Spicy food offers more than just a thrilling sensation for your taste buds. It can boost your metabolism, aid digestion, and provide essential nutrients through a vibrant combination of herbs and spices. If you're a spice enthusiast looking to add some zest to your diet, here's a curated list of recipes that are both delicious and beneficial for your well-being.
The Allure of Spicy Food
Beyond the immediate kick, spicy food can contribute to a healthier lifestyle. The capsaicin found in chili peppers, for example, has been linked to increased metabolism and improved cardiovascular health. Furthermore, many spicy dishes incorporate a variety of herbs and spices, each offering its own unique set of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Spicy Chicken Recipes
Spicy Chicken for Outdoor Gatherings
Perfect for barbecues and potlucks, this spicy chicken recipe is packed with flavor and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Red Pepper Chicken Meatballs
These chicken meatballs strike a delightful balance between rich, savory flavors and a touch of spiciness from red pepper flakes.
Blackened Chicken Breast with Lime
Boneless, skinless chicken breast is a lean protein powerhouse. This recipe elevates the traditional chicken dinner with a blend of blackened spices and a tangy lime kick. Its versatility makes it a go-to option for repeated enjoyment.
Read also: Delicious Spicy Food
Cajun Chicken
Immerse yourself in the bold flavors of Cajun cuisine with this expertly seasoned chicken recipe that the whole family will relish. Cajun seasoning generally isn’t very hot, if we’re talking about the Scoville scale, but we think it has its own reasons for being called “spicy”: its mixture of cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powders, black pepper, oregano, and thyme.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Casserole
This buffalo chicken pasta casserole is destined to become a new family favorite, bringing the beloved buffalo chicken flavor to a comforting pasta dish. Kids love the flavor of buffalo chicken, and serving it with tater tots and cheese makes a delicious meal. Garnish with cilantro and sriracha, and serve with celery sticks for a dish that is sure to be a hit!
Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
The concentrated heat from the garlicky sambal oelek finds harmony with rice and crisp lettuce, both of which help cool off your tongue between bites.
Extra-Saucy Baked Chicken Wings
What’s hot and red and full of molten butter? That’s right: Buffalo sauce, which is only one of two sauces that come with these baked chicken wings.
Salsa-Grilled Chicken Thighs
This chicken recipe uses two kinds of dried chile, earthy guajillo and fiery dried pequin, in a tomato-based salsa with a biting, lingering heat.
Read also: Healthy Spicy Food
Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken Thighs
Welcome to your newest go-to summer marinade, featuring some sambal, brown sugar, and coconut milk to balance the heat, as well as lots of fresh ginger and lime juice.
Spicy-Sweet Sambal Pork Noodles
Store-bought ramen-we like Sun Noodles, manufactured in Carlstadt, New Jersey-soak up fiery, tangy-sweet flavors of pad kee mao (a.k.a. drunken noodles) and meaty tomato sauce.
Ginger-Garlic Fire Cod
Modeled after Hunan-style steamed fish, this fiery, weeknight-friendly dinner is rounded out with a cucumber salad and steamed white rice. But more about the fiery part: We swapped traditional duò jiāo for Calabrian chile paste, a more readily available fermented chile product.
Spicy Pork Bowl With Greens and Carrots
This easy weeknight dinner will make you the household hero. By leaning on inexpensive pork tenderloin and store-bought sambal oelek and gochujang as your spice elements, you’ll have dinner ready in the time it takes to cook your rice.
Peach Salsa Chicken
My husband and children love this tender chicken with its spicy sauce. Peach preserves add just a touch of sweetness, while taco seasoning and salsa give the dish some kick.
Read also: Indian-Inspired Spicy Diet Recipes
Meatball Mania: Spicy Turkey Meatballs
Get ready for tailgate season with these clean-eating, high-protein, low-carb turkey meatballs, offering a healthier take on a classic snack.
Seafood Sensations: Tilapia and Shrimp
Mango Chili Tilapia
This tilapia recipe is a quick and easy option, ready in under fifteen minutes. The sweet and spicy sauce combines mango with red onion, chili powder, and paprika. This tilapia is a quick and easy healthy spicy food for weight loss to prepare.
Spicy Garlic Shrimp
This shrimp recipe is infused with the flavors of red pepper flakes and garlic, delivering a delightful kick with every bite. A flavorful shrimp and vegetables dish that kids will enjoy. Cayenne pepper adds a bit of heat, and can be adjusted to taste.
Spicy Cocoa Shrimp
Tossing shrimp right into the mole-inspired sauce means they get cooked gently-and that means a super-tender texture. Serve it with tostadas, cilantro, and lime wedges.
Spicy Shrimp Endive Spears
Gochujang has entered the chat. Mixed with mayo to make a spicy sauce for chopped shrimp, the fermented red chili-bean paste is what makes these veggie spears such enticing cocktail party appetizers.
Spicy Salmon Hand Rolls
If you’re new to gochugaru, Korean red chile flakes, we suggest heading to your nearest Asian market to get some. Then make this spicy recipe, which is a good way to discover how deliciously fruity, sweet, and smoky gochugaru can be. (Seriously, prepare to be forever changed.)
Spicy Salmon Roll Bowl
There are two layers of heat in this spicy recipe: chile-flecked shichimi togarashi, a Japanese pepper blend, and an oil-based chile crisp such as Lao Gan Ma.
