Skip the store bought packages and make homemade seasoning mixes.
You can almost always find jars filled with homemade seasoning mixes in my cupboard. The are one of my favorite things to keep on hand in my kitchen. I use them all the time.
They are inexpensive to make and I can control the ingredients that go into them. That means it is easy to make them gluten free and allergy friendly if needed.
If you buy your spices and ingredients in bulk it is also cheaper to make them homemade.
I like to use pint or jam size jars for storing the mixes, but really any container will work.
Since I love seasoning mixes so much I put together a list of my favorite seasoning mixes to keep on hand, how I make them, and how I use them in recipes.
Recipes Using Taco Seasoning
I love homemade taco seasoning. It can be used for tacos, but I also like to keep it on hand for things like taco salad, my taco pasta, taco salad, and taco soup. I also use this when I freeze large batches of taco meat.
How To Use Emeril’s Baby Bam Seasoning
Emeril’s Baby Bam is one of the most used seasonings in my kitchen. I love it. It works great for all kinds of meat and vegetables.
I use it in things like crockpot chicken, pork chops, steak, and meatloaf. And I love it for oven potatoes, rice, and hamburgers.
Recipes For Using Fajita Seasoning
Homemade fajita seasoning was one of the first recipes that I shared on this site and years later I am still using and loving it.
Fajitas are one of my favorite quick and easy summertime meals and this seasoning makes them so good.
You can use this seasoning in my crock pot fajitas, sheet pan fajitas, fajita chicken, and more.
Ways To Use Homemade Seasoning Salt
You will always find a jar of homemade seasoning salt in my cupboard. I found Paula Deen’s House Seasoning years ago in one of her cookbooks and I have kept it on hand ever since.
Over the years, I have changed it up slightly, but it is still the same basic idea. It is only three ingredients and that is all. They are ingredients I use all the time in cooking, but having them together, all in one place, makes it so convenient. I use this for roast, crockpot chicken, oven chicken, grilled steak, oven potatoes, and more.
Ways To Use Homemade Chili Seasoning
Skip the packet of chili seasoning mix and make homemade chili seasoning.
I love to season my chili depending on what mood I am in, but I also love to keep this homemade chili seasoning on hand for easy chili. If you buy the packet of chili seasoning make it homemade instead.
Homemade Spaghetti Seasoning
Homemade Spaghetti Seasoning is another ingredient that you should skip the packet and make it homemade.
This recipe makes homemade spaghetti seasoning easy. You control the ingredients so you can make sure that it is gluten free.
Homemade Seasoning Mixes
Skip the store bought packages and mixes and make homemade seasoning mixes instead. You control the ingredients so you know what goes into them.
Seasoning Salt Recipe
Skip the store bought version and make your seasoning salt at home with this easy to make seasoning salt recipe.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Skip the package of taco seasoning at the store and make it homemade with this easy homemade taco seasoning.
Homemade Fajita Seasoning
Make fajita seasoning at home. You can control the ingredients when you make it at home.
Homemade Chili Seasoning
Homemade chili seasoning is an easy to make homemade version of those store bought packets.
Gluten Free Taco Seasoning - Gluten Free Kitchen Adventures
Taco seasoning is easy to make gluten free with this easy to make homemade gluten free taco seasoning.
Spicy Fish Seasoning (64 cents/batch)
If you love fish this is a delicious seasoning to use.
Posted July 2011. Updated May 2022.
THANK YOU! I am so excited to have these recipes!
Hi!
Can you tell me where did you find those jars and labels? I have a label maker, but as soon as water touches them, they fade and peel off. I love this site!
@Beckie, The jars and lids I find in the canning type section at Walmart or Target. As far as the labels go I found those at Office Depot or Staples I don’t remember which one. They fit the label maker I have and they have a coating on the label so that it does not smear off. If they do get really wet, they will no longer stick as well, but since I usually refill the jars with the exact same mix, I don’t really wash them very often. I hope that helps.
