Use your dehydrator (or oven) to make your own chili flakes at home. They’re perfect for dashing over pizza or any other food for a bit of zing and flavor. A great way to preserve your pepper harvest.
How to Make Homemade Chili Flakes
If your garden is exploding with chili peppers, a great way to preserve them is to make your own Homemade Chili Flakes. It's surprisingly easy, and yields the freshest, most vibrant chili flakes you'll ever have.
All you need, aside from your fresh chili peppers, is either a dehydrator or an oven. I prefer my dehydrator, as it is the most foolproof method.
I usually pick many, many pounds of peppers from the garden each year and preserve as much of them as I can. See my Preserving Chili Peppers section for other methods, though homemade chili flakes are one of my favorites.
Why I Love Chili Flakes
Chili flakes are great to have around. They're a super seasoning. You can sprinkle them over anything you'd like for a nice pop of heat and flavor. And, the great thing about making them at home is, you can make any type you'd like.
When you purchase them from the store, you're basically limited to the singular crushed red pepper flakes usually made from cayenne peppers, the same stuff you get at every pizza place across America.
I've never understood why there isn't more crushed pepper variety. Don't get me wrong. I love the stuff served with my pizza, but as a chili pepper aficionado, I like a bit of variety. Don't you?
So let's make our own!
I HIGHLY recommend using a dehydrator for this, my friends. You CAN use your oven to dry your peppers, but the process is so much smoother and easier with a dehydrator. And yes, that is basically all we have to do is dry some of our favorite peppers.
So let's get drying.
How to Make Homemade Chili Flakes - the Recipe Method
First, wash and dry your preferred chili peppers. I used Squash Red peppers that I grew this year, as they have a nice medium level of heat, but this will work with ANY mild or hot peppers.
I often make crushed scorpion peppers for a crazy heat blast. You can even make them with bell peppers for a no-heat version.
Next, slice each pepper in half lengthwise for smaller peppers, or into rings for thicker walled peppers. It is best to cut them into 1/4" or smaller pieces for ease and uniformity of drying.
Set them into your dehydrator tray and dehydrate at 130 degrees F for 12 hours, or overnight. You may need to dehydrate longer, depending on the air conditions.
If oven drying, you need to keep the heat at the lowest setting possible. Most ovens won't go as low as 130 degrees.
If not, spread the peppers out on baking sheets and crack the oven door so keep the temps down and some air flow moving. Air flow is important to dry the peppers evenly.
Learn more about How to Dry Chili Peppers, and also How to Dry Chili Peppers to Make Your Own Seasoning Blends.
When the peppers are completely dried through and brittle, place them in a plastic baggie and seal. Crush them with your hands, or with a towel if your skin is sensitive, as some of the powder may leak through.
Like so...
Finally, pour the crushed peppers/chili flakes into a shaker and use as needed.
You can also use a spice grinder or food processor to make more of a chili powder to make your own spice blends.
Making Chili Flakes - a Great Preserving Method
It really is a great way to preserve a large chili pepper harvest. I have crushed chili flakes all over the house, at our breakfast table, at the bar in our basement, tucked away in drawers. You never know when you're going to need them.
Actually, you DO know when you're going to need them. When you're eating!
I hope you enjoy your homemade chili flakes!
Safety Advice
When working with hotter peppers, including superhots, it is important to wear gloves when handling the peppers both in raw and dried forms. The oils can get on your skin and cause burning sensations. See above.
Need help? How to Stop the Chili Pepper Burn On Your Skin.
Also, the fumes from the chili peppers and/or the fine powders may get into the air if you are not working in a well ventilated room, so you may want to wear a mask and goggles. Superhot chili peppers, truly, are called superhots for a reason.
Check Out Some of My Other Homemade Seasoning Blends
If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.
How to Make Homemade Chili Flakes - Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces chili peppers of choice
Instructions
- Clean and dry your chili peppers.
- Slice each in half lengthwise for smaller peppers, or into rings for thicker walled peppers.
- Set them into your dehydrator tray and dehydrate at 130 degrees F for 12 hours, or overnight. You may need to dehydrate longer, depending on the air conditions.
- When the peppers are completely dried through and brittle, place them in a plastic baggie and seal. Crush them with your hands, or with a towel if your skin is sensitive, as some of the powder may leak through.
- Pour into a shaker and use as needed.
- The crushed chili flakes will last indefinitely, though they will lose color and potency over time. They’re best used within a year.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Jeannie says
I had been wondering and researching what variety of chili peppers are used in the standard crushed chili flakes available at the grocery store and in pizza shops for close to a year. Thank you so much for answering that.
