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.
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
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.
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.
Homemade Chili Seasoning
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
Instructions
- Combine spices until evenly mixed together.
- Store for up to 6 months in a sealed container in the pantry.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- 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
This post was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2023.
Diana Mesaros
Did you rename this from taco seasoning?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Diana! This Chili seasoning is a bit different than my recipe for taco seasoning.
Marco Piro
Hello Kristen,
I am eager to try to chili seasoning blend.
just a quick question, if I were to be making a large batch of chili, using your blend how much of the seasoning would i need to make for 100 people for a church gathering? thanks so much!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Marco. For 100 people to each have a full serving of chili, it would be about 15-20 pounds of ground beef needed (depending on how many beans you add, etc) For a pot-luck I would make 8-10 pounds myself. This Chili Seasoning is for 2 pounds of beef, so increase 5 times for 10 pounds of beef, 4 times for 8 pounds, etc (and you can use the slider bar to adjust the quantity) For 10 pounds of beef you would need: 5 Tbsp chili powder, 5 tsp cumin, 1.25 tsp cayenne pepper, 1.25 tsp garlic powder, 2.5 tsp onion powder, 5 tsp salt, 2.5 tsp pepper.
Hope that helps!
Donna
Perfect blend of spice for chili
Jeff
Kristen,
First of all, let me say that after going to two different stores no one had the French's Chili-O mix that I normally use.
At that point I did what everybody else does this day and age and Googled what was in Chil-O mix; which led me to your site.
So after going to two stores (due to this crazy day in age where something new is out every week) and searching both stores for
Regular Chili Powder and Cumin (which I finally found), I had to locate Cayenne Pepper, which was also non-existent.
So I ended up buying Chipotle Pepper which did the job. I knew I had all the other ingredients at home so I left the store frustrated but hopeful that your recipe was going to do the trick.
I have a confession...the only thing I added to your recipe was Smoked Paprika which is something I also add when I used Chili-O packets as well.
By the way, I doubled this recipe because I use 4 lb of meat.
My Chili turned out great! My wife and my son both said it tasted different from what I usually make, but it was very good. So them are they sure... Their response was, "We ate two bowls! Eating speaks louder than words!" My wife commented that it was not as salty as when I use the Chil-O packets. I even tasted as I went, and I added a little bit more salt because I used kosher salt. This is a definite plus!
I had taken several pictures because I always jar and seal the leftover chili. I wish I could post the pics, but this site doesn't allow me to.
Anyway, I just want to say Thank You! Have a Blessed Day!
Sincerely,
Jeffrey L. Almond
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jeffrey! Thank you so much for sharing your review of the chili mix. It makes my heart so warm to hear how much your family enjoyed. (I wish I could see the pictures as well--feel free to post on Facebook or Instagram and tag me @amindfullmom if you use those platforms. And glad to hear you made due--I have been doing the same here. We just are grateful to have food 🙂 Take Care!
Jill K
WOW! This is great! My go-to gluten free chili mix cannot be found. I needed something and had to make it. This blend is perfect! Not quite mild but not medium either. It may be all I use in the future. THANK YOU!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoy this so much!
Cor
In the recipe it says: 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.
But in the chili recipe itself it say 1 tbsp of seasoning...
Kristen Chidsey
Hey there--sorry for any confusion. Both of my beef chili recipes use the full 2 tablespoons of chili mix. Some of my vegetarian recipes do use only 1 tablespoon.
Jarrod
Hi, can you say what chili seasoning this is similar to? My very favorite was just discontinued and I'm so heartbroken.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jarrod! I am sorry that your blend has been discontinued. I can not say what it is most like, because this is the blend I have used since I began cooking. Sorry! The spices are very similar to the packets of McCormick and Trader Joes blend.
Jenny M
Tried this for the first time tonight because didn't have a chili seasoning packet and loved it! No more chili seasoning packet for me! Thank you. Delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! So glad you found a new staple!
C Muchoney
Easy to made and store and excellent flavor combination. I'm on a low sodium regiment so can adjust salt amount as needed - perfect!!!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed this and were able to modify it to fit your needs!
Kari Webb
Quick, easy and perfect for exhausted moms everywhere. Thank you ma'am!
Kristen Chidsey
WAHOO!!! I am right there with you--so happy to help alleviate a bit of your stress in life.
David M Lawrence
The salt, at 107% RDA per serving (per your estimate?), seems miscalculated.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi David, this is for the entire recipe--not per serving.
Shannon
I doubled it and used two pounds of ground beef is that to much?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Shannon! It may be a bit more seasoning than I would typically use for 2 pounds beef, but if you have a lot of additional ingredients (like beans, tomatoes, etc) you should be great.
Matthew R Schleicher
My family loves this seasoning. Use it on tacos too.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that Matthew. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
Susan Kennedy
How much chili meat do u need for this amount of seasons
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Susan! I use this for 2 pounds of ground meat. Enjoy!
Terri
Made our third pot of chili this past weekend using this chili seasoning recipe. Love it! Spicy, but not too hot. Really good!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review Terri! I am so glad you enjoy this blend so much!
Donald Becnel
Morning, Kristen!
Thanks for the great Recipe!!
And sometimes I do add Paprika and/or Mexican Oregano, too.
Donald
Kristen Chidsey
Great additions Donald. I am glad you enjoy.
Deb Gerdes
I WAS a seasoning packet user but no more!! My husband loves chili made with this seasoning. He didnt add a thing. Last time I didnt have cumin so I used paprika instead. This time I'll use both. Thanks for the recipe
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Deb! I am so glad you and your husband enjoy this chili seasoning! I typically don't use paprika in this recipe, but if you want to add it, I would add in 1 teaspoon. Enjoy!
Terry
Holy moly! 2461 mg of sodium? Is this based per serving? That's more than a daily value of salt!!! Is this an error? Or is this correct?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Terry! This is for the entire spice mixture, not per serving.
Terry
Thank you for clarifying! This makes a lot more sense. I use no salt or low sodium any thing. I’ve never used a premade packet for chili (or anything for that matter), and was looking for something to mix up myself. I’ll leave out the cayenne, I find it too hot. Otherwise, looks yummy!
Kristen Chidsey
Absolutely! I try to keep our sodium intake low as well and often cut the salt in half for my own preference.