Many store bought herb and spice blends can be expensive, and a lot of them contain additives, anti-caking agents, or MSG.
Homemade Herb and Spice Blends
Fortunately, most are very easy to make, and if you order your ingredients in bulk, you can make 14 (or more) different spice blends using under 30 herbs. You’ll be able to eat the cuisine of another country every night for two weeks, and quality spice blends can make even plain meat and vegetables exciting.
Personally, I order all the herbs necessary to make these herb and spice blends in 1 pound quantities from reputable sources on Amazon. It is so much cheaper to buy herbs and spices in bulk, and shopping online makes it a breeze to find good organic spices. I freeze any that I’m not using right away, or keep them in a cool, dry place and they last for at least a year. I use many of the herbs in other herbal recipes like my Vinegar of the Four Thieves Health Tonic, so they don’t go to waste.
If you’ve never made your own spice blends, I’d encourage you to try it! It’s simple, saves money, and you avoid the chemical additives that are in most spice blends.
If you have a dehydrator and the time, you can also make your own garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder to save money.
Taco Seasoning Recipe Ingredients
- ¼ cup chili powder
- ¼ cup cumin
- 1 TBSP garlic powder
- 2 TBSP onion powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 TBSP Himalayan salt or sea salt (optional)
- 1 tsp black pepper
Taco Seasoning Recipe Instructions
Put all in jar and shake well or mix in a food processor until mixed. Store in an airtight jar for up to six months. Makes approximately ¾ cup. To use: sprinkle on ground beef or chicken as you would any store bought taco seasoning. 3 tablespoons is the same as 1 packet of store bought taco seasoning. Great for lettuce tacos.
Homemade Curry Powder Recipe Ingredients
- ½ cup paprika
- ¼ cup cumin
- 1 TBSP fennel powder
- 2 TBSP fenugreek powder (optional)
- 2 TBSP ground mustard
- 1 TBSP red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 TBSP ground coriander (optional)
- ¼ cup turmeric
- 1 TBSP ground cardamon (optional)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
Homemade Curry Powder Recipe Instructions
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, jar, or food processor and store in an airtight container until ready to use. Can be used on meats, vegetables, or in soups. Especially good in with chicken, shrimp or vegetables.
Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe Ingredients
- ¼ cup cut and sifted rosemary
- ½ cup basil
- ½ cup marjoram
- ½ cup oregano
- ¼ cup thyme
- 2 TBSP garlic powder (optional, especially if you cook with fresh garlic)
Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe Instructions
Place all herbs in a jar and shake well. Great in any Italian recipes such as eggplant Parmesan, chicken Parmesan, Meatza, grain-free spaghetti, zucchini lasagna, etc.
Homemade Rajin’ Cajun Seasoning Ingredients
- ½ cup paprika
- 1/3 cup Himalayan salt or sea salt
- ¼ cup garlic powder
- 2 TBSP black pepper
- 2 TBSP onion powder
- 1 TBSP cayenne pepper (optional, but won’t be spicy without this)
- 2 TBSP oregano
- 1 TBSP thyme
Homemade Rajin’ Cajun Seasoning Instructions
Mix all ingredients in jar or food processor and store in an airtight container. Good on stir frys, eggs, casseroles, and poultry. Can add more or less cayenne pepper for preferred level of spiciness.
Print this Cajun seasoning recipe here.
Healthy Ranch Dressing Mix Recipe Ingredients
- ¼ cup dried parsley
- 1 TBSP dill
- 1 TBSP garlic powder
- 1 TBSP onion powder
- ½ tsp basil (optional)
- ½ tsp black pepper
Healthy Ranch Dressing Mix Recipe Instructions
Mix all ingredients together in jar or food processor. To make into ranch dressing, mix 1 tablespoon of this mix with 1/3 cup homemade mayonnaise or Greek yogurt and ¼ cup coconut milk.
Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe Ingredients
- zest from 4-6 organic lemons OR ½ cup dried lemon zest
- 6 TBSP ground black pepper OR whole peppercorns if you are using fresh lemon
- 5 TBSP Himalayan salt or sea salt
Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe Instructions
If using fresh lemon zest, thoroughly zest the lemons and spread the fresh lemon out on a baking sheet. Put into the oven on the lowest setting and leave until completely dried. Mine took about 70 minutes, but yours make take more or less time. When completely dried, mix with the peppercorns and salt in a food processor until well mixed. If making with pre-dried lemon peel, just mix all ingredients in a food processor until blended.
Seasoned Salt Recipe Ingredients
- ¼ cup onion powder
- ¼ cup garlic powder
- ¼ cup black pepper
- 2 TBSP chili powder
- 3 TBSP paprika
- ½ cup Himalayan salt or sea salt
- 2 TBSP dried parsley
- 1 TBSP red pepper flakes (optional)
Seasoned Salt Recipe Instructions
Combine all ingredients and mix well by shaking in a jar. Store in an airtight container.
Fajita Seasoning Recipe Ingredients
- ¼ cup chili powder OR make your own
- 2 TBSP salt
- 2 TBSP paprika
- 1 TBSP onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 TBSP cumin
Fajita Seasoning Recipe Instructions
Mix well in bowl or jar and store in airtight container until use. Use about 1 teaspoon per chicken breast or steak when making fajitas. I use for making fajitas and fajita salad.
French Onion Soup Mix Ingredients
- ½ cup dried onion flakes or dehydrated onion slices
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp celery salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp Himalayan salt or sea salt (optional)
- 1 tsp turmeric (optional)
French Onion Soup Mix Instructions
Use approximately ¼ cup of the French onion soup mix per 2 cups of beef stock (or bone broth) to make French onion soup (add 3-4 onions that have been very thinly sliced and slowly caramelized). To use as a mix, you can add ½ cup soy-free and MSG free beef bouillon powder to the recipe and then use as you would a packet of French onion soup mix (¼ cup=1 package). Excellent on roasts or for making French onion soup. I also use as the seasoning for the meat in shepherd/cottage pie.
Chili Seasoning Mix Ingredients
- ½ cup chili powder
- ¼ cup garlic powder
- ¼ cup cumin
- 3 TBSP onion powder
- 2 TBSP oregano
- 2 TBSP paprika
- 1 TBSP thyme (optional)
Chili Seasoning Mix Instructions
Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container. ¼ cup of mix=1 package of store bought chili seasoning. Great for all types of chili (this one is my favorite).
Herbs de Provence Ingredients
- ½ cup thyme leaf
- ¼ cup marjoram leaf
- 2 TBSP cut and sifted rosemary leaf
- 2 TBSP savory
- 1 tsp lavender flowers (optional)
- 2 tsp dried orange zest (optional)
- 1 tsp ground fennel
Herbs de Provence Instructions
If you are zesting the orange yourself, remove the zest of one organic orange and dry in an oven on lowest setting or a dehydrator until completely dry. Place in a food processor with the lavender flowers and lightly pulse. Remove and mix all ingredients in a jar or bowl until mixed (do not grind up the herbs!). Excellent in soups, on chicken or on roasted vegetables.
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe Ingredients
- ¼ cup onion powder
- 2 TBSP salt
- 2 TBSP thyme
- 2 tsp allspice
- 1 TBSP cinnamon
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe Instructions
Mix all ingredients together and store in airtight container. When using, it is especially good if mixed with honey and painted on the meat.
Print the Jamaican jerk seasoning recipe here.
Asian 5-Spice Seasoning Ingredients
- 2 TBSP anise
- 1 TBSP black pepper
- 1 TBSP ground fennel
- 1 TBSP cinnamon
- 1 TBSP ground cloves
- 1 TBSP Himalayan salt or sea salt
Asian 5-Spice Seasoning Instructions
Mix all ingredients and store in airtight container. Great for recipes like beef and broccoli stir fry and other Asian themed cuisine.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Ingredients
- ¼ cup cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
Pumpkin Pie Spice Instructions
Mix all ingredients and store in airtight container. Use as you would regular pumpkin pie spice. Great in pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pie, spiced pumpkin lattes or coconut flour pumpkin muffins.
I store all of my homemade spice blends in glass jars or glass bottles and keep them in my spice cabinet.
Ever made your own seasoning spice blends? What’s your favorite? Share below!
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