8 Common Seasonings You Can Make at Home

If you have been keeping up with some of our other posts, then you have most likely already read our posts about spices and decluttering your kitchen. This post combines lessons from both. The other night as I started to prepare dinner I realized I didn’t have any poultry seasoning or Emeril’s Essence (a versatile spice mix made by Chef Emeril Lagasse); both of which I needed for the recipe I was following. I did not feel like driving back to the grocery store, so I jumped on Google to see if I could make them with spices I had in my pantry to save myself the trip. Sure enough I had almost everything I needed to make my own seasoning mixes!

In case you are wondering, no this is not the first time this has happened to me. I have had to mix up my own seasonings in the past, because I forgot to buy them at the store or I was not able to find exactly what I needed. I am sure I’m not the only one that this has happened to, so I wanted to share with you some seasoning mixes you can make yourself with the spices you may already have at home thus, saving you money and a little extra storage space in the pantry. Another great reason to mix your own seasonings at home is that you can adjust certain ingredients according to your tastes. I know my husband and I have very different heat preferences, so while he would be a little heavy-handed with spices such as cayenne I tend to be a little more reserved. Making my own spice mix allows me to easily customize for the both of us. Also, homemade spice mixes tend to taste a little fresher and stronger, so a little can go a long way when making your own. So have fun with these mixes and feel free to add your own unique style to them.

Emeril’s Essence: If you’re not one to follow recipes and you usually make things up as you go, then Emeril’s Essence is the spice blend for you. It is great on just about any type of meat and vegetables alike. I usually just buy this since I use it so much but it is nice to know I can make my own if I need to. If you like and dislike a certain ingredient, it is easy to modify by adding more or less of a spice.

• 2 1/2 Tbsp. paprika
• 2 Tbsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp. black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. onion powder
• 1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
• 1 Tbsp. dried thyme

Poultry Seasoning: Most commonly used to season chicken, turkey, and stuffing, it is also great to use on cuts of pork and fish. A few other different ways to use this mix is in veggie burgers, soup, or to marinate tofu. I particularly like it on vegetarian dishes because it adds a subtle savory, meaty taste without actually using any meat. When I made this I didn’t have any marjoram so I used oregano instead.

• 2 tsp dried sage
• 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried marjoram
• 3/4 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Italian Seasoning: You probably aren’t surprised that Italian seasoning is used in pasta sauce or sprinkled on top of pizza or a sub sandwich, but it can also be used to season a variety of other dishes such as beans, vegetables, soups or stews.

• 2 Tbsp. dried basil
• 2 Tbsp. dried oregano
• 1 Tbsp. dried thyme
• 1 Tbsp. dried rosemary
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

Herbs de Provence: This is an essential seasoning for any French or Mediterranean recipe. It adds a distinctive flavor to chicken, fish, roasted vegetables or tomato based soups. It is also really nice on scrambled eggs in the morning. The tiny bits of lavender in this mix is what gives it a distinct taste and look. But not all of the herbs in this mix are commonly found in most kitchens, so this may be one seasoning that you would be better off buying premixed but just in case I will go ahead and add it to this list.

• 4 Tbsp. dried thyme
• 3 Tbsp. dried marjoram
• 3 Tbsp. dried summer savory
• 2 Tbsp. dried rosemary
• 1 Tbsp. dried tarragon
• 1 Tbsp. dried basil
• 1 Tbsp. fennel seed
• 1 tsp dried chervil
• 1 tsp dried mint
• 1 tsp dried lavender

Taco Seasoning: I’m sure a lot of us use those little taco seasoning packets, but I recently became fond of making my own. The seasoning packets usually have a bit of an aftertaste from the preservatives and have quite a bit of salt, so making your own fresh mix will make the tacos taste fresher and allow you to better control the sodium content. I like to keep this mix made up at all times to season ground beef (or most other ground meat) when I make tacos or enchiladas. You can also add a little bit of taco seasoning to your eggs when making breakfast burritos.

• 2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 2 Tbsp. ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

Chili Seasoning: This seasoning is not only perfect for chili it can also be used as a dry rub or to season meatballs.

• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp unsweetened coca powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp regular paprika
• 1 tsp smoked paprika

Blackened Seasoning: I have used this seasoning a lot to make blackened fish tacos or on chicken. This seasoning always reminds of going to a restaurant and ordering a blackened chicken salad or fish tacos, and it just makes my at-home meals feel more elevated. It adds the perfect amount of heat to whatever you add it to.

• 2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Pumpkin Pie Spice: This spice is most commonly used during the fall in pumpkin pies and the famous PSL. But it is also great when used in homemade granola with dried cranberries.

• 1/4 cup ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp all spice
• 1 tsp ground cloves

If you prefer to make smaller batches of any of the above seasoning mixes here is a great reference on how to half a recipe.