10 Spicy Recipes You Need to Try
At Pinch of Nom, we love to keep things fresh and exciting by turning up the heat.
Spicy dishes are more popular now than they’ve ever been.
Adding spice is an easy way to keep flavours interesting when you’re swapping out ingredients for low fat or low sugar versions.
Our Chickpea Tikka Dip is a great example of how adding mild curry powder and chilli flakes can take a snack or side dish to the next level – without the need for excessive oil or other calorie laden ingredients.
Ramping up the spice and keeping the calories low will entice your taste buds and help you stay on track.
In fact, most of our 10 Spicy Recipes You Need to Try are less than 400 calories!
What if I can’t handle the heat?
Our favourite spicy recipes are versatile and can be served mild, with a kick or super hot.
If you would rather take a cooler approach, go easy on the spicy ingredients until you’re comfortable moving up from ‘mild’ on the heat scale.
To make your tastebuds sizzle, you can always gradually add more.
Our recipes make it clear which of our ingredients bring the heat, so you can adapt each dish to suit you and your family.
This aromatic Chilli Chicken Masala is one of our favourite Fakeaway alternatives and can be enjoyed with as much or as little chilli as you like.
Whether you’re a huge fan of spice already or new to spicing up your cooking, we’re confident that these are 10 Spicy Recipes You Need to Try.
Do I need to prepare or buy anything special to cook spicy food?
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We would recommend getting to know our list of Cheap & Easy Spice Blends as we tell you how to combine the herbs and spices you likely already have stored in your cupboard.
A spice rack is a really simple way to get yourself organised ahead of preparing spicy recipes.
We love this 3-tier one from Amazon because it holds so many blends and looks great on display.
When it comes to cooking with or without spices, we all know measurements play an important part.
These stylish measuring spoons are super useful no matter what you’re cooking and they’re available on Amazon.
Here we go, 10 spicy recipes you need to try…
We’ve ordered these tasty recipes from least to most indulgent in terms of calories – but they’re all slimming friendly!
1. Spicy Tomato Soup – 115 calories per serving
Tomato soup is traditionally warming and hearty, but our Spicy Tomato Soup recipe takes lunch to a whole new level.
At just 115 calories per serving from our Everyday Light category, it’s the ideal solution if you’re looking for a light lunch that’s packed with flavour.
The Tabasco sauce is what really brings the heat in, and you can add as much or as little as you’d like.
2. Mexican Chicken Nuggets – 231 calories per serving
Who doesn’t love chicken nuggets?
Our Mexican Chicken Nuggets are a ‘grown-up’ twist on the moreish fast-food classic.
Best of all, these zingy nuggets are only 231 calories per serving, so they’re easily light enough to include on your menu once a week if you like.
They’re a great option if you’re not big on spice thanks to the cooling feta cheese, chilli, yoghurt and coriander dip.
Or, if you’d prefer to go dairy free, the tomatoey Pizza Dip from our Pizza Twists recipe goes really well with these too (you could even add chilli flakes if you’re feeling fiery)!
3. Tex Mex Chicken – 326 calories per serving
Our delicious Tex Mex Chicken is packed with Southern American flavours thanks to a variety of spices, so you’ll be sure to make good use of your spice rack.
This one is a firm favourite at Pinch of Nom because we think it’s just as good as any restaurant version, and it comes in at only 326 calories per serving.
You can combine with rice, potatoes or even serve in a wrap.
We love to serve this dish with our Mexican Potatoes as the spices work so well together.
This recipe is also super easy to batch cook so you can freeze it to enjoy the next week, following our guidelines in the recipe.
4. Bang Bang Pork with Spicy Roast Potatoes – 343 calories per serving
Inspired by our favourite Asian flavours, our Bang Bang Bang Pork with Spicy Roast Potatoes is super simple to make.
Best of all, it’s a one pot wonder, so there’s no need to worry about piles of washing-up afterwards!
The baked broccoli adds a nice crispiness, and you can go easy on the chilli flakes if you would rather enjoy this one mild.