Vegetarian Delights: Burgers, Salads, and More
Flavor-Packed Veggie Burgers
These veggie burgers are bursting with flavor, offering a satisfying and healthy vegetarian option.
Spicy Kale Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing
This kale salad packs a flavorful punch while also providing a boatload of nutrients. The heat of the salad is complemented by the sweet and tangy maple dijon dressing.
Red Curry Noodle Bowl
Heat lovers will adore this easy red curry noodle bowl, a quick and flavorful vegetarian meal.
Eggplant Chili
This eggplant chili, seasoned with chili powder and jalapeno peppers, delivers intense flavor, protein, and fiber, making it a hearty and nutritious vegetarian dish.
Nacho Salad
This delicious recipe combines two favorites: nachos and salads. Not only is it full of flavor but it’s also a surprisingly healthy option.
Spicy Hummus
Garbanzo beans are tossed in lemon juice and olive oil and seasoned with garlic, cumin, jalapeno pepper, red bell pepper and more to create this spicy hummus!
Smoky Spiced Veggie Rice
Try this vegan take on a jambalaya, full of fiery and smoky flavours and bursting with vegetables. It's healthy, low in fat and calories, yet big on flavour
Spicy Harissa Aubergine Pie
Make this veggie bake filled with lentils, sweet potato, feta and aubergine for an easy family meal. You can freeze any leftovers
Spicy Peanut Butter & Corn Ramen
Make a warming noodle soup which is sure to pack a punch - it’s spicy, sweet, nutty and savoury all in one slurp! The fish sauce adds a subtle layer of umami
Veggie Protein Chilli
A protein packed vegan chilli, perfect after a run or gym workout. This easy supper is simple to make and freezable if you want to batch cook
Spicy Bean & Avocado Quesadillas
Enjoy a Mexican-inspired lunch that’s packed with flavour. As well as being quick to make, these are healthy, low in calories, plus three of your 5-a-day
Spicy ‘Vedgeree’
Try our veggie twist on kedgeree for a healthy supper. Like the traditional version, it's served with boiled eggs and has a lovely mild curry flavour
Spicy Root & Lentil Casserole
The potatoes in this recipe take on the spicy flavours beautifully - our idea of the perfect veggie supper
Spicy Mushroom & Broccoli Noodles
Shiitake mushrooms provide 'meaty' texture and flavour in this healthy vegetarian stir-fry - top with roasted cashews for extra crunch and nuttiness
Spicy Tofu Tahini Noodle Salad
Whip up this easy noodle salad. With minimal cooking involved, it helps on the energy usage front. Switch up the veg depending on what’s in season
Spicy Peanut Pies
Bake our healthy, African-inspired peanut pies for a delicious veggie dinner. A portion provides all of your 5-a-day, plus iron, fibre, folate and vitamin C
Vegetable jalfrezi
A meat-free curry, low in saturated fat and packed with goodness from butternut squash, cauliflower, peppers and chickpeas
Chilli Corn & Spring Onion Quesadilla
Try a new twist on a classic Mexican-inspired snack by adding fiery chillies, sweetcorn and a squeeze of lime to make these delicious vegetarian quesadillas
Spicy Cauliflower & Halloumi Rice
Make this spicy cauliflower, spinach and halloumi rice for a speedy, vegetarian supper. Nourishing and balanced, it's ideal for busy weeknights
Tofu with Chilli & Greens
Make a midweek meal that's quick, simple and good for you. The tofu and pak choi are richly flavoured with a soy dressing and served on a bed of rice
Vegan Bean Chilli Fries
Treat family and friends to Mexican-inspired loaded fries. This plant-based dish is great for entertaining, whether for a movie night or party
Little Spicy Veggie Pies
Each individual potato-topped pie provides four of your 5-a-day, and is healthy, vegan, low calorie and gluten-free too. Get ahead and freeze for another day
Veggie chilli
The easiest chilli you'll ever make, with ready-to-eat grains, kidney beans in chilli sauce and summer veggies - it's 4 of your 5-a-day too!
Spicy Vegetable Stew with Coconut
This tasty veggie dinner truly has it all - five of your 5-a-day, folate, fibre, vitamin C and iron.
Spicy Braised Tofu
Not that you really need convincing, but this recipe is reason enough to stock up on a few packages of tofu. It will quickly go into your weeknight supper rotation. (And then there are all of these tofu recipes too.)
Chipotle-Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
Use the smoky sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo to form the base of a flavorful paste. That will then coat cauliflower florets before they go into the oven to become tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and, yes, spicy.
Spicy Braised Eggplant Noodles
A few store-bought pantry items such as gochujang, tomato paste, and miso will help you get this vegetarian pasta dinner on your table (and in your belly) tonight.
Weeknight Mapo Tofu With Ground Pork
Tingle-inducing Sichuan peppercorns don’t actually contain heat, but their numbing properties enhance the effects of chiles, like in this riff on mapo tofu. If jalapeños don't do it for you, do like one commenter and swap in a few red Thai chiles.
Spicy Mushroom Larb
Pick your poison: Slice your chile and keep the seeds in the mix if you want to really feel the burn. For a more subtle hit of heat, slice your chile in half lengthwise and remove the ribs and seeds.