Welcome to Chili Pepper Madness, where spicy food is always on the menu. We are here to bring you easy-to-follow recipes you can make at home whenever you want, and as SPICY as you want, too.
Hey there, I’m Mike! (Also known as the guy behind Chili Pepper Madness!)
I’m a 2-time cookbook author and lifelong chilihead who’s been obsessed with bold, spicy flavors for as long as I can remember. Together with my wife, Patty, I’ve built Chili Pepper Madness into a go-to resource for anyone who loves adding a kick of heat or bold flavor to their cooking.
My goal is simple: to show you how to take everyday ingredients and turn them into exciting, flavor-packed dishes you’ll love to make and share.
Whether you’re a fan of fiery heat or just a hint of spice, I’ve got recipes, pro tips, and proven techniques to help you bring bold flavors to life in your kitchen. I’m here to help you grow as a cook and maybe as a chilihead, too!
I’m constantly inspired by the incredible ways chili peppers and other vibrant ingredients are used around the world, from comforting American classics with a spicy twist to global cuisines like Thai, Sichuan, and Caribbean, and many other countries.
Every recipe on Chili Pepper Madness is developed, tested, styled, and photographed by me (with help from Patty in the Photography department!) I don’t hire this out like so many other recipe sites. No way! I love bringing my passion for spice to your life!
I started this site over 25 years ago, long before food blogs were a thing, as a way to share my love of chili peppers and hot sauce. It was originally called Jalapeno Madness, but we’ve evolved and we’ve been growing and growing ever since.
We now have millions of visits every month, nearly 200K followers on Pinterest, 78K+ on Facebook, 50K+ on Instagram, and 140K+ on YouTube. I love connecting with you all!
I was even the YouTube Creator of the Day and have a silver plaque from YouTube! How awesome is that?
Patty and I recently made the move from Chicago, IL, to Charlotte, NC, where we’ve been exploring Southern food and BBQ, adding even more depth to our love of spicy cuisine.
We make it a point to travel frequently to study and experience food from around the world. We’ve been all over the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Spain, Hungary, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Hawaii, even Antarctica!
Everywhere we go we seek out culinary knowledge in the form of cooking classes, food tours, and events, all in search of delicious cuisine so I can share what I learn with you.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just getting started, I’m here to help you level up your cooking game.
Let’s get spicy together! Check out my Recipe Index with over 1,000 recipes and dive into the world of bold, exciting flavors.
Features
I am proud to have been featured on YouTube Creator of the Day, WGN News, the Dishing Podcast, and Chile Pepper Magazine, where I was a writer for years.
I’ve been featured on CNN, NY Times, Buzzfeed, Taste of Home, Delish, PopSugar, SheKnows, and Parade.
I’ve also been featured by some fellow food bloggers including Recipe Tin Eats, Tastes Better from Scratch, Salt and Lavender and Downshiftology.
What You'll Find at Chili Pepper Madness
- Lots of Easy Recipes. Some recipes take a while to make and require a certain number of steps, but that isn't my focus. You'll find many recipes you can make in 30 minutes or so and don't require a ton of ingredients.
- Customizable Heat Levels. My recipes are spicy, sure, but I do my best to show you how to adjust them to your own preferred heat and spice level. We believe that flavor is the most important thing, not just heat.
- Dishes from Around the World. Spicy food can be found all over the world, and I just love to learn about it. Thai cuisine has some of the hottest food in the world, as does Chinese cuisine, particularly from the Sichuan region. But I follow the spices and peppers all over, from Asia to South America and anywhere I can follow.
- Classic American Dishes. America has so much to offer when it comes to food, especially spicy food with big flavor. You'll find Cajun cooking (a favorite!), dishes from the American south such as BBQ, low country cooking and more, regional favorites and anything I think you'll love.
- Chili Peppers! I am so obsessed with chili peppers, hence the name of the site. I grow a big variety every year, from milder sweet peppers to the hottest of the superhots. And I cook with them all. You'll find a big list of chili pepper types, preserving information, growing information and more so you can seriously rock the garden and make your own unique recipes and spices from scratch.
- Superhot Recipes. Yes, I have many recipes for those chiliheads at the top of the scale, including recipes with ghost peppers, scorpion peppers, the Carolina Reaper and more.
- Hot Sauce Recipes. This is where I began! I love making my own hot sauce and can show you how to make many different types, including fermented and non-fermented.