I LOVE to make homemade seasonings. Thanks for posting these great links!!
You have 3 TBSP written on each one, is that what you use per pound of meat? Thanks!
@Kristin, For the taco and fajita seasoning yes that is what I use per lb of meat. For the Paula Deen and Emerils seasoning it depends on what I am making what I use.
LOVE IT – I don’t have any homemade seasonings – this is so smart!
These are great to have on hand! I also usually like to have some homemade Italian dressing mix, Ranch dressing mix, and onion soup mix on hand too. You avoid a lot of additives and MSG if you make your own mixes!
Carey,
Do you mind sharing how to make your own Ranch dressing mix? My house goes through Ranch dressing like water.
Thank you so much!
@Jessica, Jessica I don’t have a ranch mix on my site, although I have made one. I need to get that posted. But I do have a ranch dressing that I posted a few years ago. I don’t know if this would help, but it might. https://www.lynnskitchenadventures.com/2008/07/buttermilk-ranch-dressing.html
@Jessica, I use this recipe but cut back considerably on the salt since I am trying to keep things lower sodium: https://allrecipes.com/recipe/ranch-dressing-and-dip-mix/detail.aspx. See footnotes for how to make it into either a dressing or a dip. I haven’t used it for a dressing but only for a dip or for adding to recipes calling for ranch dressing mix. You could also try https://www.5dollardinners.com/2011/04/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix.html if you don’t like the first recipe.
Thanks for posting all of these great mixes together. I LOVE your website!
I was wondering, do you buy your herbs and spices from somewhere other than the grocery store? I find mine tend to not have much flavor and I’ve been told that if you buy that stuff from somewhere other than the grocery stores’ stuff in cheap plastic container, you can get better and more flavorful herbs and spices.
@Kim, I usually buy them from the store or from Sam’s Club. For the spices I use in mixes like this I usually buy in bulk from Sam’s. I do buy more expensive spices when it comes to some of the more unusual spices, but for the ones that I go through a lot of I have not been able to justify the cost of nicer more expensive spices. But I would agree that some there can be a difference in spices and where you buy them. Also, spices do lose some of their flavor, so I try not to keep them for a really long time in my cupboard. I guess I need to do a post on spices. I will try to do that soon.
@Lynn, The post about your spices would be awesome. I don’t have a Sam’s near me, however a Costco is going to be opening soon close to me and we’re thinking of getting a membership. I may have to check there.
@Kim, Costco should have a good selection also. My mom and sister buy spices at Costco, so I know they do have them.
In my pantry have taco seasoning mix and meatloaf mix. I place my mixes in old baby food jars. I also have a jar for baking powder that I recently learned how to make! This is so wonderful.
Thank you for sharing your mixes 🙂
Hi there and thanks for these recipes.
I was buying taco spice only yesterday and examined the ingredients on the back of the package…the own brand version was 30% sugar!!! Needless to say I purchased the expensive brandname variety…but no more. I shall make my own from now on. Thanks again. Gill.
@Gill, Yes, some of the spice mixes can have a lot of sugar and other stuff added to them. That is one of the reasons I like homemade ones better.
I have been wanting to try a homemade taco seasoning for awhile now. I am going to give this one a shot next week. This is a great idea to keep seasonings on hand.
Two mixes I always have on hand are seasoned salt and chili powder. I found a recipe for seasoned salt that is a knockoff of the Lawry’s brand on recipezaar. And I like to use Alton Brown’s recipe for chili powder. It is a bit more work since you start with whole dried chilies but I feel it’s worth it. Use these all the time!
Thanks for the tips! I have Paula Dean’s seasoning in my pantry already, I LOVE it on steaks! I like the idea of making your own taco seasoning, I constantly find myself buying the little packets in the store to cook with, having my own ready to go would be much easier. I have tons of baby food jars around, maybe I will use some of those and store some spice mixes. Thanks for the ideas!
