Spicy Ketchup

Spicy ketchup is the bomb! I’m a believer that sauces and condiments make or break a recipe. They can elevate or add layered sophistication to any basic meal.

Even ketchup. 

spicy ketchup in a small glass bowl with a wood spoon


 

Spicy Ketchup is a sauce that kicks up a classic and favorite. Serve this hot ketchup recipe with fries, a burger or hot dog or anything else that needs zing!

Spicy Ketchup Recipe

Even the simplest of meals can be taken up a notch by simply adding a sauce or condiment. And the sauce or condiment doesn’t need to be all that fancy or complicated. Take ketchup for example… 

Most people think ketchup is made with tomatoes and while tomatoes are the base, it also includes vinegar and sugar along with a variety of other spices.

Every recipe varies, but most commonly used are onion, allspice, coriander, cloves, cumin, garlic, or mustard. 

For my Spicy Ketchup, I was making Taco Burgers and found some fries lurking in the depths of my freezer. But why would I want to serve plain, old ketchup with such a spectacular burger?

tater tot dipping into hot ketchup

How to Make Spicy Ketchup

With just a little bit of hot sauce and a swirl of hot chile powder, I whipped up a condiment in under 2 minutes that my family loves.

  • Ketchup- The base of the recipe, it can’t really be swapped, but feel free to make homemade ketchup or use a sugar free version.
  • Hot Sauce- One half of what gives it spice. Use tabasco or a general hot sauce. For a lot of heat, opt for a ghost pepper hot sauce.
  • Cayenne Pepper- The other half of the spice. The blend adds layers of sophistication.

The measurements can be adjusted based on personal preference. Just place all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Letting the flavors marry in the fridge for an hour or two will help them feel combined, but isn’t mandatory.

step-by-step images showing how to make spicy ketchup

Did you know... original ketchup recipes included egg whites, mushrooms, oysters, mussels, or walnuts? Now days they are mostly just tomato based. 

From what I hear the fast food chain Whataburger also uses a spicy ketchup on some of their burgers. I’ve never had a Whataburger, so I can’t attest to if this recipe tastes at all like that one. 

side angle view of a bowl of spicy ketchup

Storage

Store your ketchup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It can probably last longer, but I doubt there will be any left and you’ll be on to making a new batch!

Like regular ketchup, it is freezer friendly.

spicy ketchup recipe for pinterest

More sauce recipes you might enjoy!

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See The Recipe!
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Yum Yum Sauce Recipe (Easy!)

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Want a smoking hot spicy ketchup? Use ghost pepper sauce or habanero hot sauce, but for milder flavor, aim for a smoky Chipotle Tabasco.

close up of ketchup in a bowl with a spoon
spicy ketchup in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon and tater tots

Spicy Ketchup

4.15 from 54 votes
Spicy Ketchup is a sauce that kicks up a classic and favorite. Serve with fries, on a burger or hot dog or anything else that needs some zing!
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings: 1 cup

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir well.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was! 

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 137 kcal, Carbohydrates: 32 g, Protein: 1 g, Sodium: 1210 mg, Potassium: 378 mg, Sugar: 26 g, Vitamin A: 910 IU, Vitamin C: 7.9 mg, Calcium: 19 mg, Iron: 0.5 mg
Calories: 137
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: ketchup recipe, spicy ketchup
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
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

4.15 from 54 votes (47 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. I cannot find HEINZ Hot Ketchup in the stores anymore. This is a oerfect substutute, just the right amount of heat, Thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    I’ve been looking for suggestions on what to do with the contents of a bottle of Encona West Indian Original Hot Pepper Sauce which is just too aggressive for me on its own. This looks like the perfect solution to the problem. I may even give it go with some good old British Brown Sauce (aka HP Sauce) too.

  3. 4 stars
    I tried it. Not bad at all. I needed this “wiki wiki” tonight, and most of the recipes I found were “from scratch” recipes using tomato paste. That’s all well and good, of course, and would be fun to try, but this is what I needed tonight. Thanks for keeping it simple!