The best homemade spicy or mild Cajun seasoning recipe (2024)

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Learn how to make the best Cajun Seasoning with this easy recipe. This homemade seasoning mix is perfect for meats, marinades, veggies, side dishes, and more!

The best homemade spicy or mild Cajun seasoning recipe (1)Pin

I like spicy foods, and I always have. Southwest is my favorite, but this Cajun seasoning is a close second. It has tons of flavor without being overly hot and spicy – though you can make it as hot as you want by adjusting the amount of red pepper flakes you add.

Cajun seasoning is wonderful as a rub for meat – any meat from salmon to chicken to pork to beef. It's also great mixed with breadcrumbs as a coating for chicken fingers or turkey cutlets or as a topping for a casserole. It can be mixed in with a white sauce or with cheese sauce for a delicious kick in a more traditional recipe. It also delivers a powerful punch when sprinkled over veggies or potatoes or stirred into soups, stews, and dips. You can't go wrong with this seasoning!

Once you fall in love with this Cajun spice mix, you'll find all different ways to use it, as I have.

What is Cajun Seasoning?

Cajun seasoning is a rustic spice blend that comes from Louisiana, the home of all things deliciously Cajun. Everyone has her own take on Cajun Seasoning, but typically, it's a spicy and flavorful medley with lots of paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano. Other ingredients can be added as well and add to the rich flavor. I've included salt in my mix below so that you can use the seasoning on its own, but if you prefer, you can leave the salt out and salt your food separately.

The best homemade spicy or mild Cajun seasoning recipe (2)Pin

How to Make the Best Cajun Seasoning Mix

  1. Stir together paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper (use more or less according to your heat preference), oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes (use more or less according to your heat preference).
  2. Taste your spice blend to ensure it has the right level of heat.
  3. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Makes about 4 tablespoons of cajun seasoning mix.
The best homemade spicy or mild Cajun seasoning recipe (3)Pin

How to Use Homemade Cajun Seasoning

As I said above, there are almost limitless ways to use this Cajun seasoning, and you will find more once you taste it and start looking for opportunities! Here are a few that we have enjoyed:

  • Meats - chicken, fish, shellfish, pork, beef, and even tofu
  • Veggies - awesome on stir fry and sprinkled over roasted vegetables
  • Potatoes - amazing on all forms of potatoes, especially chopped and roasted or French fries
  • Dips - stir into hummus (or falafel batter), queso, guacamole, and other dips
  • Breads - you can sprinkle this onto homemade tortilla chips, flatbread, garlic bread, and any other breads

Some recipes you might like to put Cajun seasoning into:

  • Spicy Slow Cooker Jambalaya
  • Spicy Cajun Shrimp - Great Over Pasta or Rice - One Skillet Meal
  • Cajun Style Beans and Rice

Try these other spice blend recipes

  • Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • Homemade Fajita Seasoning
  • Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix

Recipe

The best homemade spicy or mild Cajun seasoning recipe (4)

Homemade Cajun Seasoning Mix

Learn how to make the best Cajun Seasoning with this easy recipe. This homemade seasoning mix is perfect for meats, marinades, veggies, side dishes, and more!

4.84 from 25 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 tablespoons

Calories 16 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Stir all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 16kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 588mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 941IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

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  1. Cheryl Blake says

    The best homemade spicy or mild Cajun seasoning recipe (9)
    i am making my second batch of this perfect blend. i used it up in 6 months. My family loves this blend. This is my favorite chicken thigh seasoning. it makes a perfect pan sauce.

    Reply

The best homemade spicy or mild Cajun seasoning recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Cajun spice and Cajun seasoning? ›

Cajun seasoning, also known as Cajun spice or spice mix, is a fragrant blend of dried herbs and ground spices originating from Louisiana, home of Cajun cuisine. The spice blend is typically made of spices that are common to Cajun cuisine, such as paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and cayenne.

Which is hotter Cajun or Creole seasoning? ›

While spicy dishes are found in both cuisines, every dish isn't necessarily spicy…it all depends on how much cayenne pepper is used in the recipe. Cajun dishes tend to be a bit hotter than Creole.