In the meanwhile I was out of hot sauce and made a batch with all the homegrown dried chili peppers I had on hand based on your recipe and info about using dried chili to make sauce. Thanks for all the awesome info and recipes on your site!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Jeanne! Glad to be helpful!
Rhonda Kent says
I will definitely be trying this. We have a large garden and grow many peppers including jalapenos, serrano, Anaheim, and will be trying Brazillian Starfish peppers this next year. I will let you know how it turns out. Love your blog, by the way.
Mike H. says
Thank you so much, Rhonda! Please do - I am keen to hear how it goes!
Leif says
I've just tried smoking them low & slow for a few hours first. The oils and moisture absorb the smoky flavor which is intensified when finished in a dehydrator at 130F until completely dried out. REALLY super! the smell in the kitchen is a great enticement for planning future uses. Use gloves.
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent! I love it, Leif. You're going to LOVE these chili flakes. Enjoy!
Shelly Weststeyn says
Would this be a good option for an overabundant harvest of serrano or jalapeño peppers?
Mike Hultquist says
Absolutely, Shelly. You can make green chili flakes to sprinkle over anything, or grind into powders for blends.
Joe Schaffer says
Great site also great recipes. Thanks for all the info.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Joe!
PJ says
I love dehydrating my own peppers. I don't have the space to grow my own so I rely on our local farmers market. I purchase a few pounds at a time, bring them home and prepare them for drying. I do mostly habanero and jalapeno's. I have a colleague who found them to be excellent and he now offers to buy them from me. He and I are the only ones who can tolerate the 'heat'. I've been following your pages for some time and I am intrigued by a man who can cook, no less, create his own recipes! I was married to a man who couldn't make a peanut butter sandwich (or just plain didn't 'want' to). Keep up the great work you do, it's very much appreciated.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, PJ. Glad you are enjoying the site. Yes, dehydrating is essential for great flavors and preserving. I just love it. I appreciate the comments.
Mel says
I tried this recipe last summer.. I don't have a dehydrator , I strung some together and hung them in our porch and let Ma Nature do her thing.. I know it takes longer to dry them but the end result was fantastic. I used Jalapeno's, two Carolina Reapers and a green variety (locally grown that no one knows what they are ). I live on the Greek island of Corfu, the temps in July reach around 37c , in August temps are 40c+ ,so no probs in them drying. Thanks again Mike for a fantastic recipe..
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Outstanding! Sounds wonderful, Mel! Thanks for sharing.
Mark says
*Apologies if this post duplictes*
I dried some chocolate habs in the oven for a few hours. Most turned out dried but I realized some still have a mild amount of moisture when I started breaking them up in the bag. So I put them on a plate and put them in my shed, which gets plenty of sun. I wouldn't think it would take much longer to dry. Would this work or is there a better way to save what I did?
Thanks as always!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
All good, Mark!
Mark says
Thanks for the tips! I dried some chocolate habs in the oven but it looks like some weren't completely dried out when I started breaking. I put them on a plate and am currently airing in my shed right now, which gets plenty of sun. Do you think that will work, or is there a better way to save them?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Mark. You can continue to dry them that way, but if there is any moisture in the air, they could potential rot or get infected, so keep an eye on them. Good air flow is idea. A dehydrator is best. Let me know how it goes.
EZ says
I have a large dehydrator that I use for large batches. I also have an air fryer which has a dehydrator setting which I use for smaller batches, which would be perfect for chili flakes. Some air fryer brands have this setting which starts out at 130 dF and 4 hours but the temperature and time can be adjusted up or down.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for the info, EZ!
brent says
This is my third time making this since I've discovered this article and they keep getting better.
Yours is still the best method, Mike: flaking them up by hand. So many DIY's say a spice grinder is the best way but that will ruin the coarse consistency to me.
For first-timers: I don't own a dehydrator, I do these from store-bought dried chiles (Mexican aisle usually) that I leave in the sun for a few days. This time was a bag of arbols with dried habaneros: a fiery red and black concoction. Wow.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Brent! I appreciate it!
Kathy says
Mike,
We are new to Florida, renowned for its humidity, can I dry my peppers in a dehydrator that will sit outside? I hesitate to do it inside the house because of irritates that may be released. Thx.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Kathy, you should be able to do it, but you may want to restrict times to overnight, when humidity is at its lowest. Humidity can definitely affect the overall drying process. I often dehydrate in my garage for this reason. Also, try to do small batches when humidity is high. This will take less overall time. Let me know how it goes for you. I'd love to share your experience here.
M, B says
My peppers are green on the plant do I pick now or will they turn red ?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
It depends on the pepper type. You CAN pick them when green, and some are meant to be, but I would probably wait until they turn red for some nice, vibrant red chili flakes. Let me know how it goes.