In this post: This Cajun seasoning mix recipe is out of this world! It’s hot, delicious, and will jazz up even the humblest of meals. Make it in less than 5 minutes and watch the compliments pour in!
Use this delicious homemade Cajun seasoning to spice up your meals! Perfect for seafood, pasta, meat, fries, and more. And most of the ingredients are already in your pantry!
Table of Contents
What is Cajun Seasoning?
Cajun seasoning is a delicious spice mixture with bold flavor. It commonly contains paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper but I like to include more spices in my Cajun seasoning to add depth to the blend! This seasoning goes amazing with a variety of meat, pasta, and vegetable dishes (ideas below).
Why Make Your Cajun Spice Mix at Home?
Cajun seasoning is easy and cheap to make at home! Plus, you can adjust the spice amounts to fit your personal taste.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This homemade Cajun seasoning recipe:
- is quick and easy to make
- keeps well in an airtight container for months
- doesn’t contain complicated instructions or hard-to-find ingredients
- can easily be adjusted to suit your individual taste
Cajun Seasoning Ingredients
- Smoked paprika: tastes smoky, woody, and spicy – quite different from regular paprika!
- Salt: you can use more or less salt depending on the flavor you like.
- Garlic powder: an easy way to add mild garlic flavor to any dish.
- Black pepper: spicy, woody, and sharp tasting.
- White pepper: milder and mustier than black pepper.
- Italian seasoning: if you don’t have any, try making this recipe!
- Cayenne pepper: slightly sweet with smoky spiciness.
How to Make Cajun Seasoning Blend
- Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl.
- Stir with a fork or whisk until combined.
- Store in an airtight container (like a spice jar) in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
Recipe Tips
- You can use normal paprika if you prefer, but I think smoked paprika tastes better in this spice blend.
- If you don’t have both black and white pepper, just use one or the other and combine the amounts.
- You can add a tablespoon of onion powder if you want. Many Cajun spice blends include it.
- For some extra spice, you could add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- I like buying those little preservation packs and placing them in my spice mixes. It keeps the seasoning from clumping and going stale!
- The seasoning may last longer than 6 months, but the flavor won’t be as strong so you may have to use a little extra.
How to Use
There are so many ways to use this delicious spice blend! In general, Cajun spice mix goes great with beef (burgers, steak, etc), crawfish, beans, soups and stews, sausage, and even rice! Here are some more specific ideas:
FAQs
Where did Cajun seasoning come from?
Cajun seasoning gained popularity in Louisiana in the 1700s because it goes so well with seafood (which was abundant in Louisiana at the time).
Is Cajun seasoning the same as chili powder?
They’re different! Cajun seasoning is a spice mix containing a variety of herbs and spices, whereas chili powder is a spice made up of one or more types of ground chiles.
What is a good substitute for Cajun seasoning?
If you don’t have all of the ingredients for Cajun spice mix you can use the basic three: cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning (you could get away with just using dried thyme and dried oregano).
Are Creole and Cajun seasonings the same thing?
Creole and Cajun seasonings share some of the same ingredients, but they are different. Creole seasoning is more complex and has more herbs (like oregano, basil, and thyme) to complement tomato-based dishes.
What is the difference between white and black pepper?
White pepper is from the same plant as black pepper but white pepper has its skin removed, making for a milder spice.
More Homemade Spice and Seasoning Blends
Cajun Seasoning Mix
Perfect for seafood, pasta, fries, and more!
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Smoked Paprika
- 2 Tablespoons Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon White Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl.
- Whisk until combined.
- Store in an airtight jar in a dry pantry for up to 6 months.
Notes
- You can use normal paprika if you prefer, but smoked paprika has a livelier flavor.
- If you don’t have both black and white pepper, just use one or the other and combine the amounts.
- I like buying those little preservation packs and placing them in my spices. It helps the humidity stay away from the seasoning and keeps it from clumping and going stale.
- The seasoning may last longer than 6 months, but the taste isn’t as intense so you may have to use more.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 6Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 424mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily via Nutrifox.
