Last updated on December 30th, 2019 at 05:59 pm
If you are looking for ways to spice up your boring chicken and pork, or just want to add a new flavor profile to your seafood and vegetables, try these homemade spice blends and seasoning mixes!
The most common herbs and spices used in everyday cooking include basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme and dill. Additionally, other spices like garlic, cinnamon, paprika, ginger, saffron, and cumin are added for interesting combinations.
Check out all these homemade seasoning blends you can make with spices and herbs that you already have in your pantry.
Stop shopping for pre-made spice blends, make your own, and save money in the process. Most store-bought blends contain anti-caking agents, MSG, and too much salt!
Control the level of salt and heat by make your own blends.
Just take me to the Spice Mixes already!
If you’d rather skip my (very helpful, I think) tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the best spice mixes and delicious seasoning blends – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
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The Very Best Spice Mixes
Are you sick and tired of bland tasting food? Need a good seasoning for chicken and don't know what to add to them? Are you starting a healthier eating plan and need some ways to add flavor without all the calories? These spice mixes are just what you are looking for!
How can I season food better?
Get adventurous! In addition to the usual salt and pepper, try making some homemade spice blends and discover some new flavor profiles.
Regional Spice Mixes
Take a trip around the world while staying in the kitchen with these seasoning mixes from other regions. Explore the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East!
Italian Seasoning
Make your own Italian Seasoning Mix and save money with ingredients that you probably already have in your spice cabinet!
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Flavored with allspice, cinnamon, and spicy pepper, Jerk Seasoning is perfect for a multitude of dishes. Make your own spicy Jamaican Jerk Seasoning at home and use it to spice up your wings and chicken dishes!
Ras El Hanout (Moroccan Spice Mix)
If you love warm and comforting flavors, then you need to dive into Moroccan cuisine and give the Moroccan spice mix, Ras el Hanout a try. This blend of spices is robust in flavor, but not too spicy. It is wonderful to use with meat and veggies alike!
Shawarma Seasoning
I love the smell of shawarma meats sizzling and drool when they shave it off the spit and serve it up in a pita. Want to make your own tasty meat at home? Try this homemade shawarma seasoning mix to get you started. Vertical meat stacks not included!
Southwest Seasoning
All the fun of a bread dipping oil but with a different set of spices! My Southwest Dipping Oil is best served with warm tortillas!
Greek Seasoning
Want a new spice mix to dress up your chicken or steak? Try this Greek Seasoning Mix you can make at home!
What can I use instead of all purpose seasoning?
Any of these multi-purpose seasoning mixes are perfect for all cuts of meat, seafood, and veggies!
All-Purpose Steak Seasoning
This all-purpose steak seasoning blend is great for steaks, chicken, fish, pork, and even vegetables. Make it now with the spices you already have in your pantry!
Adobo Seasoning
Adobo Seasoning is like the Mexican version of seasoned salt or all purpose seasoning. You can make this delicious seasoning for everything with 5 ingredients that you already have in your pantry!
The Best BBQ Dry Rub Around
Make your own BBQ seasoning mix homemade with spices in your pantry. This blend is great for seasoning burgers, steaks, ribs, and can be used as a bbq dry rub!
Julie's Spice Rub Recipe
Julie's spice rub recipe is the perfect balance of slightly sweet with a bit of heat. It is a deep flavor but not so overbearing that it takes over the taste of your food.
Basic Pork Seasoning
Basic Pork Seasoning is a simple dry rub you can use for simple rubs on any pork or chicken recipe. Especially ideal for pork ribs, pork roasts and country style pork ribs. Made from simple pantry ingredients for whipping up at the last minute.
Homemade Chicken Rub
This homemade Chicken Rub recipe makes boring chicken amazing! Add this seasoning for chicken to your favorite recipes to make them taste incredible.
Season Anything Spice Mix (paleo, real food, keto, MSG-free)
Use this healthy Season Anything Spice Mix for all your grilling, cooking meats, and roasting veggies. It’s a paleo, real food, keto, MSG-free seasoning blend that’s awesome on chicken, pork, fish, steak, veggies, and more!
Homemade Mrs. Dash Seasoning
If you haven’t tried Mrs. Dash before, stop what you’re doing! Now, go whip up this seasoning mix and sprinkle it on anything you’d ordinarily flavor with salt.
Everything Bagel Seasoning
Your favorite bagel topping of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion, garlic, and kosher salt is within your grasp. Make your own Everything Bagel Seasoning Mix at home with your own pantry spices!
