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Made with salt and everyday spices, this Homemade Seasoned Salt adds bold, savory flavor to everything from chicken and potatoes to vegetables, eggs, and popcorn. It takes about 5 minutes to make and lasts for months in your pantry.
Unlike many store-bought seasoning salt blends, this recipe contains no sugar, starches, or unnecessary additives. It also uses more herbs and spices than salt, so it adds plenty of flavor without simply making your food taste salty.
Why Make Your Own Seasoned Salt?
- Big flavor. Garlic, onion, paprika, chili powder, parsley, and pepper give this blend much more flavor than plain salt.
- Less salt-forward. This recipe contains a higher proportion of spices to salt than most commercial blends.
- Easy to customize. Adjust the salt, heat, or herbs to suit your family.
- Simple ingredients. No added sugar, cornstarch, or artificial coloring.
- Endless uses. Sprinkle it over meat, potatoes, vegetables, eggs, fries, popcorn, and more.
5-Star Reader Review
This is super delicious. I've been using this recipe for over a year. Get tons of comments on how good the food tastes. --Silvia
Ingredients in Seasoned Salt
This homemade seasoned salt uses basic pantry spices, but a few small details help them blend and season food evenly.
- Iodized Salt: Fine iodized salt provides the familiar texture of classic seasoned salt and mixes evenly with the other ingredients. Fine sea salt also works.
- Garlic and Onion Powder: These make up a generous portion of the blend, adding plenty of savory flavor without relying exclusively on salt.
- Paprika: Adds mild, slightly sweet pepper flavor and gives the seasoning its signature color.
- Chili Powder: Adds warmth and depth without making the seasoned salt noticeably spicy.
- Dried Parsley: Adds a subtle herbal note and a little color.
- Black Pepper: Use finely ground pepper, not freshly cracked pepper, so it distributes evenly throughout the blend.
Kristen's Tip
Use dried spices that are less than 6 months old for the best flavor. While safe to use, they gradually lose their strength, weakening the flavor of this seasoning blend.
How to Make and Store Seasoned Salt
- Combine. Add the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chili powder, parsley, and black pepper to a bowl or jar. Stir or shake until evenly combined.
- Store. Transfer to an airtight container and store in a cool, dark cabinet for up to 6 months. Shake or stir before using because the finer spices may settle.
Seasoned Salt Variations
- Lower Sodium: Reduce the salt by up to half. Because the blend already contains a high proportion of spices, it will still add plenty of flavor.
- Salt-Free: Omit the salt to make a salt-free all-purpose seasoning blend. Add salt separately to the finished dish if desired.
- Spicy: Add cayenne pepper to taste. I would recommend beginning with ½ teaspoon, not 2 to 3 teaspoons, unless you know that amount reflects your tested version.
- Smoky: Replace the regular paprika with smoked paprika.
- Italian-Inspired: Replace the chili powder with dried oregano.
- Savory Herb: Omit the chili powder and use 2 teaspoons each of ground rosemary and dried basil.
How to Use Seasoned Salt
Use homemade seasoned salt anywhere you want to add salt along with savory flavor. Because salt preferences and recipes vary, begin with a small amount and add more to taste.
- Chicken and Meat: Use it to season chicken, pork, steak, shrimp, homemade burgers, or pot roast before cooking.
- Potatoes: Sprinkle it over oven fries, roasted red potatoes, baked potatoes, or air fryer potato cubes.
- Vegetables: Use it in place of plain salt when making roasted broccoli or roasted fall vegetables.
- Breading: Add it to the breading for baked chicken tenders or homemade fish sticks.
- Everyday Foods: Sprinkle it over scrambled eggs, breakfast hash, salads, or homemade microwave popcorn.
Recipes Using Seasoned Salt
I keep this homemade seasoning salt in my pantry because it makes adding flavor to everyday meals almost effortless. It is especially useful in:
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Homemade Rotisserie Chicken
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Homemade Seasoned Salt
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup iodized salt
- ¼ cup garlic powder
- ¼ cup onion powder
- 3 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon black pepper, fine-grain pepper, not coarse pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small glass jar or mixing bowl. Mix or shake until the spices are well distributed throughout the salt.
- Transfer the salt mixture to an airtight container. Store in a cool, dark pantry for up to 6 months.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It was good. I cut all the ingredients in half. Only had course ground pepper so crushed it to make it finer. Used kosher salt and crushed it some also.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon! I just made a batch today myself.
This is really good. I'm glad to have found this website
Tastes great!
I used Himalayan pink salt, not so overtly salty that way.
Great suggestion! Thank you for sharing.
A few tips. If you only have fine powder garlic and onion reduce to 1/8 cup. Also add 2 tablespoons of sugar. Sounds weird but trust the process.
This is my go-to secret ingredient! I have this on hand at all tmes and store in a jar with a removable shaker lid. Makes it easy to just shake up and shake on food or use a measuring spoon when I need more than a shake. Also great on salad with a drizzle of olive oil!
I love hearing you always have this seasoned salt on hand. It really does add incredible flavor!
This is super delicious. I've been using this recipe for over a year. Get tons of comments on how good the food taste.
I use 1/4 cup of kosher salt and then triple all the remaining ingredients.
Pierce my meat gently and apply seasoning. Wrap tightly with saran wrap and marinate for 1 or more hours.
Awesome..meat is tender and juicy.
I love hearing this Silvia! Thanks for sharing!