Homemade Cajun seasoning is easy to make and tastes better than store-bought blends. When you make your own spice blends, you have control over the flavors. You can easily customize it to make your own signature perfect blend by adding more of one or less of another ingredient.

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This Cajun spice recipe is made with ingredients that you probably already have in your spice cabinet, so you can make just enough for your recipe, or you can make extra to have on hand.
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Why Make Your Own Cajun Spice Blend?
- Cajun seasoning is versatile. It's perfect for Cajun food recipes like Cajun Turkey Meatballs. You can also use it as a rub for chicken or fish, stir some into mayonnaise for an aioli or spread, or make a dip using Greek yogurt. I even like to add a pinch to some olive oil and vinegar to dress up a salad.
- This homemade Cajun seasoning recipe is economical. Store-bought seasoning blends can be expensive. Save cash by mixing your own spice blends at home.
- It's quick and easy to mix up homemade seasonings with individual spices you probably have on hand. Some of my other easy homemade seasoning mixes are Italian seasoning, Jamaican jerk spice, homemade taco seasoning, pumpkin pie spice, and homemade mulling spice.
- When you make your own seasonings, you know what's in them. Grocery store seasoning blends can contain things like anti-caking agents, MSG, excess sodium and sugar. Pre-made blends can also contain wheat or gluten. If gluten-free is important, you can feel confident with your homemade spice mixes.
Ingredients
Ingredient quantities are in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Smoked paprika. Paprika is one of the common ingredients used in Cajun cooking. Although you can use regular paprika, smoked paprika adds a bold flavor that we're looking for in a good Cajun seasoning mix.
- Garlic powder.
- Onion powder.
- Cumin. Cumin has a nutty, smoky and slightly bitter flavor that compliments spicy peppers. It's often included in chili powder blends.
- Dried thyme.
- Dried oregano.
- Black pepper. Ground black pepper adds it's own bit of spice and a great depth of flavor to this delicious spice blend. You can use white pepper, which has a milder flavor, if you prefer, or a combination. I always prefer freshly ground black pepper corns over pre-ground pepper.
- Salt. I use kosher salt, but sea salt, or any salt will work. You can omit the salt if you prefer to add it separately to recipes.
- Cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is a key piece of the flavor profile in this homemade Cajun seasoning blend. This is where you can dial the amount up or down depending on how much spicy heat you like. However, even if you don't like spicy food, your homemade Cajun spice mix still needs to include at least a little cayenne pepper. It's one of the classic Cajun flavors and has a fruity heat that perfectly compliments the blend of herbs in this spice mixture.
How to make this homemade Cajun seasoning recipe
- Mix all the ingredients together with a small whisk.
- Transfer to a jar with a lid.
Tips
Freshness. Ground spices have a shelf life and over time they will loose their flavor and aroma. Check the freshness of the individual spices before using them in your Cajun spice blend.
Storage. Store your homemade spice blends in a dry place like your spice drawer, cabinet, or cupboard, just as you would store any spice, in an airtight container at room temperature. If properly stored, your Cajun seasoning mix will keep for up to a year.
How to use homemade Cajun seasoning
Use this spice mix in Cajun recipes like Cajun Honey Butter Salmon, Cajun Shrimp Deviled Eggs, Cajun Corn on the Cob, Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta, Cajun Crab Cakes, or Cajun Red Beans and Rice.
You can also use this seasoning blend as a blackening spice for this delicious Blackened Cod. Try sprinkling some on roasted vegetables for a kick of spice. It's delicious on butternut squash, roasted rutabaga, or air fryer zucchini.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important! Thank you for visiting The Food Blog!
Recipe
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Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Taste and adjust, if desired. Store in an airtight container.
Redawna
Love the flavours in this blend! Book marking to make!
Colleen
Thanks Redawana!