chili crisp

noun

variants or less commonly chile crisp

plural chili crisps also chile crisps

: a spicy, crunchy condiment made typically of oil, fried chili peppers, and often other aromatics (such as fried onions or garlic)

Part of the luscious surprise of spicy chili crisp is the way the savory undertone of umami shatters into crunch and tingle.

—John Kessler

… jars of Sichuan chili crisps—a fiery, crunchy condiment made with dried chili peppers, fermented soybeans, garlic, shallots, ginger, and other aromatics, all bathed in oil.

—Ann Trieger Kurland

A jar of chile crisp was my salvation, and I smeared the red-flecked oil on everything from toast to eggs to … chicken soup, where a spoonful stirred into the broth gave my nasal passages just the right healing jolt.

—Melissa Clark

Examples of chili crisp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s real science behind why that drizzle of chili crisp on your chicken bowl hits differently now. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026

The condiments getting reached for are hot sauce, chili crisp, gochujang, Japanese BBQ sauce and kimchi, all trending sharply. —Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026

Top with bottled hot pepper sauce, pesto, chili crisp, or chopped fresh herbs such as dill, tarragon, or chives. Ingredients Directions Heat a large skillet over medium heat. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above