Serrano Pepper: The Complete Guide (10K–23K SHU)
10K–23K SHU · bright and crisp · Mexico
5x hotter than a jalapeño
Quick Facts
Heat & Flavor Profile
The Serrano Pepper registers 10K–23K Scoville Heat Units (SHU), placing it in the Hot tier (10K–100K SHU). That makes it roughly 5x hotter than a jalapeño.
Flavor notes: bright and crisp.
Substitutes for Serrano Pepper
Closest match: Aleppo Pepper. These peppers share a similar heat range or flavor profile and work well as substitutes in most recipes.
Serrano Pepper vs. Other Peppers
See how the Serrano Pepper stacks up in these detailed side-by-side comparisons.
Data from USDA FoodData Central, the Chile Pepper Institute at NMSU, and USDA Agricultural Research Service. Species classification: C. annuum — based on published botanical taxonomy.