Instructions
What is Crushed Jalapeño Pepper?
McCormick® Crushed Jalapeño Pepper is made from real jalapeño peppers that have been cored, diced and dehydrated to maintain their flavor and kick. This spice has been created to give you the bold heat of fresh peppers without the chopping, prep, and seed cleanup. Whenever a recipe calls for moderate heat, reach for our convenient and ready-to-use jalapeños in your spice rack.
What Does Crushed Jalapeño Pepper Taste Like?
Crushed jalapeño pepper delivers a crisp, moderate kick of heat that is balanced by the fresh, green flavor profiles present in raw jalapeños.
Crushed Jalapeño vs. Red Pepper Flakes Comparison Guide
While red pepper flakes and crushed jalapeño pepper both add a kick to recipes, crushed jalapeño pepper and red pepper flakes bring different flavor profiles and heat levels to your food.
Crushed jalapeño pepper is harvested from dried, fresh green jalapeño peppers. This results in a green appearance and a bright, fresh, and slightly sweet vegetable flavor. Traditional red pepper flakes by contrast are made from whole, dried, ripe cayenne peppers, which results in a slightly fruity, chili pepper aroma.
Heat level is another key differentiator. McCormick® Crushed Jalapeno Pepper delivers moderate heat, while McCormick® Crushed Red Pepper provides a noticeably spicier, hotter flavor.
Crushed Jalapeño Pepper Substitutes
When swapping dried peppers for fresh ones, use this information to ensure comparable proportions:
- Fresh Jalapeño: Use about ¼ teaspoon flakes for each fresh jalapeño called for, then adjust. Add more for heat, but remember that flakes will not provide the same crunch, moisture, or bright green color as fresh jalapeños.
How to Use Crushed Jalapeño Pepper in Cooking
One of the many benefits of McCormick® Crushed Jalapeno Pepper is that it requires no chopping, seeding, or prep work. Instead, you can shake it directly in cooking liquids, marinades, or on top of finished dishes.
Simmering dishes like chili, enchilada sauce, stews, and soups can easily have crushed jalapeño pepper added early in the cooking process. This allows the dried pepper pieces to rehydrate and infuse their heat throughout. They can also be added to cold dips like guacamole, fresh salsa, or seasoned cream cheese. For these, stir in the crushed pepper ahead of serving to let the flavors infuse into the creamy base.
Crushed jalapeño pepper can be used as a table condiment as well. Simply shake crushed jalapeño over pizza, cheesy nachos, scrambled eggs, or elotes right before eating for an instant explosion of spicy flavor.
What Cuisines and Dishes Use Crushed Jalapeño?
Crushed jalapeño pepper complements a wide range of cuisines and dishes. Its bright, approachable heat is especially well suited to Tex-Mex, Southwestern, and Mexican-inspired flavors.
Mexican & Tex-Mex:
Crushed jalapeño can become an essential spice for building quick flavors in taco meat, enchilada sauces, fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, ceviche, and elote. It can even be infused into a simple syrup for spicy margaritas and other craft cocktails.
Barbecue:
Crushed jalapeño is perfect for kneading directly into ground beef for spicy jalapeño burgers, or shaking into marinades for grilled chicken or pork.
Dips & Breakfast:
Crushed jalapeño easily blends into warm queso, spinach artichoke dip, deviled eggs, or whipped cream cheese for morning bagels.
Flavors That Go with Crushed Jalapeño Pepper:
- Garlic Powder & Cumin: These spices, combined with crushed jalapeño, are the foundation for taco seasonings and fajita marinades.
- Cilantro Leaves: The herbal freshness of dried cilantro balances the moderate heat of jalapeño in salas and rice dishes.
- Lime Juice: Bright acidity lifts the vegetal notes of jalapeño in ceviche, dressings, and margaritas.
- Cheddar & Cream Cheese: Rich dairy softens the chili’s heat while letting its savory pepper flavor shine in dips, poppers, and casserole.
How to Store Crushed Jalapeño Pepper
Store your bottle of McCormick® Crushed Jalapeno Pepper in a dry pantry away from direct heat, steam, and sunlight. Our SnapTight™ bottles seal tightly to protect the dehydrated pepper pieces from moisture, preserving their crisp aroma and bold flavor for long-lasting freshness. It’s also best to use your pepper flakes by the date printed on the SnapTight™ lid.
Learn more about how to keep all kinds of McCormick spices fresh!
Grab Your Crushed Jalapeño Products!
- McCormick® Crushed Jalapeno Pepper, 1.37 oz
- McCormick Culinary Crushed Jalapeno Pepper, 11.28 oz
- McCormick® Heat-Lovers Crushed Pepper Pack, 4ct
