Where Does Paprika Come From?

The main difference between chili powder and the two spices we’ve covered is that chili powder actually comes from a blend of red pepper flakes. It’s also much hotter than cayenne powder—ours comes in at a whopping 160,000 Scovilles.

Another option is to use a spice blend or a spice rub because these may contain large amounts of paprika. Cajun and Creole seasonings, for example, are mainly paprika along with garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and cayenne, so you could certainly substitute one for the other. Similarly, Old Bay seasoning is mainly celery salt and paprika. As in the cases above, go with a 1:1 ratio.