Make homemade Cajun seasoning and sprinkle on fish, meat, chicken, and vegetables for a flavor boost with a spicy kick. It's quick and easy to make with pantry staples and so much better than store-bought.
What is Cajun Seasoning
Cajun food and spices originate from Louisiana. It was brought there by Acadians or French who migrated from Nova Scotia.
Cajun spice is used in famous Cajun food like jambalaya, seafood boil, and gumbo.
This homemade Cajun seasoning blend has a mix of peppers mainly paprika, cayenne, black pepper, and dried herbs. It's spicy with some heat from the cayenne. It tastes zesty, bold and boosts the flavor of any dish.
There are so many variations of this Cajun spice mix and no two recipes are the same. Apart from the main spices, Cajun seasoning recipe can include red pepper flakes, dried basil, or chili powder.
Why Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Homemade seasonings are more economical than store-bought packets. And they last long too. These individual spices are always in my pantry. So it's easy to make Cajun seasoning from scratch that's so flavorful and makes your tastebuds sing.
The individual spices and herbs can be mixed and matched to suit your needs. I love bold, spicy food so I increase the heat by adding more cayenne pepper or red chili flakes. This convenience alone makes it worthwhile to make homemade seasonings.
This homemade cajun seasoning recipe is healthy and free from preservatives, artificial flavors, and gluten. The same cannot be said for store-bought mixes.
Ingredients
- Paprika - regular or smoked paprika can be used.
- Cayenne pepper - Increase if you want more heat.
- Garlic powder - adds more flavor.
- Onion powder - complements the garlic powder.
- Dried Oregano - use dried herbs instead of ground.
- Dried Thyme - adds zing to the spice mix.
- Black pepper - use ground black pepper
- Salt - I use regular table salt but Kosher salt would be ideal too.
- Optional - red pepper flakes, dried basil.
How To Make Homemade Cajun Seasoning
*Scroll below for the printable recipe card and ingredient measurements.
It's so easy to make this seasoning mix. Add paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, and salt in a small bowl and give them a good stir to combine. Make sure to smooth out lumps if any.
Transfer the spice mix to an airtight container or jar.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure the ingredients are fresh.
- Check that herbs and spices are not stale before mixing them. Ground spices tend to lose their freshness after 6 months. Give the spices a whiff and if it smells like nothing it's better to discard them.
- Store properly.
- Store cajun seasoning mix in a cool, dark, dry place like a kitchen cupboard or pantry; away from direct heat or sunlight. Keep tightly closed when not in use.
- Make it your own.
- If you like spicy food, add more cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. This recipe contains 2 tablespoons of salt so you don't need to add extra salt to the recipe. Reduce the salt if it's too salty for you.
- Make small batches
- Unless you're making this spice blend as holiday gifts, don't make a big batch. Small batches will smell and taste fresh.
What To Use Homemade Cajun Seasoning On
Now that you have your own cajun spice blend, use it to flavor your favorite proteins or vegetables. I like to use this seasoning on salmon, steak, chicken, shrimp, and also on veggies.
They're great on starchy and plain foods like pasta, rice and beans to really enhance the flavor.
I like to use my Cajun seasoning on these spicy Air Fryer Salmon Bites.
Frequently Asked Questions
This spice mix will last up to 3 to 4 months when properly stored. Store them in a cool, dark place like the pantry or kitchen cupboard; away from direct heat or sunlight. Keep the spice jar tightly closed when not in use.
Homemade Cajun seasoning tastes spicy and smoky thanks to paprika, earthy from dried herbs with a hint of heat from cayenne pepper.
Cajun and Creole seasonings may sound similar and they do contain some common ingredients. But Cajun spice is spicy and bold while Creole seasoning is mild and earthy as it has oregano, thyme, basil and parsley.
More Homemade Seasoning Recipes
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Recipe
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon salt
Instructions
- Add paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme and salt in a small bowl and give them a good stir to combine. Make sure to smooth out lumps if any.
- Transfer the spice mix to an airtight container or jar.
Notes
- Lasts for 3 to 4 months.
- Store cajun seasoning mix in a cool, dark, dry place like a kitchen cupboard or pantry; away from direct heat or sunlight. Keep tightly closed when not in use.
Nutrition
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