What can I use instead of cayenne pepper in Cajun seasoning? ›

Jalapeno powder

If you're looking for a mild spice to replace cayenne pepper, you can opt for jalapeno powder. This spice is on the sweeter side but very aromatic. Enjoy this seasoning in Cajun food for Mardi Gras, Mexican cuisine or any other favorite recipe.

What is the Holy Trinity of Cajun spices? ›

By the way, there is also a trinity of Cajun spices, namely, cayenne, black pepper and white pepper; as well as a trinity of herbs, consisting of oregano, bay leaf and parsley.

What are the three main ingredients in Cajun cooking? ›

As far as ingredients ago, these three sound simple as can be. Bell pepper. Celery. Onion.

What is closest to Cajun Spice? ›

Chili powder + dried thyme + cayenne pepper

If you really don't have many ingredients in your pantry, you can pull together a basic substitute for Cajun seasoning using 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of dried thyme and 1/4- 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

Is Cajun seasoning different from Old Bay? ›

Most Cajun seasoning blends are spicier than Old Bay, and Old Bay contains ingredients like bay leaf, celery salt, and mustard that aren't usually in Cajun spice blends.

Is Cajun seasoning always spicy? ›

Cayenne and Louisiana-style hot sauce are the primary sources of spice in Cajun cuisine, which usually tends towards a moderate, well-balanced heat, despite the national "Cajun hot" craze of the 1980s and 1990s.

Is Cajun hot or mild? ›

Cajun spice mix is a Louisiana seasoning that packs a punch when it comes to flavors. The delicious (and mildly spicy) seasoning lends itself to so many wonderful dishes — like pastas, shrimp, chicken, fish, and much, much more.

Is paprika hotter than Cajun? ›

Cajun seasoning is primarily salt, cayenne (red pepper), and garlic powder. It is hot and salty. Paprika can be mild, hot, or smoked but is predominantly a mild red colored pepper in dried and powdered form. It contains no salt and has a very mild flavor (except for the hot variety).

Why is Cajun seasoning so good? ›

Getting a deeper look into Cajun Seasoning

While the exact components vary, Cajun spice mixes frequently contain paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and salt. This versatile flavor is known for its ability to give meals a robust and fiery taste.

What spice is closest to cayenne pepper? ›

Sweet or Hot Paprika

Hot paprika is a closer match for cayenne pepper as a substitute ingredient as it has more heat than the sweet version. Use either one of these paprika spices as a a substitute in sauces, stews, meatloaf and dips.

What's the closest thing to Creole seasoning? ›

Creole Seasoning Substitutes

If you find yourself in a bind, any Cajun seasoning blend will be a perfect substitute for Creole seasoning, as it has a similar flavor profile of spice mixes and dried herbs. You can also use some other seasoning brands like Old Bay Seasoning.

Can I use paprika instead of Cajun seasoning? ›

If you're in the middle of a Master Chef moment but you just ran out of your favorite Cajun seasoning blend, you can easily substitute a combination of cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and paprika to achieve an “I-can't-believe-it's-not-Cajun” experience.

What is the most popular seasoning in Louisiana? ›

Creole Seasonings and Cajun seasonings are two of the most popular seasonings in Louisiana cuisine. Creole condiment is a blend of spices that includes paprika, garlic, onion, and cayenne pepper.

Is all Cajun seasoning the same? ›

While the exact components vary, Cajun spice mixes frequently contain paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and salt. This versatile flavor is known for its ability to give meals a robust and fiery taste.

Is Cajun Creole the same as Cajun seasoning? ›

While very similar, the primary difference between Cajun and Creole seasonings is this: Cajun seasoning contains a combination of ground peppers—cayenne, black, white, etc. —while Creole seasoning is heavy on the herbs—paprika, oregano, thyme, etc.

What's the most popular Cajun dish? ›

What are the most popular Cajun foods?
  • Jambalaya. Jambalaya is a hallmark of Cajun cuisine, a one-pot dish that combines rice with a variety of meats and vegetables. ...
  • Crawfish Etouffee. ...
  • Gumbo. ...
  • Red Beans and Rice. ...
  • Shrimp Creole. ...
  • Boudin. ...
  • Po' Boy Sandwich. ...
  • Muffuletta.
Mar 13, 2024

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