11 Best Homemade Spice Seasoning Mixes

Oct 12, 2023

Best Taco Tuesday ever, here we come!

Picture this: It’s Taco Tuesday, and you’re all set to throw together an impressive spread to share with friends and family, and… oh no! You’re out of taco seasoning! Though it’s true taco seasoning isn’t totally imperative for the perfect Mexican food night, we can all agree that it does make things easier. That’s why it’s a total bummer when you forget to grab that awkward little packet alongside the tortillas. No more! When you make your favorite seasoning blends at home, you’ll never risk running out. And it’s not all about tacos, either. We’ve rounded up 11 of our favorite seasonings here so you’ll never be caught without again.

The best part? They’re all totally customizable, from the most complicated to the simplest. You might see the 19(!!)-ingredient list of our curry powder and think, No way, not for me! but let us explain—the spices are in order of importance, and you can feel free to add or omit nearly any you choose. Same goes for the rest on this list too. Love nutmeg, but not cloves? Feel free to add a pinch more or less of each to your pumpkin pie spice. Not a fan of spicy food? Omit the chili flakes from our rib rub. Like your everything bagel seasoning extra salty? Us too! Go to town. Even the simplest mix on this list (our cinnamon sugar) has potential for personalization. All you’ve gotta do is pick the cinnamon you like the best (cassia and ceylon are great places to start).

Our best advice for homemade seasoning success? Start SLOW when making adjustments. You can always add more, but it’s nearly impossible to take spices away once you’ve added them.

Want even more homemade inspiration? Check out our favorite homemade condiments, our top homemade jams, and our best homemade food gifts too.

The easiest, most foolproof way to upgrade your Mexican food? Use a homemade taco seasoning. Trust us—it’s quick and easy to throw together, and once you make it, you can use it on practically everything (it’s not just for tacos!).

Get the Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe.

Gone are the days when the magical blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, dried garlic, and salt was reserved for bagels. These days, you can find it anywhere—popcorn, focaccia, even pasta. Sure, you could buy it, but making it at home is SO much better.

Get the Everything Bagel Seasoning recipe.

If you took one look at the recipe below and immediately got so intimidated by how many spices are called for, don’t panic! The main non-negotiables are turmeric (for color), cumin (for savoriness), coriander (for fragrance), and fenugreek (for its aroma), but otherwise, have fun with it!

Get the Homemade Curry Powder recipe.

As soon as we feel the first cool breeze of early fall, we start craving the comforting, warm flavors of pumpkin pie spice. Made with just 5 spices, it's endlessly adjustable to your tastes.

Get the Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice recipe.

This rib rub is great on way more than just ribs. Try it on a roast chicken or even a whole roasted cauliflower! If you're not a fan of spicy food, go easy on the chili flakes or omit them completely.

Get the Rib Rub recipe.

Adobo can be a wet rub consisting of acid, oil, and a few essential seasonings to flavor meat and fish, or it can be a dry seasoning, like this one. Use it as a seasoning base for slow cooker tortilla soup or beef enchiladas, or sprinkle it on homemade popcorn.

Get the Adobo Seasoning recipe.

Originating from Louisiana, Cajun seasoning is one of the backbones of dishes like gumbo and shrimp étouffee (alongside a roux and the holy trinity of Southern vegetables). That said, it can be used in so many ways—the paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder it's composed of are great in a ton of dishes.

Get the Cajun Seasoning recipe.

Cinnamon sugar might seem self-explanatory, but did you know, there are actually tons of different kinds of cinnamon out there? Ceylon cinnamon is “true cinnamon,” and it has a milder, more floral taste than other varieties, whereas "cassia cinnamon" tends to be stronger, spicier, and more earthy and granular.

Get the Cinnamon Sugar recipe.

Making your own spice mix not only saves you the cost, but also gives you the freedom to customize to your liking! Use this turkey seasoning for your Thanksgiving turkey or any time you want to roast a big bird.

Get the Turkey Seasoning recipe.

Craving that NOLA flavor? Forget the pre-packaged spice mix—it's quick and easy to make Creole seasoning right at home. Make it once, and add it to all your favorite Mardis Gras recipes, weeknight dinners, and seafood dinners for months and months (and months) to come!

Get the Creole seasoning recipe.

Sure, you can go crazy with the toppings, but the easiest way to upgrade your burger starts with a homemade spice mix. Our homemade burger seasoning only requires 5 ingredients (+ salt and pepper) that you most likely already have on hand, making it all too easy to make (and experiment with!).

Get the Burger Seasoning recipe.

Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.

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