9 Easy Homemade Spice Mixes To Stock Your Pantry

Last Updated on October 14, 2023 by Toya

Looking for easy homemade spice mixes to keep your pantry stocked? This list shares recipes for some of the most popular spice mixes:

Each of these homemade spice blends can be made using your everyday kitchen staples such as paprika, black pepper, salt, oregano and more.

Whether you want to avoid additives and fillers in store-bought spices mixes, or you’re in a pinch and need a quick substitutes for one of your favorite seasonings, this list is great for you!

I’ll also show you how to use each of these easy spice mixes to maximize oyur homemade spice blends!

Uses of each homemade spice mix

Cajun seasoning

Cajun seasoning is a flavorful spice blend with origins in Louisiana, particularly among the Cajun people. It’s known for its bold, spicy, and savory flavors. Here’s how to use cajun seasoning:

Blackened Fish or Chicken: Cajun seasoning is great for making blackened fish or chicken.
Jambalaya: Cajun seasoning is a key ingredient in jambalaya, a traditional Louisiana rice dish typically made with a variety of meats and vegetables.
Gumbo: Gumbo, another famous Louisiana dish, often includes Cajun seasoning for added flavor.
Cajun Fries: Sprinkle Cajun seasoning on French fries or sweet potato fries for a spicy kick.
Popcorn: Sprinkle Cajun seasoning over popcorn for a unique, spicy snack.
Grilled Vegetables: Cajun seasoning can be used to season grilled or roasted vegetables, giving them a smoky and spicy flavor.
Cajun Shrimp: Cajun-seasoned shrimp are a delicious and spicy option for a quick and easy seafood dish.
Cajun Dip: You can make a creamy Cajun dip by mixing cajun seasoning with sour cream, yogurt, or mayonnaise for a spicy, creamy dip for chips or veggies.
Cajun Pasta: You can also add Cajun seasoning to pasta dishes, especially those with a creamy sauce, for a spicy and flavorful twist.
Cajun Marinades: You can use Cajun seasoning in marinades for chicken, pork, or seafood to infuse the meat with spicy flavor.
Cajun Rice: Make a flavorful side dish by adding Cajun seasoning to your rice or rice pilaf.

Fajita seasoning

Fajita seasoning is a flavorful spice blend commonly used to season fajitas, a popular Tex-Mex dish traditionally made with grilled and sliced meat, such as beef or chicken, along with sautéed peppers and onions. Here are some popular ways you can use your homemade fajita seasoning mix:

Fajitas: As the name suggests, fajita seasoning is essential for making traditional fajitas. Season sliced beef, chicken, shrimp, or even tofu with the seasoning before grilling or sautéing. Serve with bell peppers and onions, wrapped in tortillas.
Taco Meat: Fajita seasoning can be used to season taco meat, giving it a distinct Tex-Mex flavor.
Grilled Veggies: Sprinkle fajita seasoning on vegetables before grilling or roasting. Veggies like bell peppers, onions, zucchini, and mushrooms work particularly well with fajita seasoning.
Fajita Bowls: Create fajita bowls by using the seasoning to season rice, beans, and your choice of meat or chicken, along with sautéed peppers and onions.
Quesadillas: Mix fajita seasoning with shredded chicken, beef, or beans and use it as a filling for quesadillas.
Roasted Chickpeas: Toss chickpeas in fajita seasoning and roast them for a crunchy and spicy snack.
Sautéed Shrimp: Fajita seasoning can be used to season sautéed or grilled shrimp, making them perfect for tacos, salads, or rice bowls.
Baked Chicken or Pork: Season chicken breasts or pork chops with fajita seasoning before baking in the oven for a tasty and easy main dish.

Taco seasoning

Taco seasoning is an easy spice blend that adds a delicious Mexican flavor to a variety of dishes. Taco seasoning is mostly used to season ground meat for making tacos, it can be also be used in many other ways such as:

Fajitas: Use taco seasoning to season sliced chicken, beef, or shrimp for making fajitas. Sauté the seasoned meat with bell peppers and onions and serve with tortillas.
Taco Soup: Add taco seasoning to a pot of soup, such as a chicken or beef broth-based soup, along with vegetables, beans, and protein for a tasty taco-flavored soup.
Chili: Taco seasoning can add a Tex-Mex twist to chili.
Enchiladas: Season the filling for your enchiladas with taco seasoning.
Stuffed Bell Peppers: Use taco seasoning to season the filling for stuffed bell peppers.
Queso Dip: Add taco seasoning to a cheese dip for a spicy and flavorful twist. Serve with tortilla chips for a tasty appetizer.
Potato Wedges: Toss potato wedges in taco seasoning and bake for a zesty side dish or snack.
Seasoned Rice: Mix taco seasoning your rice to make a flavorful side dish for Mexican-inspired meals.
Taco Mac and Cheese: Add taco seasoning to mac and cheese for a spicy and cheesy twist on a classic comfort food.
Taco Popcorn: Sprinkle taco seasoning over freshly popped popcorn for a spicy and flavorful snack.

