Vicky Wasik

Chips, crackers, Oreos, pretzels…for some, this is what the snacks in the pantry look like. While they may hit the spot every now and then, sometimes we find ourselves craving something a bit more, with a little bit of oomph. When you expand your snacking options outside the box (both literally and figuratively), a whole new world awaits. And when you enter spicy snack territory, you’ll never run out of satisfying options. From mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorn-dusted wings to Korean-style fire chicken and anchovy banchan, these are our favorite spicy snack recipes that bring the heat.

Jamaican Pepper Shrimp

Jillian Atkinson

Stewed in a flavorful aromatic broth loaded with onion, garlic, allspice, thyme, and plenty of spicy Scotch bonnet peppers, this Jamaican roadside snack can now be made right in your kitchen.

Chaat-Spiced Chex Mix

Vicky Wasik

Update your classic Chex mix recipe with the addition of chaat masala, the spice mixture used throughout South Asia for the popular street foods known as chaat. The spice blend combines funky, salty, spicy, and tart flavors, transforming anything it’s sprinkled on.

Korean-Style Fire Chicken (Buldak) With Cheese

Vicky Wasik

Fire chicken is the ultimate snack for game day or any day—and it’ll make you forget all about Buffalo wings.

Stir-Fried Anchovy Banchan (Myeolchi Bokkeum)

Vicky Wasik

Meyolchi Bokkeum is a classic banchan that packs a ton of flavor into a plateful of little dried fish.

Crispy Kimchi Cheese Rice

Vicky Wasik

We love using leftover rice to make fried rice, but we also love making this crispy, chewy, gooey snack that comes together in a cast iron skillet.

Sicilian Pizza With Pepperoni and Spicy Tomato Sauce

Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

This Sicilian pizza is as close as you’re going to get to the famous one at Prince Street Pizza in New York City.

The Best Buffalo Wings

Serious Eats / Julia Estrada

These wings are crispy, tangy, and perfectly succulent.

Crispy Deep-Fried Jalapeño Poppers

Vicky Wasik

These fried jalapeño poppers feature shatteringly crisp exteriors and a melted cream cheese filling.

Grilled Turkish-Style Chicken Wings

Vicky Wasik

An improved setup for skewers brings these grilled wings closer to the heat, while a marinade based on Turkish hot pepper paste infuses them with roasted-chile flavor.

Spicy Chicken Quesadillas

Photograph and video: J. Kenji López-Alt

Shredded chicken, kicked up with jalapeño and pepper Jack cheese, makes a hearty filling for these flaky quesadillas.

Suanla Chaoshou (Sichuan-Style Wontons in Hot and Sour Vinegar and Chili Oil Sauce)

J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

Coated in an intensely aromatic sauce made with vinegar, garlic, and roasted chile oil, these wontons are easy to make and incredibly satisfying.

Hot and Numbing Xi’an-Style Oven-Fried Chicken Wings

J. Kenji López-Alt

These wings, packed with Sichuan pepper and fresh spices, are both mouth-numbing and wonderfully flavorful all at once.