I hope you'll explore the site and learn for yourself.
A Bit About Mike
- I'm the Content Creator. I make all the recipes and write them up, as well as write all of the content here on the site. Everything comes from me. I style the dishes and take some of the photos, but that is primarily Patty's job, which leaves me more time to cook!
- I'm a Cookbook Author. I am the author of "The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook", "The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook", and others. By my books alone, you can tell that I am a spicy food aficionado.
- I'm a Screenwriter. Yes, I am a produced screenwriter. Here is the IMDB link if you'd care to take a look. My produced credits include the movies VICTIM, ARENA (starring Samuel L. Jackson and Kellan Lutz) and 12 FEET DEEP. I've been hired to write studio scripts and have optioned others as well. I'm still actively writing.
- I'm a Fiction Writer. I love to write fiction, mostly darker stuff, horror, thrillers. I've published fiction novels and numerous short stories, and have even edited an anthology. I'm also an active member of the Horror Writers Association and get to vote for the Stoker awards. See more about my screenwriting and fiction.
- I'm a Beer Lover. I love craft beer and actively explore local breweries. My favorites are IPAs, Pale Ales and Wheat Beers, though there are so many to enjoy.
A Bit About Patty
- I’m the Photographer, Organizer and Anything Needed. I feel super lucky to be able to do this job full time and I love every minute of it. It’s so great to wake up each morning excited about your job. I’m so passionate about food and love seeing all of you making the recipes and finding your own enjoyment in the dishes.
- I Love Gardening. I love growing our own peppers, tomatoes and other yummy delights. Fresh herbs and produce make every dish taste so much better and I find so much joy in growing it ourselves.
- I Love Spicy Food. Working on our Madness websites has been very rewarding for me. I’m a total converted chilihead now and crave the spice that Mike cooks all the time. There is rarely a dish served in our house without a chili pepper in it, or some sort of spicy flavor blast, and I love it.
- I Love Traveling. I love planning trips and going on them. We moved to North Carolina not too long ago so we could be between the mountains and the beach. I love to relax on the beach with a book or go hiking in the mountains and now we can do this very easily. I also love foodie trips and traveling all over the world. I'm always looking to experience the food in various places. And I love to plan parties, with food always being the most important part.
Some Recent Favorite Recipes
- Pollo Asado. Mexican roast chicken is so good! It's the ultimate roast chicken with bone-in chicken marinated in citrus and spices, quick grilled then roasted for big flavor. So tender and juicy.
- Kung Pao Chicken. This is the ultimate stir fry with chunks of marinated chicken stir fried with peppers, scallions and peanuts and an easy but flavorful sauce. Nice and spicy.
- Tikka Masala. This recipe is a creamy Indian-style curry with chunks of yogurt-marinated roasted chicken simmered in a flavorful curry sauce. It is very comforting and perfect for any curry lover.
- Texas Chili. A bowl of perfection right here! This Texas chili is authentic, meaty, just the right amount of spicy, and not a chili bean in sight.
- Grilled Jerk Chicken Wings. These chicken wings are huge on flavor, with wings rubbed down with loads of jerk seasoning, then grilled until nice and crispy. Fire up that grill, my friends!
- Smoked Jalapeno Poppers. This is the ultimate party food with bacon wrapped jalapeno peppers stuffed with loads of melty cheese and seasonings, then smoked for the most outstanding flavor. These will be your new favorite poppers!
- Homemade Buffalo Sauce. This is so easy to make with hot sauce, butter, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar and more – it’s so much better than anything you can grab from the store.
- Muffaletta Sandwich. I love this one! This is the ultimate sandwich from New Orleans, piled high with Italian meats, cheese, and a homemade spicy olive tapenade. Feeds a crowd!
- See Mike's Favorite Recipes and Patty's Favorite Recipes.
Joe Shanahan says
Where do I find Jalapeño Popper Recipes?
Mike Hultquist says
Joe, here you go: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/jalapeno-poppers-recipes/. Also, you can navigate through all the recipes with the buttons/links at the top of the website.
Michael Munoz says
Hi Mike
I'm taking my first foray into growing my own peppers. That being said, I planted 8 different varieties today.
Jalapeno
Habanero
Santa Fe Grande
Hot Hungarian Wax
Carolina Reaper
Sweet Banana pepper
Poblano
Serrano
Due to limited space, I put them in grow bags, which will allow me to move them around for sunlight. Being in Central California we get plenty of heat and light during the growing season.
