If you’re craving BBQ flavor with a kick of heat, these 14 pepper recipes deliver with peppers ranging from mild anchos to wild habaneros.

14 Pepper Recipes to Heat Up Your BBQ

If you love a little kick with your cookout, you’re in the right place. This roundup features 14 of my favorite pepper-forward BBQ recipes, ranging from family-friendly mild to fire-breathing, so there’s something for everyone. And while everybody loves a good jalapeño recipe (and I’ve got plenty of those), this one’s all about the other peppers bringing the heat. Whether you’re after a touch of smokiness or a full-blown flavor explosion, I’ve got you covered.

1. Grilled Ham Steak with Blackberry Ancho Chile Glaze

This Grilled Ham Steak might seem simple, but gets an upgrade with a sweet and smoky glaze made from blackberries and ancho chile. The glaze caramelizes beautifully on the grill, so each hammy bite gets a whisper of heat. Give this one a try when you need a fast, family-friendly meal that feels like summer.

Whether you’re for backyard grilling season or a quick weeknight dinner, this Grilled Ham Steak delivers bold flavor with minimal effort.

2. Grilled Chile Relleno with Two Salsas

Fire-roasted poblano peppers get the royal treatment in this Grilled Chile Relleno recipe—char-kissed, then stuffed with spicy chorizo and gooey cheese. The charred exterior gives way to a melty, savory filling that’s oh-so rich and satisfying. When you pair it with two homemade salsas, it’s a restaurant-worthy dish.

Smoky, cheesy, and packed with bold flavor, these stuffed poblanos make an unforgettable meatless main, or killer side if you want a full spread.

3. White Chicken Chili

This creamy White Chicken Chili is loaded with tender smoked chicken, smoky poblano peppers, and hearty beans for a lighter twist on classic chili. It’s rich and comforting without being too heavy, so it makes a go-to on chilly nights.

Satisfying and simple, this white Chicken Chili delivers comfort food vibes with a hit of smoky pepper flavor.

4. Grilled Chicken Fajitas with Chorizo

Fresh flavors come together in these quick and easy Grilled Chicken Fajitas with chorizo. Poblano peppers add a mild smokiness, while spicy sausage kicks things up a notch. Tossed with my Fiesta Rub and grilled to perfection, this recipe is a flavor-packed weeknight win.

Juicy chicken, sizzling chorizo, and smoky peppers make these fajitas a fast favorite for the whole family.

5. Texas Baked Beans

These smoky Texas-Style Baked Beans are slow-cooked with dried ancho and guajillo chiles to give them real Southwest flavor. The beans soak up a rich chili-infused sauce that’s just spicy enough to wake up your taste buds. It’s the ultimate BBQ side that holds its own on any plate.

Loaded with chili flavor and cooked low and slow, these Texas Baked Beans bring BBQ energy to every bite.

6. Chili con Carne (Texas Chili)

This Texas-style chili is all about the beef and bold chili flavor. Smoky dried ancho and guajillo chiles are rehydrated and blended into a deep, savory sauce that simmers with cubes of tender smoked chuck roast. There are no beans here—just pure, hearty, meat-forward chili at its finest.

Spicy, smoky, and deeply satisfying, this Chili con Carne is Texas comfort food through and through.

7. Cherry Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Sweet cherries and smoky chipotle peppers come together in this bold BBQ sauce that’s equal parts heat, sweet, and tang. A splash of lime adds brightness, making it perfect for brushing on grilled chicken, pork, or ribs. This sauce is as beautiful to look at as it is to eat.

Vibrant in flavor and color, this Cherry Chipotle BBQ Sauce will elevate whatever you’re grilling.

8. Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce

This sweet and smoky sauce gets its kick from chipotle peppers in adobo, balanced by honey and a whisper of smoked paprika. It’s easy to tweak the heat to your taste, and it pairs beautifully with chicken, ribs, or even grilled veggies. This one’s a backyard essential.

Sticky, smoky, and full of flavor, this Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce belongs in your summer grilling rotation.

9. Smoked Al Pastor

This BBQ twist on the classic al pastor features pork shoulder marinated in a rich blend of dried chiles, chipotles, and achiote paste. Smoked low and slow, it gets beautifully charred edges and an irresistible aroma. It’s a fusion of bold flavors rooted in tradition.

Juicy, smoky, and deeply spiced, this Smoked al Pastor is a next-level taco night centerpiece.

10. Smoked Birria Tacos

These Smoked Birria Tacos start with tender, shredded beef slow-cooked in a rich chile braise. Then, a mix of dried chiles and chipotles adds serious depth of flavor, while the cheesy, crispy tacos dunked in consomé take things over the top.

From the smoky beef to the golden tortillas, every bite of these tacos is pure magic—messy, melty, and totally unforgettable.

11. Smoky Barbacoa

Barbacoa is a slow-cooked classic bursting with flavor from dried chiles, chipotles, and spices. This version is cooked low and slow until the beef is fall-apart tender, then served with all your favorite taco fixings. It’s rich, smoky, and perfect for feeding a crowd on any occasion.

Be warned: if you make it once, you’ll crave this juicy, spice-packed Smoky Barbacoa every time taco night rolls around.

12. Smoked Salsa Verde

This Smoked Salsa Verde takes classic tomatillo salsa, then levels it up with the heat of serrano peppers and a hit of smoke from the grill. Just an hour on the smoker deepens the flavors into something special. Then, it all gets a killer final touch with lime and Fiesta Rub.

Bright, bold, and seriously spicy, this Smoked Salsa Verde is the ultimate topping for tacos, nachos, and more.

13. Jerk Marinated Chicken Legs

When you want to bring the taste of the Caribbean to your grill, you want these spicy Jerk Chicken Legs. Scotch bonnet peppers provide the fiery backbone to a flavorful marinade loaded with green onions, warm spices, and citrus. The result is juicy, smoky chicken with a perfectly crispy charred skin.

If you’re looking for a perfect summer recipe, these Jerk Chicken Legs deliver dold, island-inspired flavor with every bite.

14. Cherry Habanero Jerky

When you’re looking for sweet, smoky, and spicy, this jerky hits every note. Cherry soda adds a touch of fun and sweetness, while fiery habaneros keep things interesting. Slowly smoked to perfection, the result is an oh-so snack-able, tender, irresistible jerky.

If you want sweet heat done right, this Cherry Habanero Jerky is the ticket. It’s perfect for road trips, hikes, and of course, gifting to your fellow meat lovers.

Even More Pepper Recipes

Each of these recipes is a guaranteed hit at your next gathering, but they’re just the tip of the pepper! I hope these recipes get you excited to fire up the grill so you can make something delicious to feed the people you love. If you make one of these pepper-forward favorites, make sure to come back and give it a 5-star rating.

You can find even more spicy pepper recipes here on the site, as well as in the Hey Grill Hey App. If you want daily BBQ inspiration, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.