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    Chili Seasoning Recipe

    Homemade Staples Dairy-Free Recipes Gluten Free Plant Based Recipes Soup, Stew, and Chili Recipes June 5, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 163 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Homemade Chili Seasoning is the secret to creating the ultimate homemade chili! Made with the perfect blend of dried spices, this chili seasoning blend adds ultimate flavor without excess sodium or preservatives found in store-bought blends.

    Homemade Chili Seasoning is the secret to creating the ultimate homemade chili! Made with the perfect blend of dried spices, this chili seasoning blend adds ultimate flavor without excess sodium or preservatives found in store-bought blends.

    This recipe for chili seasoning is suited to chili of all kinds. From Instant Pot Chili to Slow Cooker Beef & Bean Chili to Lentil Chili to Butternut Squash Chili, this seasoning blend makes an award-winning pot of chili.

    Homemade Chili Seasoning in small spice jar.


    Why Homemade Chili Seasoning?

    When it comes to spice blends, like Taco Seasoning, Cajun Seasoning, and Chili Seasoning, homemade is the way to go!

    Chili Seasoning, like my other recipes for spice blends, can easily be made at home for pennies.

    Not only is homemade chili seasoning a money saver, but YOU control the quality of ingredients, added sodium, and the level of spice.

    And the flavor? This chili seasoning blend tastes a million times better than those store-bought packets. In fact, several readers have shared this seasoning blend has won them chili cook-off competitions. It is that good!

    Not to mention, you leave the preservatives and additives that are found in store-bought seasoning packets on the shelf!

    Instead of relying on store-bought packets of chili seasonings to create a delicious pot of chili, make this chili seasoning blend and be prepared to lick your bowl clean.

    Spices in Chili Seasoning

    Spices for chili seasoning in small bowl.

    My recipe for chili seasoning is pretty basic and I am willing to bet you have most of the spices on hand to whip it up right now.

    This seasoning blend is heavy on chili powder and rounded out with cumin for a warming depth of flavor and a pinch of cayenne for heat. I add onion and garlic powder to help build a solid base of flavor, as garlic and onions are a must in a good chili.

    • Chili Powder: Chili powder is made up of cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and ground chiles. Ancho chile powder is made from ground poblano peppers. Either will work in this recipe, but keep in mind the ancho chile powder will give the chili a bit more kick. in terms of both flavor and heat.
    • Cumin
    • Cayenne Pepper: Just a tiny bit to add a level of heat and wake up your palate, but it does not overwhelm the chili with heat. Adjust or omit depending on your preference
    • Garlic Powder
    • Onion Powder
    • Salt: I prefer using kosher salt as it has less sodium content per teaspoon than iodized table salt. You can also adjust the level of added salt as needed per your dietary restrictions.
    • Pepper

    ∗ important to remember ∗

    For the optimum flavor, use dried spices less than 6 months old when making any homemade spice blend, as spices lose their flavor the longer they sit in your spice cabinet. You may be stunned by how much better your homemade meals taste using "fresh" dried spices.

    Optional Spices for Chili Seasoning

    As I stated, my chili blend is really quite basic, yet I find it to be just perfect in terms of flavor. That said, you may want to add the following ingredients to customize this seasoning for chili to suit your own taste. That is another benefit of using a homemade chili seasoning blend!

    • Dried Oregano: Add up to ½ teaspoon of dried oregano for a peppery zing.
    • Cocoa Powder: For a rich undertone, add up to 1 tablespoon of plain cocoa powder, not hot cocoa powder. The cocoa won't give your chili recipe a chocolate flavor, just a nice mellow, rich, earthy undertone.
    • Paprika: Chili powder itself has added paprika, so I don't find it necessary to add it to my chili blend. However, using smoked paprika does add a nice smokey undertone to your chili. Add up to 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika to this spice blend.
    • Masa Harina: to thicken your chili and add a bit of sweet, earthy corn flavor, stirring in a masa harina slurry towards the end of cooking your chili is a great option. So this is not something you want to add to your chili spice blend but add it towards the end of cooking to add flavor. Simply combine 1 to 2 tablespoons of the masa harina with ¼ cup of water until smooth. Whisk into your prepared chili and simmer for 5-10 minutes before serving.

    How to Make Chili Seasoning

    Making this chili seasoning blend is as easy as mixing the ingredients together until everything is well combined.

    Dried spices for chili seasoning mixed together in small bowl.

    Instructions for Large Batch

    As written, this recipe makes the equivalent of one chili seasoning packet for one batch of chili. I recommend making a large batch to keep on hand to use whenever you are craving chili.

