If you like McCormick brand mild chili seasoning, this Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe is for you! It’s just as flavorful as the store bought, and easy to make with basic pantry spices. Make a little, or a lot!
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A Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe Without Additives!
If you would like to make your own spice blends, making chili seasoning is a great place to start. For one thing, it’s so easy – you just combine your spices and shake! For another, you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your tastes. This recipe starts off with a few basic spices, and tastes very similar to McCormick’s mild chili seasoning – so good.
Another great thing about homemade spice blends is that you can make sure to only use ingredients you are comfortable with. Unlike some store-bought seasonings, this one contains no anti-caking agents or preservatives. You can make it with all organic spices, too, if you choose!
What Is Chili Seasoning Made Of?
So what do you need to whip up this easy, homemade chili seasoning recipe? There are only seven ingredients, and you probably have them all in your pantry already. Here’s the list:
- Chili Powder: Mild chili powder is ingredient number one, as you can imagine. This is just regular chili powder, which is a blend of various ingredients, including ground mild chiles, garlic powder, etc. Chili powder makes a great base for the overall seasoning blend.
- Cumin: Cumin is naturally a mild, earthy spice. It is great in any Tex-Mex dish, such as chili.
- Flour: For thickening. You can leave this out if you prefer thinner chili.
- Onion Powder: You were expecting garlic powder, weren’t you? But nope, this time onion powder gives the recipe that savory, umami-ish boldness.
- Oregano: Marjoram would also be tasty.
- Smoked Paprika: Sweet or hot paprika would also be good, but smoked paprika really brings out the earthy, campfire flavor in chili.
- Salt: I like to use coarse kosher salt.
How to Make Your Own Chili Seasoning
To make this recipe, just measure all of the spices and add them to a small bowl or jar. Stir or shake to blend, and you’re good to go. This recipe makes about the same amount as a one ounce packet from the store, and can easily be doubled or tripled to make more.
Tips for Success
To customize this homemade chili seasoning recipe, take a look at these helpful tips. Here’s to the best bowl of chili ever!
- About the Salt: I use coarse kosher salt in this recipe. Kosher salt is less salty than table salt (iodized or non- iodized). If you are using table salt, reduce this amount to 1 teaspoon.
- Spicy Chili: If you want your chili seasoning to be spicy, I recommend adding 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper depending on your tastes. Remember it’s always easier to add more heat, but impossible to take it back out!
- Masa Harina: Masa harina is finely-ground cornmeal, as fine as flour. You can use this instead of flour for an extra-yummy Southwestern taste.
How to Use This Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe
This chili seasoning recipe makes enough to make one recipe of chili, using one pound of ground beef. Feel free to make more if you’d like to make a bigger batch of chili, of course. And you can also use chili seasoning to make…
- Taco Salad: Everyone loves a good taco salad, and you can easily season your taco meat with chili seasoning instead of a packet of taco seasoning. Try it with a Dorito Taco Salad. Mmm.
- Beans: You can cook up a pot of beans, like these Ranch Style Beans, and just use chili seasoning instead of the spices listed. Easy!
- Chicken: Make this rotisserie-style Crockpot Whole Chicken with chili seasoning and a little brown sugar for a mouthwatering spin on the classic.
- Chili: You can use this seasoning for Keto Chili or my husband’s favorite Chunky Chili.
Storage Guidelines
This chili seasoning recipe doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but I do recommend storing in an airtight container, preferably one that’s not under a bright light or near a heat source like a stove. This will keep the spices fresher, longer. It should keep for up to 6 months.
More Homemade Pantry Staples
- Greek Seasoning
- Homemade Chamoy
- Classic Marinara Sauce
- Achiote Paste
- Homemade Honey Mustard
- Adobo Sauce
- Achiote Oil (Annato Oil)
Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon mild chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- ½ tablespoon all purpose flour
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons course kosher salt
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Instructions
- Measure and stir all ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Store in an airtight container until ready to use. (Recipe makes enough for 1 pot of chili using 1 pound of ground beef.)
Notes
- Salt: I use coarse kosher salt in this recipe. Kosher salt is less salty than table salt (iodized or non- iodized). If you are using table salt, reduce this amount to 1 teaspoon.
- Paprika: If you don’t have smoked paprika, you can use regular paprika. Smoked paprika will add more flavor, so I recommend using it if you have it!
- Spicy Chili: If you want your chili seasoning to be spicy, I recommend adding 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper depending on your tastes. Remember it’s always easier to add more heat, but impossible to take it back out!
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