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Dried herbs and spices are expensive, and jars of premade seasonings are even more expensive. When you buy those packets of seasonings for things like tacos and fajitas, you’re not only paying a premium, but you’re getting additives and preservatives that you may not want.
Luckily, it’s easy to make your own spice mixes that you can use just as you would store bought versions. Not only that, you can customize them to your liking. The following are popular spice blends you may want to try making on your own. Consider growing your own herbs and drying them for even more flavor!
Taco Seasoning
To make an easy taco seasoning, combine 2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 tablespoons cumin, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 2 tablespoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper in a jar and shake.
Use this on taco meat, burritos, to make salad dressing, salsa, or anywhere else you might use those packets of taco seasoning. Stored in an airtight spice jar, it should last several months.
Ranch Dressing
This is much better than those packets, and easy to make too!
Combine 2 tablespoons dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a jar. Shake and combine with mayo and sour cream for a delicious Ranch dip. Add buttermilk to make a delicious dressing.
Italian Seasoning
This is a great all purpose seasoning for any Italian dish. To make, combine 1/4 cup dried basil, 1/4 cup dried oregano, 2 tablespoons dried marjoram, and 2 tablespoons dried thyme in a jar. Shake and store for several months.
Sprinkle over cooked pizza, frozen vegetables, or add to pizza sauce to add flavor and interest to foods that might otherwise be boring.
Lemon Pepper
This one requires a bit more work than most, but is much brighter tasting than anything you’ll get in a jar.
Zest 3 lemons and lay on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 200 degrees and let the lemon zest dry out, about an hour. When it’s dried and cooled, combine with about 3 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper and 2 tablespoons sea salt. Use on chicken, fish, vegetables or anywhere you would use lemon pepper seasoning.
Curry Powder
Curry powder is not a particular flavor, but a blend of different spices. This is a great place to start to make your own.
Combine 1/4 cup paprika, 2 tablespoons cumin, 1 teaspoon ground fennel, 1 tablespoon mustard powder, 1 teaspoon ground red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons turmeric. Optional additions include: cloves, fenugreek, or ground bay leaves. If your spices are all finely ground, shake in a jar; otherwise, combine in a food processor until ground. Store in an airtight container until it doesn’t have a strong fragrance.
Cajun Spice Mix
Looking for something to spice up some chicken, fish, or steak? This easy homemade Cajun spice mix will do it.
To make, put 4 tablespoons paprika, 2 tablespoons sea salt, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon cayenne, 1 teaspoon oregano, and 1 teaspoon thyme in a jar and shake. Store in an airtight container.
All Purpose Seasoned Salt
Most seasoned salts have anti-caking agents and other preservatives. This one is easy to make and is perfect on burgers, pasta, or anything that needs a little zing.
Combine 2 tablespoons onion powder, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 2 tablespoons ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon paprika, and 1 tablespoon sea salt in a jar. Shake until well combined and use on everything under the sun.
French Onion Soup Mix
If you like to add Lipton Onion Soup mix to your meatloaf, burgers, dips, or pot roasts, try this homemade version for even better flavor.
Combine 1/2 cup dried onion flakes, 2 tablespoons onion powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon celery salt, and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper in a jar and shake. If you’re going to use it to make soup, add 1 tablespoon sea salt to the mix. Use wherever you would use those packets of onion soup.
Caribbean Jerk Seasoning
Mix this seasoning blend with some honey or brown sugar for an amazing jerk chicken or pork.
Put 2 tablespoons onion powder, 1 tablespoon sea salt, 1 tablespoon thyme, 1 teaspoon allspice, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a jar. Add a pinch of cayenne if you like it spicy. Shake, and use in your favorite Caribbean recipe.
Asian 5 Spice
Instead of buying this for a single recipe, you can make your own out of spices you already probably have in your spice cabinet. Use on stir-fries, in curries, or any Asian inspired dish.
Combine 1 tablespoon ground anise, 1 teaspoon ground pepper, 1 teaspoon ground fennel, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon ground cloves in a jar. Shake to mix and store in a sealed container.
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Not just for pies, this easy to make fall spice is great in quick breads, muffins, or even savory dishes like soups and stews.
Combine 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon allspice, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves in a jar. Shake and store in a sealed container.
Chili Starter
This all-natural seasoning blend is much better than those chili seasoning packets you buy in the store. It’s easy to make too!
Combine 1/4 cup chili powder, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 2 tablespoons oregano, 1 tablespoon paprika (go for the smoked variety for even more flavor!) 2 tablespoons cumin, and 1 teaspoon ground thyme in a jar. Shake and use in your favorite chili recipe for an easy, flavorful game day meal.
Fajita Seasoning
This easy to make seasoning is great for Southwestern inspired dishes, fajitas, burritos, or soups.
Combine 1/4 cup chili powder, 2 tablespoons sea salt, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon cayenne, and 1 tablespoon cumin in a jar. Shake well and store in an airtight container.
Herbs de Provence
Looking for an elegant seasoning blend to add to fish, cream sauces, or roasted vegetables? This delicate blend is the perfect option.
Combine 4 tablespoons thyme leaves, 2 tablespoons marjoram, 1 tablespoon rosemary, 1 tablespoon savory, 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel, and 1/2 teaspoon ground lavender in a jar. Shake until well combined. For a more authentic version, add a teaspoon of dried orange zest.
When making your own spice mixes, you should always use dried and ground spices. Store them in an airtight container and use them just as you would the store-bought versions. You can customize any of these to your own preferences. When adding garlic or onion to your spice mixes, it’s important to remember that there is a difference between garlic and onion powder and garlic and onion salt. The powder is simply ground up garlic and onions, while the salt is the same, but mixed with salt. If you add garlic salt to a spice mixture that already has salt added, you could end up with something way too salty to use.
That being said, experiment with these mixes, and create your own. Cooking is supposed to be fun, and creating your own seasoning blends is a surefire way to make it so.