I planted them from seedlings, not seeds, and made sure to use a good fertilizer to get healthy plants.
Any advice for a novice pepper farmer?
Michael
Mike Hultquist says
Congrats, Michael. To grow your pepper varieties in grow bags in Central California, make sure the plants get 6-8 hours of sunlight/day, keep consistent soil moisture without overwatering, and use well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. Watch out for bugs and diseases and give them lots of care. Enjoy the harvest!!
Karen says
The recipes you create are fantastic, and I’ve been having so much fun trying them out. Thanks for sharing them!
Mike Hultquist says
Great to hear! Thanks so much, Karen!
Lorien says
I just got your spicy dehydrating book and I love it! Some really interesting and inspiring ideas in there. Thanks for sharing them. 🙂
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Lorien! I hope you'll leave an Amazon review! People love that. Take care!
Jeremy Ewen says
Can I use a blender to make the Salsa Roja? I don't have a food processor. Any tips for using a blender?
Mike H. says
Jeremy, you can absolutely use a blender. Blend in batches, pulse instead, scrape down the sides and monitor consistency. Have fun!
Graham Leach says
Mike,
You are an absolute star. I follow all of your recipes and I love what you do! May you and Patty have many years of entertaining us with your creative wizardry.
I particularly love the seafood recipes and your flair certainly brightens up our mundane UK cooking.
Love it.
Thank you.
Best wishes
Graham
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Graham! You just made my day. I appreciate it.
Barry Lazar says
I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your approach to cooking. I look for recipes where I can substitute tofu for meat. Our daughter is vegetarian so I often cook the same thing twice (e.g., chicken korma). Your approach is inspirational. Happy V-day to you and Patty. Us too, as Feb 14 is our anniversary! Regards from Montreal; and no, I don't need a recipe for poutine!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Barry! I appreciate it! Glad you're enjoying the recipes. Happy V-Day! and Happy Anniversary!
Andrew Wilcox says
Hey Mike.
Small world. I’m a Chicago transplant living in Charlotte (Huntersville), too.
Love your recipes. Love spicy food.
Making jalapeño bottle caps tomorrow for the Super Bowl.
Mike Hultquist says
Yes, small world! I hope you enjoy the game and the food! Thanks, Andrew.
Brad says
Hey - I really like your videos and recipes! I had a question - I watched an old one of yours - crawfish etoufee - i love crawfish but i never know where to get it as i live in Utah - i have looked at some online options but they typically are for large orders and are quite costly to ship - where do you get your crawfish? thanks
Mike Hultquist says
Hey, Brad. Thanks! I've ordered online as well and froze some for using later. However, I sometimes find them at my local Publix in the seafood area, but not always. You can ask them to carry it or order you a smaller bag. I hope this helps.
Walter Vollweiter says
Chilipeppermadness.com is probably the best cooking website on the internet with awesome recipes. One can trust Mike and his recipes to deliver amazing food! thank you
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Walter! I sincerely appreciate your support.
Randy VanderNaillen says
I'm going to make your Pickled Mustard Seeds recipe and add them to a Carolina style coleslaw to go with your slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches for Game Day this Sunday. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Mike Hultquist says
Enjoy, Randy. =)
Rick Delaney says
Good morning Mike.
“You had me at TACO’S!”
Mike Hultquist says
Oh yeah! Thanks, Rick! I love them.
Made says
Hai Mike n Patty, nice to say hello, I'm an Aust. in SE Asia for a long time, need more fingers and toes to count. my partner has a local chilli sauce and mustard label. it's only a year old. she has 5 sauces and 1 mustard. because rain season here, she has stopped production as quality is not up to our standard. however We need a Thai style shelf stable Sriracha recipe. ( traditional Thai style) I can access the chillis we will use, do you recommend white vinegar, indo white vinegar is very strong, it's what gets used in our sauces, considering using rice vinegar for this and palm sugar, sea salt fermentation, Sauce will be pasteurised and hot bottled sterile... any tips.
Matur suksma,
( thankyou in Bahasa Bali)
Made
ps, you should visit us, it appears you haven't been to Indo
Mike Hultquist says
Hi, Made. Nice to meet you. I have a Thai Style Homemade Sriracha Recipe here you can review. I use white rice vinegar. Let me know if this helps. https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/hot-sauces/homemade-sriracha-hot-sauce-recipe/