    To make a large batch of chili seasoning, or the equivalent of 8 packets, mix the following ingredients together:

    • ½ cup chili powder
    • 2-½ tablespoons cumin
    • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 4 teaspoons onion powder
    • 2-½ tablespoons salt
    • 4 teaspoons pepper

    Store this mixture in a pint-sized glass jar for up to 6 months in the pantry or spice jar. When ready to make chili, use 2 tablespoons of this chili seasoning blend for every batch of chili.

    Storage

    Be sure to store homemade chili seasoning in an airtight jar or container, like a ball jar or small spice jar, so that it will not absorb flavors from other spices in your spice cabinet.

    This chili seasoning will last for up to 6 months when stored in an airtight container in the pantry. While certainly safe to consume after 6 months, the flavor will begin to lose potency.

    How to Use Chili Seasoning

    Use this chili seasoning blend just as you would any packet of chili seasoning. One recipe is just the right amount to add for 1 standard recipe for chili, or chili recipes calling for 2 pounds of meat.

    I love using this chili spice blend in the following chili recipes:

    • Chicken Chili
    • Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
    • Lentil Chili
    • Butternut Squash Chili
    • Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili

    But don't just limit homemade chili mix to chili recipes, you can also use this blend on oven-baked potatoes for a spicy kick, grilled corn for a fun summer treat, and burgers for added flavor.

    If you tried this recipe for homemade chili seasoning, please leave a comment and review below.

    Chili seasonings labled on wooden board

    Homemade Chili Seasoning

    Made with the perfect blend of dried spices, this chili seasoning blend adds ultimate flavor without excess sodium or preservatives found in store-bought blends.
    4.93 from 187 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 40kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Combine spices until evenly mixed together.
    • Store for up to 6 months in a sealed container in the pantry.

    Equipment Needed

    • spice jar

    Notes

    Nutrition facts are calculated based on the entire recipe. 
    Amount to Add to Chili: 1 recipe (or 2 tablespoons) is just the right amount to add for 1 recipe of chili, or chili recipes calling for 2 pounds of beef. 
    Spices: Use dried spices less than 6 months old when making any homemade spice blend, for optimum flavor. 
    Salt: Feel free to decrease the salt if desired or needed. 
    Large Batch: To make a large batch of chili seasoning, or the equivalent of 8 packets, combine the following ingredients together and use 2 tablespoons of the prepared chili blend for every batch of chili. 
    • ½ cup chili powder
    • 2-½ tablespoons cumin
    • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 4 teaspoons onion powder
    • 2-½ tablespoons salt
    • 4 teaspoons pepper
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 40kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2461mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin A: 2560IU | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2.7mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

    This post was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2023.

    « Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
    Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. Greg Esres

      September 30, 2023 at 2:48 pm

      mmm, kosher salt does NOT have less sodium if you measure salt by weight. If you use volume, like teaspoons, then it would have less sodium only because you get less salt, since kosher has larger crystal sizes.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        September 30, 2023 at 3:11 pm

        That is correct. And this recipe uses teaspoons, which would mean less is needed 🙂

        Reply
    2. Alicea

      September 19, 2023 at 6:27 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious and perfect! I did add the smoked paprika and oregano listed in the suggestions and about a tsp of salt. Excellent recipe, thanks!

      Reply
    3. Robin Irwin

      July 22, 2023 at 1:21 am

      5 stars
      Awesome recipe for Chili. I usually make chili only on the fall and winter but you gave me inspiration to make it today. Think I'm going to let it simmer overnight in my crock pot.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 22, 2023 at 7:12 am

        Thanks for sharing Robin! I love hearing you enjoy this seasoning.

        Reply
    4. Stephanie Abbott

      May 15, 2023 at 9:33 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful flavor. Thank you for sharing it with us.

      Reply
    5. Andronic

      April 20, 2023 at 5:02 pm

      5 stars
      Whenever we do chili for two…I use the smaller amount and add two tablespoons. Comes out great. She can’t handle super spicy. J dog spice. Thank you

      Reply
    6. Mary Lou Mercadante

      January 15, 2023 at 3:19 pm

      Thank you for saving me money making your Chili seasonings. I make Chili often during cold weather. Also, thank you for all your great recipes. Big fan!

      Do you have a instant pot Barley recipe? Happiness and Health to you and your family in the New Year.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 15, 2023 at 3:38 pm

        You are so very welcome, Mary Lou! I am so happy to hear you enjoy my recipes. I have a recipe for Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup. For plain barley, I would combine 1 cup of pearl barley with 2 cups of water or broth and cook on high pressure for 18 minutes with full pressure release.

        Reply
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    Homemade Chili Seasoning is the secret to creating the ultimate homemade chili! Made with the perfect blend of dried spices, this chili seasoning blend adds ultimate flavor without excess sodium or preservatives found in store-bought blends.

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

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    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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