Homemade Cajun Seasoning

Laura Lynch

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This Homemade Cajun Seasoning is a spicy and savory blend that adds tremendous flavor to any dish – meat, pasta, soups, and salads alike.

Cajun seasoning is so full of flavor and it has a way of elevating anything it gets added to. You can make endless tasty dishes with this one seasoning blend.

We often use it as a rub for meats, add it to pasta sauces like in this Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe, Cajun Potato Wedges, or these Cajun Dry Rub Chicken Wings and sprinkle it over salads. It can be added to mayonnaise to make a Cajun salad dressing, or sprinkled into soups to boost the flavor. It is also great on fish, try this Cajun-Seasoned Blackened Cod. The possibilities are endless.

For that reason, I make a double or triple batch of this recipe and keep it in a seasoning jar so it’s always on hand for whatever I want to add it to. I do this with homemade taco seasoning and bbq dry rub, as well. It’s a convenient way to always have preservative and additive-free Cajun seasonings on hand.

What is Cajun Seasoning?

Cajun seasoning is a blend of spices that originated in Louisiana, particularly the southwestern corner of the state where Cajun culture is most concentrated.

There isn’t just one recipe for Cajun seasoning. It’s a fluid recipe that often gets passed on through generations, or adjusted to meet the specifications of a recipe. Some versions are incredibly spicy hot, while others are mild. Some include salt, others don’t.

The key to a good Cajun spice is balance. With so many different spices being added, it’s important to keep a good balance between all the flavors, so the come together as one cohesive blend.

Ingredients You Need

• Paprika
• Garlic
• Cayenne
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Black pepper
• Salt

Helpful Tips

• This recipe makes 1/4 cup of spice mix. 
• You may or may not use that amount in a recipe. You can store excess spice in an air tight container.
• If you don’t like spicy, reduce the amount of cayenne and replace with paprika.
• Watch the salt level so you don’t make it too salty. Add it a little at at time.

Homemade Cajun Seasoning

This homemade Cajun Seasoning is a spicy and savory blend that adds tremendous flavor to any dish – meat, pasta, soups, and salads alike.

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 Batch

Calories: 62kcal

Author: Laura Lynch

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon (7 g) paprika I prefer smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons (12 g) salt
• 2 teaspoons (6 g) garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon (2 g) ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon (2 g) onion powder
• 1 teaspoon (2 g) dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon (2 g) cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 g) dried thyme

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Instructions

• Mix all spices together. Store any remaining spice in an airtight container.

Notes

• This recipe makes 1/4 cup of seasoning mix. 
• You may or may not use that amount in a recipe. 
• Add to taste.
• Always store spice mixtures in an air tight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4662mg | Potassium: 335mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 4327IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 3mg

How Spicy Is It?

My version of Cajun seasoning falls somewhere between mild and medium spiciness. It has some heat to it, but it won’t melt your face off when you eat it.

Cayenne pepper is the primary source of heat in Cajun spices. It’s a mild-heat chili, and when added in larger quantities it can add a great amount of heat to the seasoning. That’s why it’s important to get the right balance. If you don’t like any spiciness, you can leave out the cayenne and replace it with additional paprika.

Another source of heat in this seasoning can be the paprika. There are varying degrees of spiciness to paprika, depending on what type you use. It’s important to test out your paprika before adding it, to see how spicy it is on its own. Check the package to see if it says it’s hot paprika.

Finally, the black pepper can also adds spiciness to the blend. It’s added in moderation, so it’s not overpowering to the other flavors.

How to Store Homemade Seasoning

There are some great containers that will help you store your mixed spices. These storage containers are great for mixing up a big batch or seasoning so you don’t have to make it again every time you want to use it.

Try a Seasoning Bottle!

If you make this homemade dry rub, it’s great to have a seasoning shaker to make it easier to use the dry rub without contaminating it while seasoning meats. I have 3 of these that I use for my favorite homemade rubs.

Buy Now on Amazon

In my opinion, doing that leads to infinitely more flavorful food, because you won’t skip it due to the work involved. I might get lazy and forego making a new batch, but if it’s already mixed up, I’ll definitely use it.

Here are a few of my favorite containers on Amazon (affiliate links). These come in different sizes and sets, so click through to find what works best for you.

Other Cajun Recipes to Try

• Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Cajun Dry Rub Chicken Wings
• Cajun Seasoned Blackened Cod

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Laura Lynch

Laura is a home cook, with 25 years experience behind the stove, who spends an extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen cooking. She loves making new recipes and finding wonderful new things to eat, both at home or abroad. She spends a lot of time researching, crafting, and perfecting her recipes and currently has a cookbook in development.