla chips.

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup with Chorizo Recipe

For an easy and elegant fall entertaining dish you can make in your Instant Pot, look no further than our savory butternut squash soup. This Instant Pot butternut squash soup is a perfect recipe for effortless autumnal vibes. Featuring chorizo sausage and spices like cumin and chili powder, matched with butternut squash’s inherent sweetness, this Instant Pot soup exudes seasonal warmth. It’s excellent when served with crusty bread and a green salad for a light entree, but also makes for a fantastic appetizer served in smaller portions. A speedy and flavorful twist on classic butternut squash soup, our Instant Pot version delivers a delightful blend of textures and flavors in each bite thanks to toppings that make the dish as beautiful as it is delicious.

Tortilla Soup with Chorizo and Turkey Meatballs Recipe

Smoked chorizo gives Tortilla Soup with Chorizo and Turkey Meatballs a deep, smoky flavor without overpowering. This Tortilla Soup is a perfect go-to for parties or quick get-togethers.

Spicy Cornbread Dressing with Chorizo Recipe

This year, add a little kick to your Thanksgiving turkey with this spicy cornbread dressing. Flavored with jalapenos, chorizo, and cilantro, it will be a welcome change of pace from your usual recipe. Whether you make the cornbread from scratch or buy it premade, make sure it is savory, not sweet, for the best results.

Crispy Potatoes with Chorizo Recipe

This potato side would be welcome on just about any dinner plate, but it's particularly delicious paired with grilled steak or roasted chicken. Look for baby Yukon Gold in packages with the other potatoes; if you can’t find them, use 1 1/2 pounds of large Yukon Gold potatoes cut into 1-inch chunks. Other types of baby potatoes, such as red or white, aren’t the right texture for this side.

Spanish Chorizo Corn Cakes Recipe

Is there any time of day when a pancake isn't welcome at the table? These sweet and savory cakes are a scrumptious choice for breakfast, dinner, or a quick snack on the go. Keep warm and toasty by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven for up to 30 minutes. Reheating is as easy as popping frozen cakes in the toaster, making them ideal for quick weekday meals.

Mexican Chorizo Burger Recipe

With a fiery burger (courtesy of fresh Mexican chorizo blended with ground beef sirloin) and Serrano chile salsa, fresh avocado slices, and crumbles of cotija cheese help cool things down.  Pair with: Full Sail Brewing Co. Sesión Cerveza. Like a salsa-capped chorizo burger, this light, Mexican-style lager demands to be savored on a hot summer day.

Sweet Potato and Chorizo Sausage Bites Recipe

In my hometown, you'll find a local twist on sausage balls, the ubiquitous Southern nibble. Sweet potato farmers' wives often mix a bit of roasted sweet potato into the dough. I've switched out breakfast sausage for peppery Mexican-style chorizo.

Grill-Braised Clams and Chorizo in Tomato-Saffron Broth Recipe

Spanish flavors inspire this simple but intense summery braise. Saffron gives the tomato broth a nutty complexity, while the spice and heat of chorizo liven up the clams.

Kale-and-Chorizo Soup Recipe

Be sure to pick up firm, cured Spanish chorizo (seasoned heavily with paprika and typically sold in links) and not soft, raw Mexican chorizo--a delicious but totally different product. Or you can use kielbasa, though the soup will take on a smokier personality.

Grilled Vegetable & Chorizo Salad Recipe

Lunch: Keep hunger pangs away with these healthy and delicious dishes! 150 calories and under. Lose weight the 5:2 way. This healthy, quick and easy recipe is featured in the lunch section of the new 5:2 Starter's Guide to The 2-Day Diet. The book provides a selection of over 100 tasty recipes that meet the daily 500 calorie allotment for the 2 days of intermittent fasting, as required by the 5:2 Diet.

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®.

Cauliflower Bravas with Crispy Chorizo Recipe

Patatas bravas, the classic Spanish tapas made with spicy sauce-covered potatoes, still packs a fiery punch with crisped-up cauliflower. Top these oven-charred florets with sherry-infused mayo and diced Spanish chorizo for a hearty snack or side alongside anything grilled.

Chorizo and Kale-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Zucchini-Arugula Salad Recipe

A combo of superlean ground turkey and rich ground pork gives you the ideal mix of flavor and texture while staying nice and light.

Chorizo and Kale-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Zucchini-Arugula Salad Recipe

A combo of superlean ground turkey and rich ground pork gives you the ideal mix of flavor and texture while staying nice and light.

Steamed Broccoli with Chorizo Recipe

Broccoli is a go-to veggie side for many families yet is often served very plain. Here we offer a great way to dress it up.

White Bean and Chorizo Soup Recipe

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

Spaghetti with Chorizo and Toasted Paprika Bread Crumbs Recipe

This Spanish-inspired dish gets big flavor from just a handful of ingredients. If you can't find Spanish chorizo, use smoked pork sausage and an additional 1 tbsp. smoked paprika during the browning step.

Wine Pairing: Earthy, spicy DaVinci 2012 Chianti Riserva (Chianti DOCG; $23).

Chorizo and Roasted Poblano Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe

Hot cooked wild rice is incredibly nutty and fragrant, a perfect counter to smoky paprika, quick roasted poblano peppers, and spicy fresh chorizo. Look for Mexican chorizo (like ground beef or pork) rather than Spanish chorizo (cured sausage in casings). The rice will absorb the drippings from the sausage as the two bake together in the casserole dish. If you can’t find Mexican chorizo, try hot Italian pork or turkey sausage. We treat the rice the same as a bread stuffing—binding it with a mixture of stock, eggs, and butter—for a richer, more cohesive stuffing that will brown beautifully in the pan.

Loaded Chorizo Nachos Recipe

When we say loaded, we mean it. These nachos require a fork for scooping up all the tasty fillings. Building on a foil-lined pan means instant cleanup: Bring the pan right to the table after broiling, and discard the foil after dinner.

Braised Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo and Garlic Recipe

Turn almost any side into a hearty one by adding chorizo. The meaty addition will make your Brussels stand out amongst the crowd for their garlicky wow factor.

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.

Smoky Chorizo Stuffing Recipe

Rather than traditional sausage stuffing, chef George Mendes of NYC's Aldea serves a smoky version using chorizo and hot pimentón de la Vera (smoked paprika).Slideshow: More Holiday Stuffings and Dressings

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.