Chili flakes, also known as chilli flakes or red pepper flakes, are small, dried, and usually ground-up pieces of chilies. They add a spicy heat to foods when used in cooking or as a seasoning on top of various dishes. The level of hotness can vary depending on the type of chili used to make the flakes. Chili flakes are commonly used in cuisines such as Indian, Mexican, Thai and Italian, among others. They can be found in many supermarkets or specialty food stores and come in different levels of spiciness, ranging from mild to hot.