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Smoked paprika is hard to replace, but there are a few options if you don’t have this spice on hand! Here’s the best substitute for smoked paprika.

Substitute for smoked paprika
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Making a recipe that calls for smoked paprika and can’t find it? Smoked paprika is a unique spice that it is hard to replace! It’s similar to the more common Hungarian sweet paprika, but it’s Spanish and made from peppers that were smoked over a fire. This infuses a smoky flavor into anything it touches! It is not spicy (though there’s a hot variation: avoid that!). Other names for this spice are: pimentón, Spanish smoked paprika or sweet smoked paprika.

If at all possible: we highly recommend buying some smoked paprika! It’s available at most groceries or you can buy it online here! You can use it in so many delicious recipes. But if not…here are a few last minute substitutes.

Best substitutes for smoked paprika

Note that how these options work depend on the type of cuisine and how the smoked paprika is used.

1. Liquid smoke (for flavor).

The best substitute for smoked paprika that infuses a smoky flavor into food? Liquid smoke. Liquid smoke is very strong and if you use too much it can be overpowering. So be light handed! What’s the conversion: 1 teaspoon smoked paprika = ½ teaspoon liquid smoke. You could also add another ½ teaspoon regular paprika for color.

2. Regular paprika + cumin (for color).

Here’s a substitute for smoked paprika that’s approximates it in color and nuance, but not in smoky flavor. If you’re really in a pinch, this could do: but it’s far cry from the original. Make a mixture of 2 parts regular paprika (also known as Hungarian sweet paprika) and 1 part cumin. That means 1 teaspoon smoked paprika = 2/3 teaspoon regular paprika + ⅓ teaspoon cumin (it doesn’t have to be exact).

Where to buy smoked paprika

Many online sources have some bogus ideas for smoked paprika substitutes: like chipotle powder and cayenne. Please do not use these: they would be much too spicy! If you can’t find either of the above options, save yourself the heartache and buy it online. Then you can experience the full effect of real smoked paprika: you won’t be disappointed.

Here are some of our favorite recipes featuring smoked paprika:

About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

Leave a Comment

4 Comments

  1. Lynn M says:

    Hi there – I frequently use smoked paprika in a favourite recipe that I love! But now I’m concerned about PAHs or whatever (ie. the reason smoked meats are supposed to be bad for you) due to the smoking process (liquid smoke is also supposed to be bad for health).
    May I ask, is this not a concern for you when using this spice? If not, there is some info I’ve missed? (Just wondering if I should cut it out of my diet for health reasons, namely cancer prevention.)
    Many thanks!!

    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      I’m not an expert enough to know an answer for you! It is not a concern for us.

  2. Jesse Hanenburg says:

    Hello; I gotta say this is such a confusing topic for me! When I followed your link, the product just says paprika, while others listed similarly say smoked paprika. I have an organic paprika in my kitchen yet no where does it say it is smoked… arg!

    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      I’m so sorry! They must have re-directed the old link. We have a new link on the page to smoked paprika. It definitely needs to say “smoked” on the label and it’s a VERY different product.