We would recommend using a casserole dish that’s suitable for use on the hob as well as in the oven, like this one from Amazon.
5. Crispy Chilli Beef – 349 calories per serving
Did someone say Fakeaway at less than 350 calories per serving?!
A spicy recipe list would not be complete without our beloved Crispy Chilli Beef.
There are a large number of ingredients in this one but – trust us – it’s well worth it.
We use Franks Red Hot Wings sauce for our recipe which is available in many supermarkets, but you can always swap out with Tabasco or Sriracha.
6. Spicy Sausage Pasta – 396 calories per serving
Our Spicy Sausage Pasta is a classic all-rounder – it’s flavoursome, super quick and easy to make, perfect for batch cooking and low in calories.
The key to keeping this one in our Everyday Light category is using low fat sausages, so just be mindful of nutritional values when you’re adding them to your basket.
Simply add chilli flakes in moderation if you’re not ready to go full spice yet.
7. Nando’s Spicy Rice – 397 calories per serving
Our Everyday Light spin on the classic Nando’s side dish, Nando’s Spicy Rice is an easy accompaniment to so many mains.
At just 397 calories per serving, you won’t be going back to plain boiled rice after you have given it a try!
For a fresh and fragrant meal, pair with our trusty Chicken Kebab recipe.
You can even serve each portion up in individual ramekins like these ones from Amazon for a more authentic Nando’s experience.
8. Drunken Noodles with Chicken – 408 calories per serving
At the end of a long working week when you just want something quick, it’s easy to turn to takeaways.
Thankfully, Fakeaway recipes like our Drunken Noodles with Chicken are just as tasty as the takeaway alternative.
At just 408 calories per serving, it’s a no-brainer – especially when these delicious noodles can be prepped and cooked in under 30 minutes!
It’s said that these noodles are ‘drunken’ because of the thirst that follows from trying the spicy sauce.
If you are a spice lover, you can always double up on the chilli flakes and add an extra chopped chilli (seeds included).
9. Caribbean Jerk Stew – 429 calories per serving
Jerk seasoning is one of the most colourful and flavourful ingredients out there.
A staple of Jamaican cuisine and Caribbean cooking, it’s sweet, salty AND spicy in one!
You might be thinking, isn’t a stew recipe for warming you up at cooler times of year?
Well, the spicy overtones in our Caribbean Jerk Stew are actually so fresh and exciting that it’s perfect for all year round.
Oh, and don’t worry – there’s no need for six hours in the slow cooker, as this recipe can be ready to enjoy in just under an hour.
It’s also super budget friendly and convenient to batch cook, so it would be a great addition to your weekly routine.
10. Cheesy Fajita Orzotto – 468 calories per serving
Last but not least, our one pot Cheesy Fajita Orzotto is an indulgent, risotto-like creamy dish that has a fajita-style kick.
Orzo is a type of pasta that looks a bit like rice – it should be available at your local supermarket in the pasta aisle.
Using a Mexican-inspired blend of chilli flakes, herbs and spices, it’s perfect even on a hot day thanks to its quick cooking time and low maintenance prep.
You can either serve as is or wrap individual portions in freshly washed gem lettuce leaves for added freshness.
Our recipe uses turkey mince, but you can substitute with pork mince if you’d prefer.
Need some extra help and motivation on your slimming journey?
Adding spice to your cooking is a great way to keep you excited about flavours and on track towards your goals.
If you’ll be making our 10 Spicy Recipes You Need to Try, why not check out our Essential Herbs and Spice List so you’re stocked up and ready to go?
Aside from our Crispy Chilli Beef, every recipe on this list is suitable for batch cooking.
That means you can work them into your weekly routine easily and have dinner on the table in less time than it takes for a takeaway to arrive.
All our freezer suitable recipes come with unique guidelines for freezing, so just be sure to check those out before you stockpile your spicy creations!
What are your favourite spicy recipes? Tell us what you’ve been cooking over on our Facebook Group. There are almost 1 million members in the group already, waiting to share inspiration, motivation and support for your slimming journey.