That's a great question! The name of peppers can vary from region to region, hence the different spellings. Depending on where you go, it is either "chili pepper", "chilli pepper", or "chile pepper". Take your pick!
"Chilli" is more commonly used in England and Europe. "Chile" is by far the most commonly used in America's Southwest regions and particularly in New Mexico.
"Chile" is actually the Spanish spelling and pronunciation of the word. However, "chili" is far more common in general usage and spelling, an Americanized spelling of the original "Chile" spelling that came out of Mexico.
Die-hard chile pepper lovers argue that "Chile" is the only proper spelling, and that "Chili" refers only to the delicious food with meat, beans and chili spices that you eat out of a bowl, but most people use "Chili" or use both "Chili/Chile" interchangeably.
Unless you're from the U.K., then it's probably "Chilli", though they recognize all variations as well.
Either way, all spellings are recognized by the dictionary.
Shane Keene says
Interesting to know. I've always referred to South American peppers as chile and Asian ones as chili, not based on any knowledge, just assumption on my part. This clarifies.
Alex says
I live in Colorado and we frequently get peppers from New Mexico. I use quite a bit of green and red New Mexico 'chile' in my cooking. I have just become to accustomed to that spelling. Many of the mexican restaurants run by mexican born immigrants use the 'chile' spelling.
Either way, chile or chile flavors need to be in most of the foods that I cook.
Lufthansa24 says
I wonder that how English spells chilli. Because, you said that chilli is the commin spelling in England and Europe at first. Howover you said that "Unless you are from UK, then it's probably 'chilli'. Do English people use chilli commonly?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
My friends from England commonly use "chilli".