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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!
I love the idea of homemade spice mixes. What is the typical shelf life?
I need a recipe for the Mccormick red curry powder. I know what is in it but not how much or each ingredient. Can anyone help me out?
can you tell me how to make Chinese oriental glaze/spice.
I make my own mild chile powder by buying bags of dried ancho chiles at Walmart, and softening them in hot water to cover. Remove the stems, seeds and membranes and put the soft peppers and their soaking water into a blender. Puree, then pour that on the fruit leather trays of a dehydrator. When crispy dry, put it into a blender, spice grinder, or Nutribullet to turn into powder. I soak a quart or so at a time, not the entire bag. A quart of soft pepper puree will fit on 3 Nesco trays. It made about 1/2 cup of pure ancho chile powder, ready for blending!
Love your spice blends! And thanks for the website to buy bulk from!
Do you have one to make nixed herbs?
What’s the deal with onion powder and garlic powder? Why not use fresh garlic and onion?
The taste and texture is different. Also, I dehydrate my own garlic and onion powders, so they are still organic and fresh.
That won’t Last. Use dehydrated instead. And onion and garlic powder or salt are Not unhealthy. Our bodies NEED a certain amount of salt, people
These are wonderful! I am now looking into buying the herbs and spices bulk; one question though, for the recipes that call for anise is that anise seed powder or anise star pod powder?
Also do you make the celery salt by mixing celery seed (whole or powdered) with salt?
Another question: where cinnamon is called for do you use Cassia or sweet Cinnamon?
powdered celery seed and salt
Thanks so much for these! I will be preparing them with my prenatal class to try and wean people off of processed foods 🙂
Man, I swear you have everything! I needed a taco seasoning recipe and instead of google, I tried you first and found 14 different blends! Though I haven’t used it yet, it smells delicious!! Thanks so much!
Thanks, so much, for these spice mixes, Katie! A few of them I’ve made up on my own, but some of them I had no idea what to put in the mix. This will be a great help for future culinary adventures! *BG*
Katie, have you come up with a homemade version of McCormick’s Toasted Onion & Garlic potato seasoning? I made it tonight, and my husband went on and on about the potatoes. I’d rather make up my own mix. Thanks!
Nope, not yet!
I can share what I do for toasted onion and garlic seasoning… it’s not really a specific recipe, because I rarely measure ingredients, but I can get you in the ball park. You can make it up in any amounts you like. It will store for a long time in an airtight jar, in a cabinet.
*2 measures dried onion flakes (you can pick these up really cheap, especially at dollar stores; normally there is nothing in the container but dried onions, no preservatives, fillers, etc.)
*1 measure beef bouillon granules (if the granules are too big, mash them with the back of a spoon; you can also use chicken or vegie, or just leave this out, but it does give it a great flavor boost)
*1 measure garlic powder (I really like garlic)
*sea salt to taste (I always use sea salt or Real Salt)
*pepper to taste (freshly ground is always best)
Mix everything together and that’s the basic recipe.
I sometimes add other stuff, just to give it a change. Parsley and paprika are always good additions.
I, also, sometimes use fresh, finely minced onion and garlic, sauteed in a bit of butter and or olive oil, then add the additional ingedients. You can either add diced potatoes to the mixture to cook, or use it to coat potatoes before cooking (baste while they cook), or as a topping for cooked potatoes.
Thanks so much! I’ll give it a try and see how it goes. We like garlic too!
I have looked for adobo spice or herb. I have some recipes that calls for it but can’t find it anywhere. I was so happy to see your site . Love all the mixes, will try several & also my sister will like this site too.
How can the seasoned salt not have any salt in it?
We have a family spice called Babunya’s Gourmet Spice. It’s been in our family for five generations. My 87 year old mom is the face on our products. Our blended spices are All Natural, Gluten Free, with no MSG, no preservatives, or additives. It comes in three flavours:
ORIGINAL (has no heat just great taste)
MILD (some heat)
HOT ( a bit more heat)
We blend all of our spices ourselves in Pennsylvania. They are great not only on chicken, but also steaks, pork, fish, lamb, All Game Meats, as well as soups, salads, and vegetables.
If you go to our website and click on Video Recipe you can watch some of my moms favorite dishes, and see exactly how to make them. Thanks for letting me share!
I’m looking to make my own cumin cinnamon seasalt mix. What would be an appropriate amount of cumin and cinnamon to salt?
Hi Katie! I LOVE your site, and I’m looking forward to learning more. I do have a couple of questions, maybe you can help?
Is Mountain Rose the least expensive on organic herbs and such? And do you recommend glass or plastic containers with organic blends?
– Sydney
Glass is better if possible and I order form MRH but there are some other good sources and you may be able to find them locally at a health food store…
So great! I’ve been looking for homemade mixes to make with my dried herbs from the garden this fall. Thanks so much 🙂
Do you by chance have a breakfast sausage seasoning blend?
I love these recipes — how wonderful to have spice mixes without the questionable ingredients — I just have two questions or observations– First, on the Taco Spice Mix you suggest an optional 1/4 cup of salt. That’s a lot of salt. If the recipe makes 1 cup, and 3 tablespoons of mix is enough for 1 pound of meat, then the entire recipe would season a little over 5 lbs of ground beef. I usually figure 1/2 teaspoon salt per pound of hamburger, so the recipe should contain about 1 tablespoon of salt, or slightly less.
Next, the seasoned salt recipe contains no salt. Do you mean to use this recipe in place of salt?
The seasoned salt can be in place of salt… I’m actually usually looking for ways to consume more healthy salt so we tend to use more than 1/2 tsp per pound…