Celebrate the heat and flavor of the super spicy habanero pepper! If you are a lover of spicy foods you are going to want to make every single one of these delicious recipes. From hot sauces to fried chicken this hot pepper can do it all.
Lovers of Mexican food surely know the chili pepper known as habanero. It was once thought to be the spiciest chile in the world, clocking in at 350,000 Scoville heat units but the ghost pepper and others have now overtaken them on the Scoville scale.
There are many authentic Mexican recipes that use habaneros, especially ones from the Yucatán peninsula where they are eaten with almost every meal. Let’s take a closer look then, dive into some recipes you’ll want to make at home.
What Are Habanero Chiles?

Habanero plants are from the same species as the Scotch Bonnet, Capsicum chinese, which is confusing since the habanero originate in the Amazon and have nothing to do with China.
They are extremely spicy chiles but also have a seductive fruity flavor that makes them pretty irresistible.
If you grow habaneros you know that they are a perennial plant with the chiles starting off green and then becoming orange, brown, or red habanero chiles as they mature.
They used to be harder to find in the United States but now they are available at almost any grocery store.
Handling habaneros is definitely something to be careful with. They will cause your skin to burn and can cause severe pain if you touch sensitive parts of your body. Use gloves or wash your hands throughly with soap and water right after touching.
More To Explore
5 Habanero Recipes To Try!
1. Fiery Habanero Tomatillo Salsa
If you like spicy, this salsa is for you. This habanero salsa is not for wimps made with charred habanero chiles, onions, and tomatillos it will warm you from the inside out.

2. Huevos Motuleños from Mexican Food Memories
This recipe from Mexican Food Memories is perfect for a lazy Sunday breakfast. These Huevos Motuleños are from the city of Mosul, a little town in the state of Yucatan, they are now very popular around Mexico. Like Karla says, they have lots of elements, from the refried beans, to the fried tortillas and the spicy habanero salsa, but when all these ingredients are put together on a plate, they are just magical.

3. Mango Habanero Cocktail Meatballs
The easiest party appetizer; just spruce up store-bought meatballs with a sweet and spicy mango habanero sauce.

4. Spicy Mexican Southern Fried Chicken from Pati Jinich
You don’t want to miss out on this hot fried chicken recipe from Pati Jinich. Marinated in chiles and buttermilk then topped with habanero. Unforgettable!

5. Smoked Maple Butter Popcorn with Habanero Salt
Smoked Maple Butter Popcorn with Habanero Salt is the ultimate luxurious snack for any party. Popcorn drenched in smoked maple syrup, butter, & spicy salt!

More Mexican Ingredients To Check Out!
- What is Capsaicin? Plus 20 Spicy Food Recipes
- What are Flor de Jamaica {Hibiscus Flowers}? Plus 10 Hibiscus Recipes
- How To Make Homemade Panela Cheese
- How To Make Tortillas
- Homemade Mexican Chorizo
- What is Cotija Cheese? Plus 20 Delicious Recipes
- Inside a Mexican Pantry: The Ultimate Guide
I hoped you loved scrolling
Please tell me your favorite way to use habaneros in the comments below! And make sure to give these recipes a try. Let me know when you make it by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!
Resources
- Yucatán: Recipes From A Culinary Expedition by David Sterling
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