SCOVILLE HEAT UNITS: 2,500-5,000 SHU
Capsicum Annuum
Cowhorn peppers are long, fairly thick-walled chili peppers that are shaped a bit like cow horns, hence the name. They are very large peppers in general, growing up to ten inches long, though the pods thin and curvy, very much like a large cayenne pepper.
The peppers turn bright red upon maturity, and they do have some heat, measuring in at 2,500-5,000 Scoville Heat Units. Learn more about the Scoville Scale Here. This makes them roughly the same heat level as an average jalapeno pepper.
The pods are quite wrinkly, though they are outstanding to cook with, having both a nice level of heat and a wonderfully fruity flavor, with thick enough walls to provide some substance to whatever you're cooking.
Common Questions about Cow Horn Peppers
Here is a list of questions I receive about Cow Horn chili peppers. Contact me with any further questions and I'll be happy to update this page.
Are Cow Horn Peppers the same as Cayenne Peppers?
While they are similar in appearance, cow horn peppers are not actually cayenne peppers, even though they are often referred to as such. In reality, cow horn peppers are much larger and not quite as hot.
While they are both Capsicum Annuum, they are otherwise not related.
Cooking with Cow Horn Peppers
Because of their decent level of heat, large size and overall flavor, cow horn peppers are highly versatile.
You can use them as part of the Cajun Holy Trinity (onions, celery and peppers) to start any sort of meal, such as Cajun Chicken and Sausage Gumbo.
Cow horns make great chili powders, so you can dehydrate them then grind them into a powder that you cause for just about anything. See How to Dehydrate Chili Peppers to Make Chili Powders.
Other ideas for cooking with cow horn peppers include:
Personal Notes
I've grown cow horns in my garden many years now, and even though they are very productive plants, I still use up all of the pods.
I personally prefer drying them for powders, pickling them, and cooking them into main dishes. Many people use them for stuffing, but I find that they are usually too thin to produce a meal from a stuffed pepper. However, they are good enough for appetizer sized stuffed peppers.
Where Can I Buy Cowhorn Seeds?
Check out my chili pepper seeds resources page, or you can purchase cownhorn pepper seeds here (affiliate link, my friends!).
Contact me anytime with any questions. -- Mike H.
Mike Hultquist is the author of "The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook" and "The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook".
Learn About These Other Medium Chili Peppers
- Purple Jalapeño Peppers
- Chimayo Chili Peppers
- Paprika Kalocsa
- Piment De Bresse Pepper
- Aji Sivri Chili Pepper
- Jaloro Chili Peppers - All About Them
- NuMex CaJohns Serrano - One HUGE Serrano
- Cherry Peppers: All About Them
- Chilhuacle Amarillo Chili Peppers
- Cascabella Peppers: All About Them
- Aleppo Pepper: A Syrian Chili
- Sandia Chili Peppers
- Hungarian Wax Peppers - All About Them
- Aji Fantasy Chili Pepper
- Puya Chili Peppers (Chile Puya)
- Aji Habanero Chili Peppers
- Morita Chili Peppers
- Fresno Pepper - Much Like a Jalapeno
- There are even more here!
Cindi says
It's starting to get cooler at night here on the East Coast and since I planted my peppers so late in the season, my Cowhorns are still green. Is it ok to pick/use them? How does this affect their flavor?
Mike H. says
Yes, you can absolutely pick them - they are still edible and can be quite tasty. However, picking them at the green stage does affect their flavor - they will probably have milder heat and less sweetness.