Chipotle seaosning

Chipotle seasoning is a flavorful spice blend that features the smoky and spicy taste of chipotle peppers. It’s a versatile seasoning that can be used in a variety of dishes to add a smoky, earthy, and a slightly spicy flavor. Here are some common uses for chipotle seasoning:

Grilled Meats: Rub chipotle seasoning on steaks, chicken, pork, or even seafood before grilling. The smoky flavor pairs well with grilled meats.
Taco and Fajita Meat: Season ground beef, turkey, chicken, or plant-based protein with chipotle seasoning for making tacos or fajitas with a smoky kick.
Chili: Add chipotle seasoning to your chili recipe for a smoky depth of flavor. It’s a great addition to both meat and vegetarian chili.
Barbecue Sauce: Enhance your homemade barbecue sauce with chipotle seasoning for a smoky and slightly spicy flavor that’s perfect for grilling.
Roasted Vegetables: Toss vegetables like sweet potatoes, bell peppers, or cauliflower with a bit of chipotle seasoning before roasting.
Burgers: Mix chipotle seasoning into ground meat when making burgers to infuse them with yummy flavors.
Homemade Dressings: Blend chipotle seasoning into salad dressings or marinades for a smoky and spicy kick.
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt Dip: Mix chipotle seasoning into sour cream or Greek yogurt for the perfect dip for tortilla chips or vegetable sticks.
Tofu or Tempeh: Marinate tofu or tempeh in a mixture of chipotle seasoning, soy sauce, and other seasonings before baking or pan-frying.
Eggs: Add a pinch of chipotle seasoning to scrambled eggs or omelets for breakfast.
Grilled Cheese: Add a sprinkle of chipotle seasoning to your grilled cheese sandwiches.

Italian seasoning

Italian seasoning is a versatile spice blend that adds a classic Italian flavor profile to your dishes. It typically includes a combination of herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. Here are seven common uses for Italian seasoning:

Pasta Sauce: Add Italian seasoning to tomato-based pasta sauces, whether you’re making marinara, Bolognese, or a simple tomato sauce.
Homemade Pizza: Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the cheese and toppings of homemade pizzas to give them a classic Italian flavor. It’s an excellent complement to mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.
Roasted Vegetables: Toss vegetables like potatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, or carrots with Italian seasoning and olive oil before roasting.
Bread and Focaccia: Mix Italian seasoning into bread or focaccia dough for a delightful herb-infused bread. Use the bread to accompany soups or salads.
Grilled Meats: Season chicken, steak, or pork with Italian seasoning before grilling. The herbs add a savory and aromatic dimension to the meat.
Homemade Salad Dressing: Combine Italian seasoning with olive oil, vinegar, and other ingredients to create a flavorful Italian salad dressing. Drizzle it over your favorite salads.
Herb Butter: Mix Italian seasoning with softened butter to create a herb-infused butter that’s delicious on grilled corn, baked potatoes, or bread rolls.

Chili seasoning

Chili seasoning is a blend of spices and herbs designed to add flavor and heat to chili recipes. Here are some great ways to use chili seasoning:

Chili Con Carne: The most obvious use is to season a pot of chili con carne, typically made with ground beef, tomatoes, beans, and chili seasoning. The spice blend gives the dish its characteristic flavor and heat.
Vegetarian Chili: Use chili seasoning to season vegetarian or vegan chili.
Taco Meat: Season ground beef, turkey, chicken, or meat substitutes with chili seasoning for making spicy taco meat. This works well for tacos, burritos, or nachos.
Chili Cheese Fries: Sprinkle chili seasoning over a plate of hot, crispy fries covered with chili and cheese for a spicy, indulgent treat.
Chili Dogs: Top hot dogs or sausages with chili and cheese, and season with chili seasoning for a spicy twist.
Chili Mac and Cheese: Add chili seasoning to macaroni and cheese, along with ground meat, for a hearty variation of this classic comfort food.
Chili-Rubbed Meats: Use chili seasoning to season meats like chicken, ribs, or steaks before grilling or roasting for a spicy and smoky flavor.
Popcorn: Sprinkle chili seasoning on freshly popped popcorn for a spicy and savory snack.
Chili Burgers: Mix chili seasoning into ground meat when making burgers for a spicy twist. Top with cheese and your favorite chili toppings.
Chili Lime Shrimp: Season shrimp with chili seasoning and lime juice before sautéing for a zesty and spicy seafood dish.
Sloppy Joes: Add chili seasoning to the filling for Sloppy Joes.

