Chili Flakes vs. Crushed Red Pepper: Are They the Same?

The short answer: Usually, yes. "Crushed red pepper," "red pepper flakes" and "chili flakes" (or chile flakes) are three names for the same condiment: dried red chile peppers, crushed rather than ground. Most of it is made from cayenne-type peppers and lands around 30,000–50,000 Scoville units, but the exact peppers vary by brand, so read the label when the heat matters.

Joel Friant started The 'Original' Habanero Shaker by drying and grinding his own habaneros in 1995 with his home coffee grinder, so chile flakes are the one thing we think about all day. Here is what is actually in the shaker on the pizza-shop table, and how it compares.

Quick reference: what each name usually means

Is crushed red pepper the same as chili flakes?

In most kitchens, yes. The condiment goes by all three names: crushed red pepper, red pepper flakes and chili flakes. Which one you hear mostly depends on where you shop and what the jar says. All three describe the same thing: dried red chiles broken into flakes, not ground into a powder.

The word to watch is the one in front. A label that names a pepper, like "Korean chili flakes" or "habanero flakes," is telling you it is one specific chile, and that changes the flavor and the heat. A label that just says "crushed red pepper" or "red pepper flakes" is the general-purpose condiment.

What peppers are in red pepper flakes?

Most crushed red pepper is made from cayenne-type peppers, although commercial producers can use a variety of different chiles. That is why two jars of "red pepper flakes" from different brands can taste and burn a little differently. The flakes usually include a lot of seeds, which is why a shake of the pizza-shop kind looks so speckled.

If you want to know exactly what you are getting, the ingredient list is the only place that will tell you. "Red pepper" on its own does not name a variety. A single named pepper does. For more on the named varieties, from Aleppo to Calabrian, see our guide to hot pepper flakes and how to choose the right one.

How hot are red pepper flakes?

Standard crushed red pepper usually falls in the 30,000–50,000 Scoville unit range, the same range as cayenne. That is noticeable heat on a slice of pizza, but it is not at the top of the scale.

Habanero sits much higher, at roughly 100,000–350,000 Scoville units. In other words, the low end of habanero starts at about twice the top of the typical crushed-red-pepper range. Our complete guide to the Scoville scale shows where every common pepper lands.

Numbers only tell part of it. In Joel's own words: "Pizza-shop crushed red pepper sitting on your table has almost always been there for a long time, oxidizing and losing much of any flavor it ever had to begin with. This is on top of the good chance it wasn't even that fresh when the jar was filled! It's not very hot, it's not smokey & buttery tasting like the 'Original' Habanero Shaker, and it definitely doesn't elicit that deep, rich throaty burn that delightfully follows you down the street long after you've taken your last bite and left the restaurant!"

Can you swap one for the other?

Crushed red pepper, red pepper flakes and generic chili flakes swap one for one, because they are the same condiment. Use the amount the recipe calls for and adjust to taste.

Swapping in a hotter, single-pepper flake is different. Start with much less than the recipe says and build up, because you can always add heat but you cannot take it out. Our tips on using a chili flake shaker to control heat apply to any hot flake. If you want that swap, The 'Original' Habanero Shaker is 100% habanero with nothing else in the bottle.

Frequently asked questions

Are red pepper flakes and chili flakes the same?

Usually, yes. Red pepper flakes, chili flakes and crushed red pepper are names for the same condiment: dried red chiles crushed into flakes. The exception is a label that names one pepper, like "Korean chili flakes," which tells you it is a specific variety.

Is crushed red pepper just chili flakes?

Yes, in most cases. Crushed red pepper is dried red chiles crushed rather than ground, usually cayenne-type peppers with plenty of seeds, and "chili flakes" is another common name for it. Check the ingredient list if you want to know the exact peppers.

Can you substitute red pepper flakes for chili flakes?

Yes, one for one, when both are the general-purpose condiment. If the chili flakes are a specific, hotter pepper, start with less and adjust to taste.

What are red pepper flakes made from?

Dried red chile peppers, crushed with their seeds. Most crushed red pepper uses cayenne-type peppers, though producers can use other varieties, and it usually lands around 30,000–50,000 Scoville units.

Want more ways to use flakes once you have picked a jar? Start with our best chili flakes for pizza, eggs and tacos.