Made with the perfect blend of dried spices, thisChili Seasoningwill bring a warm and earthy taste to a wide variety of dishes! Being able to control what spices you use allows you to control how much sweetness and heat goes into your spice blend.

small white bowl with chili seasoning and a cute wooden spoon.

Being able to make a seasoning mix at home is one of my favorite things! With this chili seasoning, you will never have to buy a mix from the store again as long as you have the individual spices at home. Our chili seasoning is full of fresh and bright flavors that provide a bold taste in any dish.

When making your own mix, you can easily modify the measurements to adjust to your preferences whether you want to make it more spicy or stay on the sweeter side. In just a few minutes you’ll have the perfect homemade chili seasoning that brings ultimate flavor!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It is inexpensive and easy to make at home with spices in your pantry.
Has a warm, earthy, slightly spicy flavor that can be used for many different dishes.
Can be made in bulk and stored in the pantry for up to 3 months.

Recipe Ingredients

portion bowls each with digitally labeled raw ingredients to make chili seasoning.

Chili Powder—The main ingredient of this seasoning.
Cumin—Adds a slightly sweet and nutty flavor.
Italian Seasoning—For a peppery and earthy element. You can also use a combination of basil, oregano, and thyme.
Garlic Powder—To add a pungent and bold taste.
Dried Minced Onion—Provides a sharp, zesty flavor.
Salt—Amplifies the flavor of the other spices.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Chili Seasoning

small white bowl with chili seasoning ingredients separated by color.

Step #1.Whisk all of the spices together in a small bowl. Alternatively, you can pour the spices into a small jar and shake it a few times.

Step #2.Serve and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between chili seasoning and taco seasoning?

These two common seasonings are pretty identical in terms of the ingredients they contain, and can sometimes be used interchangeably when in a pinch. The biggest difference between the two is that chili seasoning has a higher amount of chili powder as the base spice, whereas taco seasoning typically has a higher amount of cumin as the main spice.

Is store bought or homemade chili seasoning better?

Both work well! However, there are some areas where homemade chili seasoning outweighs store bought. In terms of money, making chili seasoning at home is less expensive because you can use spices you already have in your pantry and make as much as you would like. You might find that homemade chili seasoning also tastes better than a pre-packaged blend since it is fresher and you get to control the exact amount of each ingredient. If you want to make the seasoning spicier you can add more chili powder, or add more Italian seasoning to deepen the earthy taste. While you can add spices to store bought seasonings, it’s usually easier to do when you make it yourself. Overall, you can use store bought or homemade seasoning, it just depends on what is easiest for you!

How to Serve Chili Seasoning

This chili seasoning brings a wonderful depth of flavor to everything! You can use the seasoning on a variety of foods. Here is a list of ideas to get you started.

Ground beef—Use about 1 ½ tablespoons of the seasoning per pound of ground beef. Cook the beef until done, then use it for tacos, salads, or stuffed bell peppers.
Chili—Mix this chili seasoning into a tasty batch ofhomemade chilifor added flavor. This seasoning is also great on thiseasy chicken enchilada soup.
Grilled chicken—Season a few chicken breasts with your spice blend. You can serve the chicken alongside rice, vegetables and a lime wedge to balance the taste of chili seasoning.
Fajitas—This seasoning is perfect for seasoning any kind of meat, bell peppers, and onion for yourfajitas. Serve on a flour tortilla.
Meat lovers pizza—You can mix chili seasoning with your pizza sauce to add dimension to your pizza. Top it with mozzarella cheese, bacon, sausage, pepperoni, and any other toppings you’d like.

How to Store Chili Seasoning

You can store this spice blend in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months for optimal freshness. We like to keep our spice mix in an old spice jar, but you can also use a mason jar or a ziploc bag. I will typically make a large batch of this spice blend at once since it stores well and I use it so often.

Expert Tips

In addition to the original spices,you can also use smoked paprika, dried thyme, parsley flakes, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
For a spicier blend, you can usecayenne chili powder instead of regular chili powder. Regular chili powder will have a mild heat and add a slight sweetness to the blend.
Ensure that as you are storing the chili powder, no steam or any kind of mixture gets into the container.Any moisture will cause the seasoning to form lumps and lose the flavor at a quicker rate.