Spicy Hummus with Chipotle Peppers

This homemade spicy hummus is super easy to make and super delicious to eat! Serve it up as a party appetizer with pita chips, homemade pita breads, or crudites and you have a beautiful platter ready to go.

overhead close up of chipotle hummus


 

Spicy Hummus Recipe

Since the hummus food trend started over a decade ago, I jumped on the bandwagon. Justifying the fact that hummus is a healthier snack option, I could take down an entire container in one sitting. I would buy several containers of Sabra Hummus when it was on sale (that stuff is expensive) in my favorite flavors of chipotle and supremely spicy.

angle view of spicy hummus with crudites in a bowl

Since then they stopped making the Chipotle flavor, which I loved because not only was it spicy enough to make your nose run, but it has the smoky flavor of chipotle peppers which makes the whole thing more sophsiticated.

Homemade hummus is really simple to make and the base recipe of tahini (sesame paste), chickpeas and olive oil can be made into unlimited flavors. Think of the store bought flavors and then think outside of the box for so many varieties of homemade hummus recipes.

Different brands of canned chickpeas (sometimes labeled garbanzo beans) have different textures. For hummus, you want one that is smooth and velvety versus one that is more taunt that would be better for salads or sauteing. Experiment with them to find the best fit for you.

hand holding a pita chip with hummus and a pine nut

What is Hummus?

Hummus is a Middle Eastern savory dish that is usually used as a dip in Eastern cultures, but it can be used in soups, stews, as a sandwich spread, a topper for proteins or flatbread and more. It can be used as a condiment just like mayo or hot sauce.

angle view of homemade hummus recipe with spicy peppers

The base is simple and after you master it, possibilities are endless.

  • Tahini
  • Lemon juice
  • Chickpeas
  • Olive oil

Some of our favorite flavors are:

You pretty much throw everything into the food processor and blend it until smooth and creamy. Easy peasy!

ingredients for spicy hummus

How to Make Spicy Hummus

To make hummus at home, you will need a good food processor or blender, it is the best way to get a nice, smooth texture. Old school, you would use a grinder, mortar and pestle or even a ricer.

  1. Start by pulsing the chipotle peppers to get a nice texture. They come while. If you want to just make a base recipe and then top it with peppers, you can mince them on a cutting board instead of infusing the whole batch. I do this when I’m not sure if everyone will like brow beading spicy food.
  2. Start with a small amount of liquid and the chickpeas, this allows them to thin out and smooth before adding the other flavors and coming to the correct consistency. Scrape down the sides as you go.
  3. Add the tahini, olive oil and seasonings based on flavor and personal preference. You can use black pepper instead of white, I use white because it is milder and also doesn’t create little flecks through my dip.
  4. I top mine with more minced chipotle peppers, toasted pine nuts ad another drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Toasting the pine nuts brings out natural flavors and oils. This is also a situation for a good olive oil, not one of the cheapo brands that likely blends olive oil with vegetable oil and doesn’t actually have any flavor.
  5. Serve with chips, fresh veggies like red bell peppers or yellow bell peppers, warm pita bread or anything else you serve with traditional hummus! My kids eat it with a spoon.
ingredients in a food processor for spicy hummus

Spicy Hummus Variations

  • Swap out the tahini – You can substitute tahini with any of these other items, but it will drastically change the texture and flavor of your dip: Greek yogurt, nut butters (almond butter or peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, sesame oil
  • Make it spicier – Feel free to take the heat to the next level. You can do this by adding cayenne pepper, habanero pepper, or any hot peppers. These are all a great way to add a spicy kick for your taste buds.
  • Garlic – If garlic is your favorite flavor like it is mine, add some fresh garlic cloves to your hummus ingredients. It’s a great addition to add a little kick to this delicious dip.
spicy hummus in a bowl

Chickpeas

Chickpeas, also sometimes packaged as garbanzo beans, are pretty much essential for hummus. Even other flavors of hummus like black bean or carrots will be blended with chickpeas.

If you want to make your own dried chickpeas, here is how to make your own chickpeas.

  1. Soak dry chickpeas for 8 hours or overnight.
  2. Drain your soaked chickpeas and transfer them into a saucepan.
  3. Add cold water until you have twice the volume of the chickpeas. They will soak some up and you don’t want them to get dry.
  4. Bring the water to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer the chickpeas for 45-60 minutes or until soft.
overhead of spicy hummus in a bowl with veggies

Storage, Make Ahead and Freezing

Storage: Since you are making it fresh, the shelf life isn’t as long but it is even healthier without all those additives and preservatives. And it is made with tahini, which is sesame seeds, and that can go rancid.

Make Ahead: Hummus can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Who says it will even last that long with how great it is?!

Freezing: Hummus doesn’t freeze well because of the water content and fresh ingredients. It will defrost mealy and loss its texture.

More Mediterranean Dishes

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Greek Chicken Hummus Bowl

This Greek Chicken Hummus Bowl is a great healthy lunch or dinner and is great for meal prep. Using homemade hummus and lots of fresh toppings!
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Lemon Couscous Recipe

This EASY Lemon Couscous recipe is bright and full of flavor. It makes the perfect side dish for nearly any main dish!
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overhead of baba ganoush with dippers

Baba Ganoush (Roasted Eggplant Dip)

Traditional spices with a creamy base makes this roasted eggplant dip the perfect pairing for pita chips or veggies sticks.
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close up of spicy hummus
spicy hummus overhead with veggies

Chipotle Hummus

4.95 from 37 votes
Chipotle Hummus is a spicy homemade hummus recipe. Easy to make and stores easily, it is the perfect party appetizer recipe!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a food processor, combine 1 tablespoon chipotle peppers with chickpeas and a small amount of olive oil. Blend until smooth.
  • Slowly add additional olive oil and tahini, then thin out with reserved chickpea liquid. You can also use water, it just doesn't have as much flavor. Season with the salt and white pepper according to personal preference.
  • Top with additional chopped chipotle peppers, toasted pine nuts and additional extra virgin olive oil (if desired).
  • If you've tried this recipe, make sure to come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 210 kcal, Carbohydrates: 19 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 13 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8 g, Sodium: 449 mg, Potassium: 216 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 3 g, Vitamin A: 76 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 37 mg, Iron: 2 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Anne
Calories: 210
Course: Appetizer, Condiment
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: homemade hummus, spicy hummus recipe
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
 
spicy hummus for pinterest
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.95 from 37 votes (29 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Super great flavor, added a little extra chipotle and didn’t have pine nuts still a perfect recipe!!!

  2. 5 stars
    Yummy! This hummus is such a tasty and delicious dip! My hubby and I love it! Perfect for get togethers too. Can’t wait to make this again!

  3. 5 stars
    I love making my own hummus and lately I’ve been craving something spicy so this is perfect! Thanks for the tasty recipe!

  4. 5 stars
    I enjoy making homemade hummus, but haven’t tried a spicy version yet. I bet this has a really powerful flavor punch from the chipotle. Sounds delicious!

  5. 5 stars
    This homemade hummus with smokey Chipotle peppers sounds wonderful. There will be no leftovers when I make this.