Cajun Seasoning
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Cajun Seasoning blend is so easy to put together with spices from your pantry and is great to have on hand for when you want to take your tastebuds to the next level. You can use this spice mix for gumbo, shrimp, fries, rice, meat, vegetables, and more!
For three great ways to use this Cajun seasoning, try these excellent recipes for Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet, Cajun Honey Butter Grilled Salmon, and Sheet Pan Cajun Shrimp and Potatoes.
Like a lot of people, when I came across a recipe that included a lot of spices, I either would add them, one at a time, every time, or simplify and grab a pre-made bottle of that spice blend at the grocery.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with either of those methods. However, once I discovered how easy it is (not to mention cheaper) to create your own spice blends, I never went back. This Cajun seasoning is one of my favorite spice blends to have on hand and I think once you make it, you’ll never want to be without it.
Why This Recipe Works
Simple ingredients – There’s nothing like making one ingredient out of 8! I guarantee you already have most, if not all, of these spices in your spice drawer right now. Blend them together and viola – a Cajun seasoning you can use over and over again.
Budget-friendly – Make this seasoning yourself instead of buying it at the grocery store. Any bit of money saved is a good thing in my book!
Versatile –In addition to the recipes listed here, you can use Cajun seasoning in so many ways. I like to add it to rice, to burgers, as a chicken seasoning before putting it on the grill, into Greek yogurt for a condiment on top of a chicken wrap (or as a dip for quesadillas), and sometimes even right on top of my eggs in the morning.
Easy to scale up or down – If you only need to make this once, that’s great, but this recipe is also easy to tripe, quadruple, or more, depending on how addicted to it you become.
Here’s How You Make It
- In a bowl, stir together the paprika, salt, garlic powder, cracked black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, cayenne, and red pepper flakes.
- Add to the recipe or, if you’re making up a bunch, store in an airtight container in your pantry or spice drawer. I save used spice jars for just this reason. Be sure to label and date it too before you put it back in with your spices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Another spice that is similar to Cajun seasoning is Creole seasoning. Creole spice mixes are very similar to Cajun but might also have the addition of a sweet ingredient like basil.
If you are looking for alternatives to Cajun seasoning, you can use Creole seasoning. Since Creole is missing that spicy element, you might choose to use the Creole plus a pinch of some heat like red pepper flakes or cayenne.
Or another alternative is Old Bay. This seasoning will have some
Finally, you can use Adobo seasoning as an alternative to Cajun. It’s kind of like the Latin American version of Cajun but might also contain turmeric.
You can also use a combination of chili powder and an Italian blend as well.
Cajun seasoning is a bold blend of spices. Therefore, the taste is bold and spicy. It also has an earthiness to it as well as a hint of umami. If you like a bit of heat to your spices, then you’ll love this seasoning blend.
Expert Tips
- This blend makes enough for two meals. But I always say if you’re going to make it, might as well MAKE it. Double, triple, quadruple this recipe while you’re at it and have Cajun seasoning on hand for all your favorite recipes.
- Store this spice blend in an airtight container so the spices don’t clump together. I like to reuse old spice jars, but a small plastic container with a screw-on lid works too.
- If you’re going to use this blend as a dry rub on chicken, beef, or pork for grilling or baking, rub a little olive oil on the meat before sprinkling the Cajun seasoning on and putting on the grill.
More Tasty Recipes to Up-Level Your Cooking
- Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
- Mushroom Sauce for Steak
- Lemon Butter Sauce
- Fajita Seasoning
- Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce
- Cajun Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
Did you make this recipe? YAY! Please rate the recipe below!
Cajun Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, see note
- 1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, see note
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, see note
Instructions
- Stir spices together.
- Store in airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I leave out the salt but add everything else as directed. Excellent seasoning!
Thanks!! Now I’ll make my own!!!!
Wonderful recipe, Thankyou
This is almost perfect. I leave out the salt. If you want the flavor more intense you end up with a meal that’s too salty. That’s the problem with every store-bought Cajun seasoning out there-salt. Home-made should be better. I use this on anything and everything, love it!