This Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe has the right balance of herbs and spices and the most amazing taste. Making Cajun seasoning mix at home allows you to control the salt and spice content as well as the quality of the ingredients. Try it on chicken, pork, beef, veggies, tofu, fish and seafood.
Cajun seasoning is a staple in my pantry and one of the best spice mixes to use when you want to add a lot of flavor while keeping ingredients to a minimum. Try my healthy Baked Cod recipe, just a few ingredients and lots of flavor!
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Cajun seasoning is one of my absolute favorite spice mixes. A combination of savory, zesty and spicy that adds so much flavor to any food. This Cajun mix is bold like Louisiana’s Cajun cuisine and is made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
Why You Should Make Your Own Cajun Spice Mix (Louisiana Style)
- Making homemade spice mixes is easy, more affordable and the result is always better than store-bought seasonings.
- Control the quantity of each ingredient. Making your own Cajun mix gives you the ability to customize the spice blend to your specific taste. Make it less or more spicy, add or remove any ingredient to fit your needs!
- Make the blend low in sodium or skip the salt altogether if you prefer a no-salt Cajun spice mix.
- Control the quality of each spice and know exactly what goes into your spice blend.
- No fillers, no preservatives, no msg and no added color.
What is Cajun Spice Mix?
Cajun seasoning is a combination of herbs and spices in the style of “rustic cuisine” or Cajun cuisine found in the bayous of Louisiana. This Cuisine is all about robust flavor, simplicity of ingredients and methods to make simple and flavorful comfort food.
What Is the Taste of Cajun Seasoning?
Cajun seasoning is a savory spice mix with intense bold flavors, earthy undertones and a little quick from cayenne pepper although it’s not very spicy.
What is in Cajun Seasoning?
Cajun seasoning ingredients are a combination of very simple dried herbs and spices. Although there are many variations on ingredient quantities, the components are mostly always the same. If you prefer to make this mix without salt, simply omit it. If you love spicy foods, add more cayenne pepper.
- Paprika (I use sweet paprika but smoked paprika can be used)
- Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Thyme
- Cayenne Pepper
- Ground Black Pepper
How To Make Cajun Seasoning
Blending spice mixes at home is as easy as mixing dried ingredients together. Simply combine the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, black pepper and salt (if using) in a small bowl or in a jar and mix until well combined.
Store your Louisiana Cajun seasoning in an airtight container for up to a year.
What’s the Difference Between Cajun Seasoning and Creole Seasoning?
Cajun and creole seasoning are the product of two immigrant cultures that gathered in Louisiana. Both blends have a similar flavor profile as both are made with the same ingredients, although the amount of each ingredient varies significantly in both blends.
Cajun seasoning mixes have predominantly more spices than herbs and are also spicier than Creole blends as they use more cayenne pepper. Creole seasoning mixes seem to usually have more oregano and sometimes the addition of marjoram.
Both blends can be used interchangeably. If your recipe calls for Creole seasoning, feel free to use a Cajun blend.
How Long Does Homemade Cajun Seasoning Keep?
This shelf-stable mix can be kept in a a cool place in an airtight container for a year.
Is Cajun Seasoning Like Old Bay?
Although both Cajun seasoning and Old Bay have similar flavor profiles, they are not the same seasoning. The good news is that you can interchangeably use them in recipes with great results. Old Bay is made with 18 spices and the exact formula is owned by McCormick companies. Cajun mixes have less ingredients and the recipe varies slightly depending on who makes it.
How To Store This Cajun Spice Mix
Store homemade Cajun spice mix in an airtight container and keep it in a cool place for a year. This spice mix is shelf stable.
Cajun Spice Mix Recipe Tips
- Start with good quality ingredients for best results.
- Make this spice blend organic by using organic herbs and spices.
- You can make this spice blend without any salt, if you prefer.
- You can alter the heat level by increasing or decreasing the amount of cayenne pepper.
- Instead of cayenne pepper, you can also use dried red pepper flakes.
- Double or triple this recipe to make a larger batch.
- I prefer using Mediterranean dried oregano over Mexican dried oregano for this recipe.
How to Use This Cajun Seasoning Recipe
Take a look at some of the recipes seasoned with this homemade blend.
Cajun Spice Mix
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons paprika (sweet paprika)
- 2 tablespoons fine kosher salt or sea salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a bowl or spice jar until evenly combined.
- Use immediately or store in a sealed container for up to 6 months.
Recipe Notes
- You can make this spice blend without any salt, if you prefer.
- You can alter the heat level by increasing or decreasing the amount of cayenne pepper.
- Instead of cayenne pepper, you can also use dried red pepper flakes.
- Double or triple this recipe to make a larger batch.
- I prefer using Mediterranean dried oregano over Mexican dried oregano for this recipe.
- This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of spice mix.
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