This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
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.
Hi Kristen! I am so sorry but this is probably THE worse tasting seasoned salt I've ever had. I wouldn't even call it seasoned salt as it doesn't taste anything like it. I almost gagged when I tried it and my mouth felt like it was on fire, way 2 hot (heat) 4 my liking. I dont ever recall seasoned salt having both paprika and chili powder, infact I used half of each of those from what u called for and it was horrible. I'm not sure what I did wrong as I followed the rest of the ingredients to a T except for those 2. Any insight would be appreciative. Thank u and again I apologize.
Hi Phelicia! I hate hearing you disliked this so much. Is there any chance you used Cayenne or smoked or chipotle chili powder or smoked paprika? I know chili powder is not in all recipes or blends of seasoned salt, but I have found that just a bit adds some dimension. But this should not be hot to the taste in any way.
Hey this looks great! I was looking at the nutritions for this and it says 2kcal. What is kcal?
Kcal actually means calories--it can be confusing. 😊
Thank you for the DIY Seasoned Salt recipe! I'll have to make this with me just being diagnosed with hypertension
You are so welcome Shannon! I am glad you found this substitute. Best of luck with you health and diet changes as well.
Can I use Oregano instead of Parsley?
Hi Sarah! I love adding oregano to just about everything, but it is a lot stronger than parsley. I would only suggest using 1-2 teaspoons of oregano.
Nice balanced seasoning for jojo potatoes!
So glad you enjoyed! It is great on so many things.
Just what I was looking for, but it's just me. Has anyone already done the math and made this in a smaller amount? I'm hoping so... 🙂
Hi Jenny! I would still make the full batch..you can store for months on a sealed container and use to flavor everything.
If I buy parsley flakes, is that okay to use in place of dried parsley? As you can see, I haven’t spent much time in the kitchen, and am trying to learn. I have all the other ingredients!
Hi Linda! Parsley Flakes is the same as dried parsley 🙂 And we all have to start somewhere! Kuddos to you!
My family used seasoned salt for everything until my mother was diagnosed with T2 diabetes, monthes go bt and it only JUST occured to me to look up a sodium free recipe for the seasoning. You're a God sent! This'll make it so much easier to keep my mother on her diet and our foods staying flavorful at the sane time!
I am SO happy to help you and your mom out! I live with a lot of dietary restrictions myself, so I know how much finding a recipe that works for your family can help out. Enjoy Noah!