This easy homemade Cajun Seasoning recipe adds bold, amazing flavor to any recipe! So delicious on fish, chicken, potatoes and more! Use it to make marinades, salad dressing or flavor veggies! A simple blend of spices that you already have on hand makes this DIY cajun seasoning a yummy alternative to store bought mixes.
Homemade seasonings are so much better than store bought! Try these favorites too: Taco Seasoning, Steak Seasoning and Italian Seasoning!
Cajun Seasoning Recipe
Cajun seasoning is a quick and easy way to add amazing flavor to dishes. It is a blend of spices that are commonly found in Louisiana and Southern cuisine. Each spoonful combines classic ingredients like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne and a bouquet of herbs to create a flavor explosion in your favorite dishes. Whether you’re grilling, sautéing or roasting – a dash of this mix will infuse your dishes with incredible flavor!
We love making seasoning blends at home and this homemade Cajun seasoning is one of our favorites! I love making homemade spice mixes and seasonings because not only are they less expensive than the little packets at the store, the flavor is better as well. Not adding fillers to the mix really lets the flavors of the individual spices shine through. Plus, making your own seasoning allows you to adjust the flavors to your liking and ensures you know exactly what’s going into your food—no hidden additives or preservatives here!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Cajun Seasoning Mix is a great way to add bold seasoning and flavor to just about any dish – fish, chicken, potatoes – you name it! It’s super easy to make your own and way better than what you can find at the store. Cajun cuisine is known for its vibrant flavors with a serious kick and a good Cajun seasoning is imperative for amazing flavor. Here’s a few of the many reasons we love this mix:
- Customizable Heat: Easily adjust the spice levels to your preference by reducing or increasing the cayenne and red pepper flakes.
- Long Shelf Life: Made from dried spices, this blend can be stored for up to 6 months, helping you whip up flavorful meals time and time again.
- All Purpose Seasoning: Great on meats, vegetables and even popcorn, this Cajun Seasoning is as versatile as it is delicious.
How To Make Cajun Seasoning
This tasty mix combines garlic, paprika, cayenne and aromatic herbs to add a vibrant kick to any dish. Perfectly suited for seasoning meats, seafood and vegetables, this Cajun Seasoning recipe is our go-to for adding phenomenal flavor to our meals.
As with any homemade seasoning blend, the process in incredibly easy. Let’s take a quick look at how to make the cajun seasoning and as always, you can find the full printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Mix thoroughly to ensure even distribution of spices.
- Transfer the blend into a spice jar or any airtight container.
Storage Information
- Storage. This Cajun Seasoning can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
- Make In Advance. You can make it in advance and keep it on hand for any cooking needs, making it a convenient addition to your pantry.
- Freezing. This seasoning is not suitable for freezing as it is made from dried ingredients, which do not freeze well.
Great Gift Idea
Just like with my Taco Seasoning and Fajita Seasoning, I like to make this Cajun seasoning recipe for holiday gifts or housewarming gifts too. Just print off a tag or buy some chalkboard tags and some cute spice bottles and you’re set. (This set here has EVERYTHING you need: bottles, tags, funnel, etc.)
It would be a great idea to make a seasoning mix trio too! Just pick one of my homemade spice mixes or seasoning mixes below (right above the recipe card).
For Christmas this year, I made up a big batch and bottled it in these adorable mason spice jars – so cute right? I think this is the perfect gift for those people you have a hard time buying for – such a cute stocking stuffer as well!
Can I make it less spicy?
Absolutely! To reduce the heat, decrease the amounts of cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes. Start with half the suggested amount and adjust according to your taste preference.
How should I use this Cajun Seasoning?
There are so many great uses for this seasoning blend! Not only is it perfect for seasoning chicken, shrimp, steaks and vegetables, it can also be used to spice up soups and stews or as a rub for grilling. Try it on nuts and popcorn too!
Serving Suggestions
- Marinades: Mix the seasoning with oil and a little vinegar to create a marinade for chicken, pork, or beef. Let the meat marinate for several hours or overnight to absorb the flavors deeply.
- Vegetables: Simply sprinkle the seasoning over vegetables before roasting in the oven for a delicious, spicy side dish.
- Dressings and Sauces: Incorporate a teaspoon of the seasoning into salad dressings or mayonnaise to create a Cajun-inspired condiment perfect for sandwiches or burgers.
This Cajun Spice Mix is so versatile you’ll find yourself pulling it from your spice cabinet time and again!
Trish’s Tips
- Swap smoked paprika for some or all of the paprika to enhance the smokiness of the blend.
- Consider grinding your spices for more potent flavor.
- Adjust as needed for your personal preferences. More or less cayenne, oregano, thyme, etc.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you need if for larger batch cooking.
- Use the freshest ingredients you can find for this blend. Dried herbs do tend to lose potency and flavor the longer they sit on the shelf.
More Seasoning and Spice Mixes
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons paprika plus 1 teaspoon
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cayenne
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 to 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients.1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon cayenne, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 to 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- Use a funnel to pour into a spice jar or airtight container.
- Use as needed.
Video
Notes
- Storage. This Cajun Seasoning can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
- Make In Advance. You can make it in advance and keep it on hand for any cooking needs, making it a convenient addition to your pantry.
- Freezing. This seasoning is not suitable for freezing as it is made from dried ingredients, which do not freeze well.
Nutrition
Originally published December 22, 2014.
Maria says
Hi Trish,
It was nice to meet you this weekend at BYBC. I’ve admired your blog for along time! And can I just say this Cajun Seasoning is calling my name! YUMMY!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Maria
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking says
Cajun is our FAVORITE. No joke!! We always order french fries “Cajun-style” wherever we can. (Wingstop and Five Guys both have them!) SO good!! Reece would definitely get along with my guy. He’s the exact same at Chipotle, and he always asks for the hottest options when we go out for Indian and Thai food. 😉 Pinned!
Valerie | From Valerie's Kitchen says
I love to mix up my own spice blends. This one looks great. Pinning! Happy holidays, Trish 🙂
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
Haha – maybe instead of your tastebuds dying, they’re just getting stronger:) This sounds like a seasoning my mom would like (and it’s her birthday next week, which makes the timing just perfect!). Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
Thank you!!!!! This is exactly what I need in my bag of culinary tricks!!!!
Liz says
Thank you Trish. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Amy @Very Culinary says
I’m roasting a whole chicken next week and plan on using it!
Mir says
My husband is just like your son. It’s never too spicy! I can’t wait to try this on him!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I can’t wait to use mine!! Love this idea Trish!