Paleo Foods: Chili Peppers

There's nothing quite like the mouth-burning fire of a good chili pepper - but did you know about all their nutritional benefits?

Nutrition Details

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Chili peppers are also rich in capsaicin, the chemical that gives them their burning-hot flavor. In some studies (like this one and this one), capsaicin showed benefits for weight and metabolic health/insulin sensitivity.

The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it has.

Macros in Context

Here's how a serving of 2 chili peppers stacks up in the context of a typical Paleo meal:

Blue bars show the typical range in grams for a Paleo meal. For example, a Paleo meal usually includes 30-60 grams of fat, but where you personally fall in that range will depend on your preference.

Orange dots show how 2 chili peppers fit into the typical nutrient profile of a Paleo meal.

Buy It

Buy chilies fresh or dried, depending on how you want to use them.

• VARIETIES: There are hundreds of varieties of hot chili peppers. Some of the most common are cayenne peppers, habanero chilis, and jalapeno peppers.
• FRESH OR DRIED: Fresh chili peppers work well in salsa or appetizers. Dried peppers can add a rich chili flavor to soups and braises.
• HEAT: The heat of chili peppers is measured in Scoville heat units (SHU). The more SHU, the hotter the pepper. Here are a few you might recognize:

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Cook It

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RAW

Chop into very small pieces and mix with other salsa ingredients for a spicy twist.

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OVEN

Stuff jalapeno peppers with sausage, almond cheese, or another favorite filling and roast as appetizers or snacks (see recipes below).

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GRILL

Chop peppers into small pieces and use as a marinade or steak, chicken, or pork before grilling.

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SKILLET

Toss a few hot peppers into an omelet or frittatta for extra punch.

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Recipe Ideas

Carne Asada with Portobello and Bell Peppers

Sausage-Stuffed Jalapeno Bites

Beef Sirloin Grilled in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Blueberry-Peach Salsa