Homemade Cajun Seasoning (2024)

Incredibly simple to make and packed full of flavour, this Homemade Cajun Seasoning is so good you will be sprinkling it on everything! Make a jar to keep in your cupboard for simple and quick flavour additions to so many meals.

what is cajun seasoning?

Cajun seasoning, also sometimes referred to as Cajun spice, is a blend of herbs and spices originating from Louisiana in America where Cajun cuisine was born. The seasoning uses a blend of herbs and spices typically found in Cajun cooking.

As with most seasoning blends, the ingredients can vary slightly. However you will find cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic, black pepper and oregano in the majority of Cajun seasoning blends.

This seasoning is the perfect combination of bold, punchy flavour from the cayenne pepper and paprika which pairs wonderfully with the herbs.

what is in homemade cajun seasoning?

As I mentioned previously, there are some variations between seasoning blends. However most do have the same core ingredients which make up a delicious Cajun seasoning.

Smoked Paprika

For Cajun seasoning I prefer to use smoked paprika, but sweet or hot paprika would also work really well. If your paprika is labelled simply as that, then it is more than likely sweet paprika.

The slight heat in this seasoning comes from the cayenne pepper, but if you prefer a bit more of a kick then using hot paprika would work really well.

cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper adds a slight kick to this Cajun seasoning. I haven’t added enough to make this seasoning spicy, but just enough to add a little warmth.

If you are making this for children, you can reduce the amount further but it should be suitable for most people as it is.

Alternatively if you prefer more spice to your seasonings, feel free to add more cayenne pepper.

Black Pepper

It is down to personal preference how finely ground you like your black pepper to be. Personally I don’t like my black pepper to be coarsely ground and much prefer it to be finely ground.

I definitely wouldn’t use bought ground black pepper. Grinding it yourself not only can ensure you get the coarseness you prefer, but it has a better flavour than pepper sold already ground.

I am also not a fan of a strong pepper taste so it is quite possible that you would like to add more to your seasoning than I have.

Garlic granules

I am a huge fan of garlic granules and they are my go-to type of garlic when I’m not using fresh.

If you prefer you can use garlic powder, however you may want to reduce the quantity slightly as garlic powder is more potent than granules. I would recommend using 3-3½ teaspoon as a start; you can always add more.

You could also use garlic flakes (dried garlic) if you have nothing else. The flakes can be quite chunky so they will be more noticeable in your finished seasoning. Again you might need to adjust the quantities slightly.

onion granules

Similarly with garlic granules, you can use onion powder or dried onion if you prefer. You will just need to adjust the quantities as mentioned above.

Dried oregano & Thyme

These herbs add another dimension to the seasoning. They aren’t the star of the show so aren’t as prominent as other flavours.

If you don’t happen to have dried oregano and thyme you could substitute it for the same amount of mixed herbs.

Sea salt

Some people don’t like to add salt to their seasoning blends as they like to salt food separately. However I personally like to add it to my seasoning mixes so I have a complete seasoning and don’t have to worry about adding anything else to what I’m making.

Sea salt is usually my preference, however table salt will be absolutely fine for this recipe. You will need to reduce the amount of salt by at least half if you are using table salt.

why make Homemade cajun seasoning instead of buying it

Although Cajun seasoning is more prominent in the US, most large supermarkets here in the UK will sell their own version of Cajun seasoning. The well known brands such as Slap Ya Mamma can usually only be found online here.

So why make homemade Cajun seasoning instead of just buying it? Firstly you can customise the seasoning to your own preferences. This is great if you have children that would like a very mild version for example.

There is also quite a good chance that you have most if not all of the ingredients for this seasoning in your cupboard already. Therefore making it yourself with existing ingredients will be cheaper than buying a ready made seasoning.

By making it yourself you are avoiding the preservatives that are found in shop bought seasonings.

customise your cajun seasoning

One great advantage or making your own seasoning blends is that you can customise them to your own tastes.

Although I wouldn’t class this Cajun seasoning as spicy, it does have a kick from the cayenne pepper. As I have mentioned before, if you are making this seasoning for children that like food really mild, you can adjust the seasoning and add just a pinch of cayenne.

If you are conscious of how much salt you eat, you can easily reduce the amount of salt in the recipe. Similarly I am not a huge black pepper fan so I tend to add less than other people might. But if you love a punchy pepper flavour, add as much as you like.

If you don’t have garlic granules in the cupboard but have garlic flakes – use those instead! You’ve run out of dried oregano but still want to make this seasoning, just add mixed herbs.

Use this recipe as a guide to create a seasoning that you and your family love!

is cajun seasoning spicy?

I wouldn’t personally call this seasoning spicy, however it does have a slight warmth from the cayenne pepper. It has more of a spice than my fajita and potato seasonings but I still think it is a seasoning that most people would enjoy.

It is however incredibly easy to adjust the seasoning if you would like to make it super mild, or add more of a spice kick.

To make it really mild, simply reduce the amount of cayenne seasoning and use a sweet or smoked paprika.

To add more heat to your Cajun seasoning, increase the amount of cayenne pepper you add. You can also use a hot paprika too. I would always add small amounts at a time so you don’t get too carried away and make it too spicy.

how long will cajun seasoning keep for?

This seasoning will easily keep in an airtight jar or container for at least six months. This is why I usually make at least a double batch so I always have some to hand in the cupboard.

You can also mix smaller amounts if you prefer.

how to use cajun seasoning

There are so many different ways to use Cajun seasoning to add an instant pop of flavour to so many different dishes.

You can channel Wingstop and use it to season chicken wings, fries and corn. You could also add some to the coating for my homemade chicken nuggets for tasty Cajun nuggets.

Keep it simple and sprinkle some of the seasoning over any meat or fish before grilling for a quick and easy meal. It is also a perfect of seasoning roasted vegetables.

Other recipes you might like

• Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Herby Potato Seasoning
• Easy Ranch Dip
• Honey Mustard Mayo

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