Roasted Chipotle & Garlic Spice Mix
Kick your casserole up a notch or two with some of this mix. Anywhere you want a little extra flavor, that’s the place to use this.
Beef Stew Seasoning Mix Recipe
ALL NATURAL Beef Stew Seasoning Mix. It tastes so much better than the packets and you get to control the flavors and the sodium. I bet you already have all the spices in your pantry!
Spicy Seasoning Mixes
Looking for ways spice up your meals? These spice blends will bring the heat not just to your kitchen but to your plate as well! Try them on crackers, dips, and popcorns!
Spicy Nacho Doritos Seasoning
Spicy Nacho Popcorn is a gluten and dairy free snack that tastes like you are chowing down on Nacho Doritos but with a kick! And it doesn’t turn your fingers orange!
Buffalo Ranch Popcorn Seasoning
When you're craving chicken wings but you are trying to eat a little healthier and really just need a snack, check out my Buffalo Ranch Popcorn!
DIY: Home Made Taco Seasoning
An easy homemade taco seasoning blend, ready to use in anything you can dream up! Make a batch and keep it on hand for taco Tuesday!
Homemade Creole/Cajun Seasoning
This simple Cajun Seasoning recipe is a full flavor spice mix made from the herbs and spices you have on hand. The creole/cajun mix works great on vegetables, meats and in sauces for easy flavor additions.
Homemade Blackened Seasoning Blend Recipe
Homemade blackened seasoning blend recipe is a delicious mix of herbs and spices. Blackening seasoning has a great flavor followed by a spicy kick.
Is salt a spice?
Salt isn’t a spice or an herb, it is a mineral. Salt doesn’t add it’s own flavor to a dish, it just enhances the flavor of the dish that it’s added to.
What are the basic types of seasoning ingredients?
Aside from basic salt, pepper, oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, and nutmeg add these spices and herbs to your pantry and start experimenting with flavor!
- Whole black peppercorns
- Vietnamese Cinnamon
- Chili Powder
- Ginger
- Cumin
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Allspice
- Bay Leaves
- Marjoram
- Dried Mustard
How do you keep homemade spice blends from clumping?
Just like adding a few grains of rice to your salt shaker, try adding a few dried beans to your spice mixes. The dried beans will keep the moisture away from your spice mix and keep it from clumping.
Why do my spices get hard?
When spices are exposed to light, they begin to break down. Dry spices absorb moisture in the air and when ground spices absorb moisture, they often clump and become hard. Be sure to store them in an airtight container.
Should you refrigerate spices?
Spices should be stored in a dark, dry, and cool area in your kitchen. Choose a cabinet or pantry that can be closed if possible.
Is it better to store spices in plastic or glass?
Glass or metal are great choices for spice storage but the best would be food grade plastic or silicone bags where you can press out any extra air before sealing. I love these jars for storing my spice mixes!
Should I throw out old spices?
Spices don’t actually go bad or spoil, but they do lose potency. They can actually add bitter or slightly “off” flavors if used past their shelf life. Here is a quick guide to shelf time.
- Ground Spices – keep no longer than 3 years
- Whole Spices – throw out after 4 years
- Leafy Herbs (dried) – throw out after 1 to 2 years
I try and go through my spice cabinet at the start of the new year and check all the expiration dates. Because I buy most of mine in bulk and have them stored in plastic bags, I make sure I write the date on the bag when I purchase them so I don’t forget.
Is seasoning salt the same thing as table salt?
No. Table salt is just fine grains of salt. Seasoning or seasoned salt is a mixture of salt, spices, and other additives.
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Amy Nash says
I LOVE this collection! I have already made a bunch of these to give away as neighbor gifts and everybody was so happy to have something that wasn’t sweet for a change!
Erin Parker says
OK, this is seriously GENIUS to have all of these spice mixes and blends in one place. So helpful! I’ve made your taco seasoning and shawarma mix again and again… and I can’t wait to make more!
Nikki says
We love making homemade mixes! This is so informative and an amazing list to choose from! Thank you!
MICHAELA KENKEL says
I have never made a seasoning recipe from your blog that I didn’t LOVE –and now they are all in one spot!! THANK YOU!!
Julie Menghini says
Wow, I didn’t realize how many of your spice blends we use! Thank you for such amazing recipes!
Deb Clark says
I make all my own spice mixes and I see a few here I don’t have yet! Great recipes, thank you!
Debi says
So much information in one place. This is awesome! I love learning about food, and this post makes me so happy. Thanks for all the hard work on it.
Michelle says
I love homemade spice mixes. They’re so much better for you…no additives or ingredients you can’t pronounce. This is an awesome collection!