10 Spicy Vegetarian Favorites
If you’re a spicy food lover like me, then you’ve come to the right place! I’m one of those people who put hot sauce (my current favorite is Yellowbird Habanero Sauce) on everything, whether it’s soup or sandwiches or scrambled eggs (I’ve even been known to drizzle it over spaghetti).
These 10 recipes feature heat from a variety of sources, including chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, cayenne pepper, sriracha, Calabrian chilis and small-but-mighty Thai chilis. Each can be modified to suit your preferred level of heat, and most contain substitutions for making the dish vegan and/or gluten-free. Be sure to leave a comment to share YOUR favorite way to pack the heat!
SPAGHETTI WITH FRA DIAVOLO SAUCE & LENTIL MEATBALLS
Fra diavolo means “Brother Devil” in Italian, so you better believe this dish is spicy. The sauce includes a heaping tablespoon of crushed red pepper flakes, lots of cracked black pepper and fire-roasted tomatoes. The spaghetti is cooked in the sauce and is topped with delectable homemade lentil meatballs plus additional cheese to garnish.
MUSHROOM AL PASTOR TACOS
These tacos are all about the sauce — a vegetarian version of the classic al pastor. It’s made with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, vegan Worcestershire sauce, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder and a few other ingredients. Fresh pineapple helps to balance out the spiciness!
SPICY EGG SALAD LETTUCE WRAPS WITH BLACK-EYED PEA RELISH
This egg salad features sriracha, green chiles and serrano for a punch of flavor — it’s spicy, but not too, so feel free to add extra sriracha or even a fresh jalapeño to kick things up a notch. The black-eyed pea relish on top is super tangy, full of veggies and perfectly pairs with the hearty egg salad.
GARLICKY PASTA WITH BURRATA, CALABRIAN CHILIS & PEAS
I’m in love with this hella simple yet super interesting pasta dish. Sweet-and-spicy Calabrian chilis act as the starring ingredient and do a fabulous job of kicking up the heat. And it all comes together in 30 minutes or less! Prepare to devour a big bowlful.
SPICY LENTIL & RED PEPPER SAUSAGES
Skip the ultra-processed faux meat and go for these homemade Spicy Lentil & Red Pepper Sausages instead! Their spice comes from red peppers, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and black pepper, aka the Holy Trinity. Check out the recipe for easy substitutions to make the dish vegan!
SPICY RED BEANS & RICE
Red beans & rice, in my humble opinion, is the ultimate spicy dish. It’s smoky, it has a serious depth of flavor and it’s spicy without burning your taste buds off. Plus, this version is veggie-packed with carrots, kale, celery and onions.
VEGAN DRUNKEN NOODLES
These Thai-style drunken noodles can be made mildly spicy or straight-up lip-tingling — the choice is yours. The heat comes from Thai chilis, aka Bird’s eye chilis, and they are no joke. While Thai chilis really make the dish, if you can’t find them, you can substitute serranos. They’re less spicy, but they’ll still get the job done. Don’t forget to drizzle with sriracha!
BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER WINGS WITH BLEU CHEESE DIPPING SAUCE
Is it even legal to make a list of spicy favorites without including buffalo wings? Of course, these are even more delectable because they’re made with cauliflower. The spice comes from classic Frank’s RedHot Sauce, which is pretty fiery on its own. If you want to pump up the volume, go for Frank’s Xtra Hot, or incorporate some sriracha. Luckily, bleu cheese dipping sauce is ready and waiting to help balance out the heat.
SPICY CHILI SPAGHETTI
Prepare yourself for another spicy classic — Spicy Chili Spaghetti. Folks, the chili included in this dish is easily one of my all-time greatest recipes. It’s packed with veggies, it’s insanely smoky and flavorful and it features a slow-burning, back-of-the-throat sort of heat. Don’t forget the sharp cheddar and diced red onions!
CHIPOTLE VEGGIE LENTIL TACOS
Last, but certainly not least, are these Chipotle Veggie Lentil Tacos, easily some of my favorite tacos ever. The spice comes from — you guessed it — chipotle peppers in adobo sauce! In addition to lentils, the taco “meat” is made with shredded carrots, onions, garlic and green chiles. Feel free to make a big batch of the lentil filling and use it for tacos, burritos and more.