Seasoning Blends

Making your own blends of herbs and spices is a great way to control salt content, not to mention those longs words you can't pronounce that companies use to enhance flavors, prolong shelf life, and use as anti-caking agents. So here is a nice list to get you started. It includes taco seasonings, chili powder and even a Faux Old Bay seasoning! Depending on the size of the batch that I make, I will either store them in pint sized canning jars or baby food jars. Unless other stated just stir the ingredients together and place in a labeled airtight container.


Apple Pie Spice

8 parts ground cinnamon
4 parts ground nutmeg
2 parts ground allspice
1 part ground cloves or ginger

BBQ Rub 1

6 tbsp brown sugar, tightly packed
2 tbsp Kosher salt
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder

BBQ Rub 2

2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup paprika

Blackened Seasoning

3/4 c paprika
1/2 c salt
1/4 c garlic powder
1/4 c onion powder
1 to 2 tbs ground cayenne pepper
1/2 c black pepper
2 tbs leaf thyme
2 tbs leaf oregano

Cajun seasoning

1 cup salt
1 cup garlic powder
1 cup onion powder
1/2 cup dried oregano leaves
1/2 cup dried sweet basil
1/4 cup dried thyme leaves
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup white pepper
1/4 cup cayenne pepper
1 1/4 cups paprika

Chili Powder (best method)

4 large dried mild chili peppers
2 medium dried hot chili peppers
4 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
1/4 cup oregano
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Remove stems and seeds from peppers. Cut peppers into small pieces. Place in a heavy skillet. Add cumin, cloves, coriander, and allspice. Over low heat,
stirring constantly, cook until mixture begins to crackle and gives off the aroma of the peppers. Cool to room temperature.
Place pepper mixture in blender. Add oregano, garlic powder, salt, and sugar; blend to a find powder. Spoon into a screw-top jar.

Chili Powder (easy)

2 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp clove
1 tsp oregano

Chili Mix

1 tbs Unbleached Flour
2 tbs Instant Minced Onion
1 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Seasoned Salt
1/2 tsp Crushed Dried Red Pepper
1/2 tsp Garlic
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
Spoon mixture onto a 6" square of aluminum foil and fold to make an airtight packet.
Label with date and contents. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 months. This is equal to the seasoning you would purchase in packages in the store.

Essence Seasoning

2 1/2 tbs paprika
2 tbs salt
2 tbs garlic powder
1 tbs black pepper
2 tbs onion powder
1 tbs cayenne
1 tbs dried oregano
1 tbs dried thyme

Fajita Seasoning

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp onion powder
Spoon mixture onto a 6" square of aluminum foil and fold to make an airtight packet.
Label with date and contents. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 months. This makes enough for 1lb chicken or steak and is equal to the seasoning you would purchase in packages in the store.

Garam Masala Spice

2 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Black pepper
3 tsp Ground cumin
3 tsp Ground coriander
1/2 tsp Ground nutmeg
1 tsp Ground cloves

Italian Seasoning

1/3 cup oregano
1/3 cup basil
2 tbsp rosemary
1/4 cup thyme
1/4 cup sage
1/4 cup marjoram

Lemon Pepper

1 cup ground black pepper
1/3 cup dried lemon peel
3 tbs coriander seeds
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1/4 cup dried thyme leaves

Montreal Steak Seasoning

4 tbs salt
1 tbs black pepper
1 tbs onion flakes
1/2 tbs garlic
1/2 tbs crushed red pepper
1/2 tbs thyme
1/2 tbs rosemary

Onion Soup Mix

3/4 cup instant minced onion
1/3 cup beef flavored instant bouillon
4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp celery seed, crushed
1/4 tsp sugar

Old bay

1 tbs ground bay leaves
2-1/2 tsp celery salt
1-1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp ground mace
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tbs fennel

Poultry seasoning

1 1/2 tsp sage
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/4 tsp black pepper

Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground allspice


Season salt

6 tbs salt
1/2 tsp thyme leaves
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp garlic salt or garlic powder
2 1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp curry powder
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp celery salt

Shake and Bake

4 cups flour
4 cups cracker meal or ground crackers
4 tbs salt
2 tbs sugar
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
3 tbs paprika
(store in fridge)

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix

1 tbs dried onions
1 tsp bell peppers, freeze-dried
1 tsp salt -- or to taste
1 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp dried minced garlic
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp chili powder
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until evenly distributed.
Spoon mixture onto a 6" square of aluminum foil and fold to make an airtight packet.
Label with date and contents. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 months. This is equal to the seasoning you would purchase in packages in the store. When making sloppy joes, combine spice packet with 6oz can tomato paste and 1 1/4 c water.

Taco Seasoning Mix

1 tbs minced onion (dried)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp instant minced garlic
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp oregano
Spoon mixture onto a 6-inch square of aluminum foil and fold to make airtight, label and store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 months. Makes 1 package and is equal to the seasoning you would purchase in packages in the store..
To make taco filling, brown 1 pound ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease. Add 1/2 cup water and 1 package Taco Seasoning Mix. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.