I love this ideas as a gift and for my own use. This year I feel like I got such a late start on Christmas and feel so unorganized, that I’m already thinking ahead for next year on little gift ideas. Thank you!
Lynn:
LOVE your site! I’m needing the onion soup mix recipe–would use as seasoning for chicken in the crock pot.
Please share!
Brenda
I will try to share that soon.
I too am very interested in making my own onion soup mix and would love the receipe/ I am going to try making my own dry spice mixes as I am on a seniors wage and have to watch my spending. Thanks.
Thank You! I want to try making my own taco seasoning. This will really help. Thanks again for sharing.
I also make my own creole seasoning mix. This is a really wonderful blend of spices. For me, it worked really well because it doesn’t have cilantro or cumin or anything else from that family of spices – which I detest!
You MUST start slowly with this blend because it’s quite hot and will overpower everything else. I start by just sprinkling some into chili or whatever because I can always add a little more but if I start off with too much, there’s not a lot you can do except guzzle lots of water and keep a box of kleenex handy for your nose and your eyes!!
Give it a try – it’s just delicious and smells heavenly.
CREOLE SEASONING MIX
2 TBSP plus 1 1/2 tsp hungarian paprika
2 TBSP garlic powder (not salt)
1 TBSP sea salt or celtic salt
1 TBSP onion powder (not salt)
1 TBSP dried oregano
1 TBSP dried thyme
1 TBSP cayenne pepper
1 TBSP black pepper
1 tsp ground anise or fennel
1 tsp to 1 TBSP (personal taste should dictate) raw cocoa powder
Mix in a plastic bag and shake to blend. Keep in a cool, dry cupboard.
I really hope to get some feedback on this recipe.
I need a recipe for homemade spaghetti seasoning or tell me where to go to get it. We eat alot of spaghetti and there is many of times I have browned the meat and ready for seasoning and don’t have it. HELP, Thanks
I make all my own seasoning mixes. My favorites are salsa mix, souvlaki, curly fries seasoning, spinach dip mix…. I make hundreds of them.
any help w/ making a pumpkin pie spice mix? love your seasoning mixes. they’re good and save lots of money!
Pumpkin pie seasoning in order of most to least in the jar:
cinnamon
allspice
nutmeg
ginger
cloves
black pepper
Makes the best pumpkin pie or blachinda ever.
Do you have a seasoning recipe for Susie Q Santa Maria seasoning?
I have never tried Susie Q seasonings, but now you have me curious about them.
It is my family’s favorite. I use it on everything. Problem is it has MSG. I can’t seem to find another that we like as well. I am by no means a cook and I really need someone to give me a recipe to make anything. I would love it if you would check into it. I promise you won’t be disappointed in the flavor!
Thanks.
The Paula Deen seasoning is great! I use onion powder in mine also. How can you keep the seasoning mix from clumping and hardening?
I add onion powder to mine, as well.
I add 1/2 of a soda cracker to my jar to keep it from clumping when the humidity is high. Don’t have to worry about that this time of year when our weather is in the below zero range!
How much onion powder do you add? I cannot find anything anywhere that gives a quantity…just “to your liking”. I know I like her bottled seasoning but I don’t know how to translate it to MY liking! 🙂
I recently found heritage (old-fashioned) jars at amazon by accident while looking for something else. Some of the jars are made by Ball and some are made by Kerr, and they come in both pint and quart for sure, maybe other sizes too but I didn’t check that closely. They come in green (you know what I mean, that old-fashioned green glass that was popular in the 1930’s and 1940’s), they come in purple and they come in aqua. These would really stand out if used for spice mixes because they would not be easily confused on your shelf for something else. I just buy white labels at the “office” stores and write on them. Works for me.
Check out the jars. I’m sure you can probably get them elsewhere, too, but I just happen to see them on amazon.