19 Sweet and Spicy Recipes That Deliver Tons of Bold Flavor

“Swicy” (sweet and spicy) flavor combinations have taken the culinary world by storm, and we’re delighted to see it. Sugar and spice complement each other perfectly, as the saying goes, and you can combine them in endless ways. Hot honey, candied jalapeños, fruity salsas, spicy margs — we’re here for it all. Whether you’re new to the trend or a sweet-and-spicy truther, we’ve got bold recipes you’ll want to make again and again.

When you don’t know what to make for dinner, meatballs never fail. They come together quickly, and they’re endlessly customizable. This swicy version offers tons of flavor, thanks to a few clever additions like sweet and spicy pepper jelly. Serve them as an appetizer or round them out with rice and veggies for an easy, fun weeknight dinner.

This isn’t your average spicy margarita. Grenadine, OJ and a brightly colored sugar rim give it a playful sweetness, but the chile-infused ice cubes will sneak up on you!

Hot honey is in (again), and it’s the perfect base for this appetizer. Jalapeños, a serrano and a tablespoon of hot sauce bring plenty of heat, so dip the wings in ranch to take the edge off.

This flavorful snack is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy — in both the chiles and masala senses. You can easily adjust the peppers to make the dish as mild or hot as you want. Finish it off with a drizzle of tamarind chutney for a hit of fruity sourness.

This vegetarian dinner is inspired by Nashville hot chicken. It’s easy, crispy and drizzled with homemade hot honey. And did we mention you can make it in 25 minutes?

A teaspoon of Aleppo pepper gives these warm, spiced brownies a little bit of heat. As a bonus, the peanut butter icing adds a delicious hit of salt.

This 25-minute skillet dinner makes hot honey the star of the show. Shaved Brussels sprouts only take a few minutes to caramelize and add a nice savory note to the meal.

These spicy cold noodles are the ultimate comfort food. You can pull it together in 15 minutes on busy weeknights, thanks to a few pantry items. The kimchi, gochugaru and sugar form a sweet and spicy sauce, but feel free to play around with the seasoning.

Is there anything more summery and refreshing than a watermelon salad? This one includes a quick tangy chipotle vinaigrette that soaks into the fruit. The longer it sits, the more the salad will infuse with sweet and spicy flavor.

You can’t go wrong when combining pork and fruit, but throw in some habanero and you’ve got next-level flavor. Top these chops with a fresh apple relish for a refreshing, sour crunch.

Cooked carrots are given a major upgrade with this quick air fryer recipe. Cayenne pepper, black pepper and chili powder give these carrots a little heat, while brown sugar and butter mix to create a sweet caramel flavor. In 10 minutes, you’ll have an impressive side that would have taken 45 minutes in the oven!

Two words: candied jalapeños. It’s a surprisingly easy garnish to make, but these crispy peppers (and some bacon bits) take a beloved side dish from good to swicy perfection.

A little bit of brown sugar, hot sauce and cayenne put a swicy spin on simple grilled salmon. Add a crisp celery slaw to drive the Buffalo flavors home.

If you love the flavor of jalapeños, this is your kind of side. This cornbread has plenty of fresh peppery flavor, balanced out by honey and cheddar. Keep in the jalapeño seeds if you want extra heat!

Dijon mustard and jalapeño add a kick to this chicken. The recipe doubles up on peaches: preserves add sweetness to the glaze, while juicy grilled peach halves make for a delicious side.

Mango salsa is the perfect sweet and spicy condiment, and a habanero gives this version just the right amount of heat.

Flavorful tri-tip soaks up all that delicious sweet and spicy marinade, made with garlic, soy sauce and sugar, common ingredients for Korean barbecue. A squirt of Thai sriracha adds a little kick. The beef is then grilled on skewers, alongside nicely charred onion and scallion.

This brittle is for heat seekers! Whole Sichuan peppercorns give it their signature mala flavor, and dried arbol chiles add even more heat. Plenty of white chocolate and salted cashews balance them out.