Old bay seasoning

Old Bay seasoning is a classic spice blend that is savory, slightly spicy, and aromatic, with a hint of celery salt. While it’s most often associated with seafood, Old Bay seasoning can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some common uses:

Seafood Boil: Old Bay seasoning is most famous for seasoning seafood boils. It’s used in the water during the boiling process and then often sprinkled on the seafood after cooking.
Crab Cakes: Mix Old Bay seasoning into crab cake mixtures to enhance the flavor of the crab meat.
Fish: Use Old Bay seasoning to season fish, whether you’re grilling, baking, or pan-frying. It pairs well with various types of fish, including salmon and tilapia.
Shrimp: Season shrimp with Old Bay before grilling, broiling, or sautéing.
Fried Chicken: Sprinkle Old Bay seasoning on fried chicken.
Potato Dishes: Use Old Bay to season roasted or boiled potatoes, potato salad, or French fries. It adds a unique and savory flavor.
Corn on the Cob: Dust boiled or grilled corn on the cob with Old Bay seasoning for a zesty and slightly spicy corn dish.
Steamed Vegetables: Sprinkle Old Bay seasoning on steamed vegetables like broccoli or green beans for a unique flavor.
Hush Puppies: Season hush puppies with Old Bay for a spicy and flavorful Southern side dish.

Blackened seasoning

Blackened seasoning is a flavorful spice blend often used in Cajun and Creole cuisine, made famous by dishes like blackened fish or blackened chicken. Here are some common uses of blackened seasoning:

Blackened Fish: Use for blackened fish, such as catfish or redfish. Coat the fish fillets in the seasoning and cook them in a hot, buttery skillet to create a flavorful, crispy crust.
Blackened Chicken: You can use blackened seasoning to season chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders, then cook them in a skillet or on the grill for a spicy and smoky flavor.
Blackened Shrimp: Season shrimp with blackened seasoning and quickly sauté them in a hot skillet with butter or oil for a spicy and flavorful dish.
Blackened Tofu or Tempeh: Marinate tofu or tempeh in blackened seasoning and then pan-fry or grill them for a spicy plant-based option.
Blackened Steak: Coat a steak with blackened seasoning before grilling or pan-searing to add a spicy kick to your favorite cut of beef.
Blackened Pork Chops: Season pork chops with blackened seasoning and cook them in a skillet or on the grill for a spicy and smoky flavor.
Blackened Burgers: Mix blackened seasoning into ground meat when making burgers to infuse them with a bold and spicy flavor. Top with your favorite burger fixings.

Seafood seasoning

Seafood seasoning is a flavorful spice blend specifically designed to enhance the taste of seafood. Here are some common ways to use for seafood seasoning:

Seafood Boil: The most traditional and well-known use is to season a seafood boil, which can include crabs, shrimp, crawfish, lobster, clams, or other shellfish. The seasoning is added to the water during the boiling process, infusing the seafood with flavor.
Shrimp Boil: Use seafood seasoning when boiling shrimp. It adds a zesty, spicy, and aromatic flavor to the shrimp.
Crab Boil: Similar to a shrimp boil, you can use seafood seasoning for boiling crabs. It enhances the flavor of the crab meat and the overall experience.
Crawfish Boil: In Cajun cuisine, seafood seasoning is a must for a crawfish boil. It’s used in the boil water and also sprinkled on the cooked crawfish for extra flavor.
Fish Fillets: Season fish fillets with seafood seasoning before grilling, broiling, baking, or pan-frying. It pairs well with a variety of fish, including catfish and tilapia.
Grilled Shrimp: Marinate shrimp in a mixture of seafood seasoning, olive oil, and lemon juice before grilling for a spicy and flavorful dish.
Fried Seafood: Use seafood seasoning to season the breading or batter for fried seafood such as fish, shrimp, or oysters.
Seafood Pasta: Add seafood seasoning to pasta dishes that feature seafood, such as shrimp scampi or Cajun-style seafood pasta.
Sauces and Dips: Mix seafood seasoning into cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, or other seafood sauces to give them an extra kick of flavor.
Chowder and Bisque: Use seafood seasoning to season chowders and bisques that contain seafood, like clam chowder or seafood bisque.
Steamed Clams or Mussels: Add seafood seasoning to the steaming liquid for clams or mussels to infuse the seafood with flavor as it cooks.