To create the same flavor as smoked paprika using the suggestions above will be your best bet. But if you want to add some heat that can be found in hot smoked paprika, use any of the substitutes above paired with hot red pepper flakes.

Heat Level: Hot

Spicy ketchup will obviously be sweeter and very mild in comparison to Sriracha, so as an ingredient, it’s good for big proportions (like for meatloaf). We wouldn’t use it for more authentic chili sauce needs (go with Sriracha there), but based on your recipe context, it can work.

For this swap, you need to mix a pinch (⅙ teaspoon) of paprika and cumin and a dash (⅛ teaspoon) of cayenne. You can also adjust other ingredients to your taste. To use as a swap, use exactly as the recipe calls for smoked paprika.

Homemade chili sauce will last 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to 6 months.

The differences, if any, are typically minor and often come down to regional preferences in terminology or slight variations in the type of chili pepper used, the coarseness of the grind or the inclusion of other spices in the mix. For most culinary purposes, these terms can be used interchangeably without significantly affecting the flavor or outcome of the dish.

Paprika is Hungary’s national spice; you’ll find it on tables right next to the salt and pepper, and you can’t make time-honored Hungarian food, like goulash, without a heaping helping of paprika. Paprika peppers are grown all over the country though Kalocsa and Szeged, cities located in southern Hungary, are two of the most important regions for paprika production. 

1. Make sure your dried paprika peppers are super dry and crispy. They should break easily.

While hot sauce is all about the heat, chili sauce often presents a balance between spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors. Therefore, hot sauce is typically used when you want to increase the spiciness of a dish without altering its fundamental taste, while chili sauce is used to add a new dimension of flavor.

To use Aleppo chili powder in your recipe, add the same amount or half the amount of what's listed in your recipe for hot paprika.

We know it may be very tempting to simply swap in that ketchup sitting in the fridge, but spiciness is a primary expectation of chili sauce, and there’s obviously none in ketchup. Plus, it’s very simple to spice up that ketchup with chipotle or cayenne pepper to at least provide some heat.

In summary, bell peppers are not called paprika; rather, they are the primary ingredient used to make paprika. The name paprika is derived from the Hungarian word paprika, and it has become synonymous with the ground spice made from dried red peppers. Bell peppers are chosen for their flavor and color, making them an ideal ingredient for producing the beloved spice known as paprika.