10 Great Seasoning Blends You Can Make at Home

Seasoning Blend Recipes

I'm sure you've seen commercial seasoning blends for sale in grocery stores, whether they be in envelopes, packets, tins, or jars. You've probably even purchased and used them for things like chili, tacos, fajitas, and grilled steaks. If you're fond of boiled shrimp and steamed crabs, perhaps you've used a commercially prepared seasoning blend to provide a big kick of flavor.

I used to buy seasoning blends, but I've been making my own for years, and I like mine better! Seasoning blends are quick and easy to make, and if you store them in an airtight jar, they'll keep for quite a while. One of the best things about making your own is that you can tweak the ingredient amounts to suit your own taste.

Seasoning Blend Instructions

Use the following instructions for all blends below.

1. Combine all ingredients together.
2. Pour the blend into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
3. Label each jar with the blend name and date.
4. Store in a cool, dark, dry place.

1. Taco Seasoning Blend Recipe

Add this seasoning blend to the ground beef when it's about half done. If you like, sprinkle more once the meat is done! Add just a little water if the taco meat gets too dry.

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

2. Fajita Seasoning Recipe

• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 2 tablespoons cumin
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons Mexican oregano
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

3. Seafood Boil Seasoning

This is a wonderful spice blend for boiled shrimp, crabs, and crawfish. It also works well for Low Country Boil. The following is enough for five pounds of shell-on shrimp:

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons red curry powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon celery seeds
• 1 teaspoon whole coriander
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more for extra spicy shrimp)
• 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
• 6 bay leaves

Add above ingredients to 5 quarts water, 12 ounces beer, one cup apple cider vinegar, and ½ cup lime juice. Bring to a boil. Keep liquid at a rolling boil for 5 minutes before adding shrimp.

4. Cajun Seasoning Recipe

Whenever we want to experience the taste of Louisiana, we turn to this Cajun spices recipe. We use it on grilled/pan-broiled fish, boneless chicken breasts, shrimp, fresh pork, scrambled eggs, and even corn-on-the-cob. It'll sure wake up your taste buds!

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more!)
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt

5. Fried Turkey Rub/Baked Chicken Seasoning

• 1 tablespoon Lawry's garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground rosemary
• 1 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon crushed parsley
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground sage

Drizzle the chicken with melted butter and sprinkle on the seasoning blend before baking. Yum!

For fried turkey, rub the bird, inside and out, and place in the fridge for several hours before frying.

6. Steak Seasoning Recipe

There's nothing quite like a charcoal-grilled steak, but you can make the experience even better with some extra seasoning to kick the flavor up a notch. We use the following as a dry rub for steaks, allowing the rubbed meat to rest in the fridge a few hours before grilling. Try it on burgers, too!

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon tarragon
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried, crushed chives

7. Pork Rub Recipe

This is our go-to rub whenever we smoke a Boston butt, pork loin, or ribs. We rub the meat liberally, wrap it tightly in foil, and place the meat in the fridge the day before cooking.

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup salt
• 1/4 cup onion powder
• 1/4 cup garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons lemon pepper
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

8. Spicy Fries Seasoning

• 1 tablespoon Lawry's garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Put this in a shaker bottle and sprinkle on french fries, fried squash, fried pickles, fried okra, or fried green tomatoes. It's also great on baked potatoes.

9. Chili Seasoning Mix

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon Lawry's garlic salt
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

10. Fried Chicken Seasoning Blend

• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 2 teaspoons ground thyme
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Rub the mixture on chicken 2 hours before dredging in flour. It works great with fried pork chops, too!

Be Adventurous!

Please try some of these spice blends. I suggest making a small batch first, and if you find one you really like, you can triple the recipe so that you'll keep some on hand for adding a smack of flavor to your dishes. Of course, you can use my basic recipes and tweak them to your own liking. Add or subtract an ingredient, or increase or decrease the amounts specified. Also, you should try your hand at creating your own special seasoning blends, but be sure to write it down so you won't forget how to make it. Go ahead, take your taste buds on a culinary adventure!