Review: Knorr And Hot Ones Deliver The Heat With 2 Sides That Will Delight Spice Lovers

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The very first "Hot Ones" episode premiered on the First We Feast YouTube channel on March 12, 2015, with Sean Evans interviewing Tony Yayo and eating hot wings. "Hot Ones" is known as "the show with hot questions and even hotter wings," and for 11 years, Evans has made a show that does just that, interviewing TV chefs and celebrities in sports, music, television, movies, and pretty much any other form of entertainment. Evans delivers a deep cut interview with interesting questions about the interviewee's life (even before their stardom) and unique talents. The show has become so popular that it's spawned its own line of commercial hot sauces. Now, Knorr is taking those hot sauces and bringing them to side dishes you can whip up in a matter of minutes.

Knorr sent along its limited edition Hot Ones inspired sides so I could see if they are worth your time. I sampled the Mexican Rice with spice inspired by the Los Calientes Verde sauce and a Cheesy Cheddar Pasta that, ominously, brought the show's famous Last Dab to this cheesy pasta.

I was eager to get into the Knorr x Hot Ones sides, so my husband and I made them for dinner the same day they arrived. We followed the directions as written, utilizing the stove top set of instructions rather than the microwave ones. We were certain the stove would provide a better result. 

I determined if the two sides are worth your time based on taste, texture, and spice. For taste, they needed to be enjoyable to eat with the spice not being too overwhelming. Even though they are based on a show revolving around hot sauces, they still needed to be actually consumable. For texture, I was looking for a Mexican rice that had the texture of, well, rice and the pasta needed to have the texture you'd expect from a prepackaged cheesy pasta.

Some recommendations are based on first-hand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

Knorr's Mexican Rice had a medium heat level indicator on the package and was inspired by Los Calientes Verde sauce. Notably, the rice had flavors of one of the more popular hot sauces from Hot Ones but didn't actually include the hot sauce itself within the ingredients. It was indeed spicy with a kick of citrus and a decent flavor profile that would have lent itself well paired with chicken.

I found it interesting that the side dish wasn't simply rice. It included both enriched long-grain rice and vermicelli pasta. The combination made for a Mexican rice that looked a little different from what you typically see in a rice side. The photo on the packaging also made it look like it was loaded with red and green peppers, and though there were notably bits of rehydrated pepper, there weren't nearly as many bright green and red pieces as the image would have you believe. It was definitely mostly a side and would have performed well as an ingredient in a casserole.

Each of Sean Evans' "Hot Ones" interviews end with a last, extra dab of hot sauce on the final wing. It's known as The Last Dab, and that is where the Cheesy Cheddar Pasta from Knorr took its inspiration. It's worth noting that this is also supposed to be the spiciest of the wings celebrities taste during the interview, and the spiciest of the brand's hot sauces, so perhaps it was no surprise that the heat level indicator on this side dish stated that it was hot.

Having seen many episodes of the show and knowing just how dramatic that last dab can be, I will say that I was surprised that this pasta wasn't even hotter than it was. Sure, it was spicy, but I don't think it was last-dab-spicy. Instead, this was definitely on the more palatable side. First bites of the pasta indicated a cheddar flavor with the spice building quickly behind it, topping off at a spice level that was enjoyable and but still toward the spicier side of the scale.

I've seen Hot Ones collaborate with other brands, like Jack In the Box's sriracha and Buffalo additions, Popeyes extreme spice offerings, and Shake Shack's menu for heat seekers, but in all instances, the meals included a protein of some kind. They were the main event. With Knorr's collaboration, it's a little different. So I was especially intrigued to see how Hot Ones would actually tie in with Knorr's side dishes.

My husband and I enjoyed the Knorr sides more than we expected to. Both offerings were spicy but manageable. Those who don't enjoy spice or are less inclined to indulge in spicy food should probably not give these a go. Fans of the show will find them enjoyable and reminiscent of some of the flavors seen on "Hot Ones". The Los Calientes Mexican Rice in particular felt like it captured the flavor of the hot sauce well.

Since Knorr sent two packages of each side, I'm excited to try them again, but as ingredients for a larger meal. I think the Mexican rice option would be especially enjoyable in a cheesy chicken and rice casserole, and the cheesy pasta could do with a little extra freshly shredded cheddar to thicken up the sauce and provide more hardiness to the dish.

These Knorr x Hot Ones side dishes became available on September 9, 2026. Unlike most grocery releases, you won't be able to find them at your local grocery store. Instead, you'll head to Amazon, where you can purchase them in a few different quantities and compositions.

I couldn't find an option to purchase the sides in single envelopes, so you'll need to choose a pack to give them a go. You can purchase a three pack of the Mexican Rice or a three pack of the Cheesy Cheddar pasta for $8.99. If you are absolutely certain you'll love the sides, you could also pick up an eight pack. Both the Mexican Rice and Cheesy Cheddar pasta versions are $14.99 for eight envelopes. To try both, consider the four pack with two envelopes of each flavor for $9.99.

There is no definitive timeline for how long these sides will be available on Amazon, just that they will only exist while supplies last. However, there's a "Hot Ones" episode premiering on September 14, 2026 regarding the launch, so it's reasonable to imagine the side dishes may be harder to find due to a spike in popularity after that episode comes out.