When it comes to cooking a warm, hearty bowl of chili, having the right seasoning is key to capturing that bold, rich flavor we crave. But what happens when you’re in the middle of making dinner and realize you’re out of chili seasoning? Don’t worry—this easy homemade chili seasoning substitute has you covered!
This recipe combines common pantry spices like cumin, paprika, onion and garlic powder to recreate the traditional chili flavor. It’s quick to make, customizable to your taste, and doesn’t require any unusual ingredients.
Why Make Your Own Chili Seasoning?
Making your own chili seasoning is not only convenient, but it also allows you to control the flavor by adjusting heat level and salt content. Store-bought chili seasoning packets often contain more than just herbs and spices. You might be surprised to find things such as additives, preservatives, high amounts of salt, thickeners such as corn starch and even sugar.
By making it yourself, you can adjust it to your liking. Plus, it’s budget-friendly and can save you a trip to the store!
Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:
Ingredients to make Homemade Chili Seasoning
The ingredients list for this homemade chili seasoning blend isn’t very long.
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
That’s all you’ll need to make this spice blend for your favorite chili recipe.
How to Use the Chili Seasoning:
This mix can be used in any recipe calling for chili seasoning, from classic chili to taco fillings, soups, stews, and even roasted vegetables.
For a batch of chili, add about 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons of the seasoning (adjusting to taste) per pound of ground beef or turkey.
Customizing Your Chili Seasoning
For more heat: Add a 1/2 teaspoon or more of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
For a stronger chili flavor: Add in an extra tablespoon of chili powder.
For smoky flavor: Swap regular paprika for smoked paprika.
For less salt: Skip the salt in the mix and season your dish to taste.
Best Secret Ingredient: Adding cocoa powder is a secret ingredient that adds a deep, rich flavor to chili. You can include it in your chili seasoning mix. Add 1-2 teaspoons to your chili seasoning mix.
Having this homemade chili seasoning on hand makes it easy to add bold flavor to countless dishes. It’s quick, affordable, and free from preservatives. Give it a try, and you might find you never need store-bought chili seasoning again!
Storing leftovers:
Store any leftover seasoning mix in an airtight container for up to 1 year.
Looking to whip up some other easy to make seasoning mixes? Try some of these:
McCormick Spaghetti Seasoning Mix
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Easy Homemade Chili Seasoning Substitute Recipe
Print Pin Rate Save RecipeEquipment
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
- 2 teaspoons Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small dish or jar and mix well.
- Use immediately or store in a sealed container for up to a year.
Nutrition
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