BEST Chili Powder (From Scratch)

Move over store-bought chili powder!  With an incredibly robust and vibrant flavor, NOTHING compares to homemade chili powder made from scratch - it's a total game changer!

Prep time: PT10M

Cook time: PT5M

Total time: PT15M

Rating

4.98 stars (76 reviews)

Keywords

Chili Powder

Ingredients

4 ounces dried red chile peppers
dried ancho chiles ((I use this brand))
dried guajillo chiles ((I use this brand))
3 tablespoons whole cumin seeds
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 1/2 tablespoons dried Mexican oregano
2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 whole cloves ((or 1/8 teaspoon ground))
2 small allspice berries ((or 1/8 teaspoon ground))

Cuisine

Mexican
Text Mex

Steps

Remove the stems from the dried chilies and scrape out and discard the seeds and membranes.  Heat a cast iron or heavy pan over medium-high heat and place the chilies in the pan single file so they're not overlapping.  Roast on both sides just until fragrant (approx. a couple of minutes) being very careful not to scorch them or they will taste bitter.  Remove and let cool.  Place the whole spices in the pan and roast until very fragrant, being careful not to scorch them (a couple of minutes).  Remove and let cool completely.
Once the chilies and spices are completely cooled, place them in a blender or spice/coffee grinder with the remaining ingredients and pulse until it's a powder.  Transfer to an airtight jar for storage.  For best flavor use within a few weeks.Makes about 1 cup of chili powder.

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 teaspoon
Calories: 10 kcal
Carbohydrates: 1 g
Sodium: 3 mg

Reviews

P Virn on 2025-10-31 (5 stars):
Absolute game changer for sure. I made this last year for a Church chili cookoff which I’ve never entered before and finished in third place. We’re having another chili cookoff this week so I’ll be doing it again because last year I forgot the cloves and the smoked paprika but all of the tasters comment and how rich in color and deep depth of flavor this stuff does congrats great recipe
Char on 2025-09-17 (5 stars):
stumbled upon this recipe while desperately trying to compensate for not having enough chilli powder to make my pot of chilli! while I didn't follow the recipe completely...it gave me an idea of what to add to make up for what I was lacking! And I would like to try your recipe properly once I get my hands on those chillies it calls for. Oh and I make your shortbread all the time! It's always a crowd pleaser! love your site and the little anecdotes!
Patricia Davis on 2024-12-09 (5 stars):
What are the proportions of ancho and guajillo, 50-50?
Danielle Haggarty on 2024-07-07 (5 stars):
This is such a fantastic recipe. Most recipes just call for mixing store bought ingredients together and the flavor is far inferior to this one. Using whole dried chilies and spices creates a chili powder that has so much more flavor. Yes, it's more work, but the small effort really pays off. Just do it, you'll be happy you did.