Homemade spice blends that make you look like a star. Impress your family and friends with our DIY taco seasoning and other great flavors.
Thanks to a DIY Natural Reader
Thank goodness for reading Janine J., who recently wrote to share her friend’s homemade seasoning mix recipes. Glancing over these seasoning recipes gave me hope for future meals containing juicy, savory, poultry. Or beef. Or fish.
I’m a little burned out on poultry at the moment so I have been sticking to mostly beef and fish. But really, you can adjust these homemade blends to be perfect for any type of food.
Homemade Spice Blends
Homemade Johnny’s Seasoning
Enjoy this homemade spice blend on anything from popcorn to chicken and roasts.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tablespoon sea salt
- 1 Tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
(Find bulk herbs and spices here)
Instructions
Combine all spices in a bowl and mix well to combine. Transfer to a glass spice bottle or other shaker-top container and label.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
For each pound of ground beef/turkey, use 2 tablespoons of this homemade spice blend, plus ¾ cup of water.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon cumin
- 2 ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon oregano
(Find bulk herbs and spices here)
Instructions
Combine spices, mix well, and transfer to a repurposed spice container. Label with instructions for use, and plan your next taco night!
Homemade Creole Spice Blend
Use this seasoning mix as a dry rub for chicken, or sprinkle it on dishes for some creole flare!
Ingredients
- 5 Tablespoons paprika
- 3 Tablespoons sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons onion powder
- 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons oregano
- 2 Tablespoons basil
- 1 Tablespoon white pepper
- 1 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon thyme
- 1 Tablespoon cayenne pepper
(Find bulk herbs and spices here)
Method: Mix together herbs and spices and transfer to a shaker-top container. Avoid touching your face after handling these spices, or you’ll likely shed a few tears.
Spice It Up with Homemade Spice Blends
Making your own pre-mixed seasonings is a smart DIY move. Especially if there are favorite dishes you make on a regular basis, having a pre-mixed seasoning on hand saves all the time of measuring out individual spices. You can also be confident that your seasonings don’t include MSGs or anti-caking agents like store-bought seasoning mixes often do. Depending on the prices you find on individual spices, you may also save money by mixing your own homemade spice blends.
Homemade seasoning mixes always make a great gift. Come up with a sassy name for your seasonings and create an equally sassy label that will amuse your friends and family. Tuck a few seasoning mixes, homemade bread, and cooking sauces into a gift basket – a real treat for the BBQ master or food fanatic in your life!
What dishes are you using your homemade spice blends on?
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Susan Linker says
I need a receipe for the spices to make my own cornbeef. The receipes I have found call for brisket and a “spice packet”. I want a receipe for the “spice packet”. Thanks for your help!
Betsy Jabs says
Check out this article for ingredients for the pickling brine and the spice mixture: http://leitesculinaria.com/5912/recipes-homemade-corned-beef.html
Hope that helps!
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judi says
this is a great pumpkin pie spice mix:
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
Enjoy!
Betsy Jabs says
Thanks Judi! I wrote an article about homemade pumpkin pie spice last year…looks similar to your recipe. 🙂
Jess O. says
I was just pondering what to bring for a gift exchange at the herb society meeting, I think these in fun jars will be great! Thanks!
Betsy Jabs says
Sounds perfect for the event!
p.s. Herb Society? Sounds very cool!
Jess O. says
It is cool, we meet once a month and one of the members will teach us about an herb and/or we’ll do some type of herb related project. We are also responsible for tending to the herb garden at the local arboretum. We do an Herb Fest in the summer, this year will be Elderberry. That’s going to be a bit tricky I think!
Dortha says
I keep this book on my nightstand. It is a true “BEST SELLER”
Sharon says
Thanks for posting this. I always keep old spice containers to mix up a batch of my own. I usually just season as I cook … but it would be nice to have taco mix around for Taco Sundays. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Betsy Jabs says
Our pleasure Sharon! Taco Sundays…sounds like something we need to institute at our house. 🙂