I made a pot of my basic chili a few weeks ago, which uses my homemade chili seasoning, so I wanted to post the homemade chili seasoning blend by itself to highlight the fact that it can be used for so much more than just chili.
How to Make Homemade Chili Seasoning
How to Use Homemade Chili Seasoning:
This homemade chili seasoning is equivalent to one store bought chili seasoning packet. This homemade chili seasoning will be enough to season one 6 serving batch of chili, or a batch of chili that uses one pound of ground beef or ground turkey.
Brown the ground beef or ground turkey first, drain the excess fat if needed, then add the homemade chili seasoning. Continue to sauté the seasoning with the beef for about a minute more, which will toast the spices and make them a bit more pronounced. Continue making your chili by adding diced tomatoes, beans, or whatever else you prefer (see my Easy Chili Recipe).
In addition to making a big pot of warm and comforting homemade chili, you can add this chili seasoning to vegetables, meat, or fish before roasting or grilling (check out my Chili Roasted Potatoes), or even sprinkle a little into your mac and cheese. I mean, what can’t you do with chili seasoning?!
Homemade Chili Seasoning
Servings 1 recipeIngredients
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp approximately freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine. Store in an air-tight container, away from heat and moisture for up to six months.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
Nutrition
What is “chili powder”?
Chili powder is a blend of spices used to season chili, which is commonly sold pre-mixed in the United States. So, in effect, you could use just that alone to season your pot of chili, but my homemade chili seasoning takes it up a few notches.
Chili powder can vary in heat from brand to brand, so make sure to give yours a taste before making your chili. If the chili powder you are using is spicy, you can reduce or eliminate the cayenne pepper from this recipe.
The chili powder pictured above (Kroger brand) is spicy, as the label indicates, but not every brand is nice enough to let you know ahead of time if their blend is spicy. If you’re looking for a mild, not-spicy blend, check out McCormick’s chili powder. They also make a “hot Mexican” chili powder, which is quite spicy.
Can You Use Taco Seasoning for Chili?
They’re quite similar, but not exactly the same. For my Homemade Taco Seasoning, I use a slightly smokier blend of spices and add a little oregano. I do think you could use them interchangeably in a pinch, if needed, but prefer this slightly more simple blend for chili.
What is the Best Secret Ingredient for Chili?
The answer to this is subjective, of course, but in addition to your basic homemade chili seasoning you can add some fun “secret ingredients’ to your chili. Here are some fun secret ingredients for chili:
- Cocoa powder or dark chocolate, which gives an earthy flavor
- Beer: light Mexican or dark beer, like Guinness
- Brown sugar or molasses (sweet makes a great contrast to spicy!)
- Cinnamon, goes nicely with savory flavors as well as sweet!
- Red wine (for beef chili)
- Coffee or espresso (similar to cocoa, this provides a deep earthiness)
What are your favorite chili seasonings? Share in the comments below!
I normally buy the packs of chili seasoning and forgot this time.. I’m glad I forgot. I found this. With a rather large family I had to triple it because I made extremely large pots. I’ll never buy the packets again. This seasoning was a big hit.
Smells awesome. Im making vegetarian chili. And doubled spices for big pot. Plus added a lil more cumin.
Tried this and it is a great combination of spices. I will use this again. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi there! I’d love to try this. How many pounds of hamburger will this make? I have five pounds of hamburger for a huge pot of chili. Thanks! :)
This is about the same as one of those store bought envelopes of chili seasoning, which is usually recommended for one pound of beef. I made a whole pot of chili with one pound, so you might not need to multiply this by five for five pounds of meat if you’re still just making one pot. :)
I multiplied everything by 48 to make it in bulk so that 1 tsp would become 1 cup.
My question is you say it makes about 1 pot (6 servings), but how many cups is that? Is a serving 1 or 2 cups or something else?
Yes, about 1-1.5 cups per serving. It’s flexible. :)
Beth:
I am LOVING your website!!! I’ve made so many delicious dishes from your recipes! Thanks so much for all the easy one pot pasta dishes. On a side note, as I was reading the comments AND corrections, my first thought was, “Oh, well, at least she knows she has visitors to her site!” I’m lovin’ it!
I also found this makes a great taco meat seasoning! :)
Delicious! I have a large crock pot full of chili simmering now. I’m debating on how to eat it – with rice or on a taco salad. Tough choices. :)
Nice and simple. Good mix, thanks! I did add about 1/2 teaspoon of oregano just because I like that in my chili.
Your making chili seasoning , why are you using chili powder as one of the Ingredients ? should be Chile powder! get to basics!
My bottle of McCormick is spelled “chili” powder. I would be curious to know what brand is spelled “chile”. Also, if you are correcting someone’s spelling, you meant to write “you’re” not your.
Right on Diana!!
DIANA ROCKS!
I read somewhere if the spice is labeled chili as you stated it has chile and other spices if the bottle is labeled chile it is only the powder of the chile pepper. I don’t know if this is true or not now that I’m thinking about it again I’ll have to try to look at the store.
my powder states Chili powder.
“You’re” Don, not “your”…Get to the basics!
Chile is a country in South America.
That’s also how you spell the name of the pepper. The pepper is “chile”, the dish is “chili”. :)
Don- it is chili powder. McCormic seasoning bottle says Chili Powder not Chile.
smells good thats for sure!! cant wait to try it :) I didnt put as much salt because I use pork…its too salty on its own :) thank you for sharing your recipe ;)
This looks great and the veggie roasting idea is something I’ll have to try! But I just wanted to let you know that you have “gumin” instead of “cumin” in the ingredients list =). I don’t know what gumin is but it didn’t sound delicious =P.
Thanks!! ;)
I love, love, love using those seasonings in chili. The perfect pairing for chili and also tacos/burritos/etc. Yum!
Our chili powder is a lot hotter (not a blend). What amount would you suggest or what substitution would work?
Hmm, I’m not sure without testing it out. The chili powder I used is the main flavor, so reducing it will change it quite a bit.
Perfect timing! Do you know the overall volume this makes? (1/4 cup, etc.) And fyi, “cumin” is spelled wrong in the ingredients list.
Thanks for the heads up with the typo! ;) The recipe makes about 2 tablespoons.
2 Tbsp = 1/8 cup
it dont matter how its spelled the taste is what i am looking for besides in texas we can read between the lines
Exactly! I agree with what Larry said other than I’m from Michigan.