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 can’t comment directly to the chili seasoning bc I tried an entirely new recipe tonight but what I ended up with was AMAZING! I had some chicken breasts in the oven, all excited about having some chicken chili, when I realized I was out of seasoning! I found this recipe and I’m so glad I did!
I sautéed two small yellow onions (choppily diced for texture) with a clove of garlic (finely diced) and dumped in two cans of “chili ready tomatoes” from Walmart, a can of chili beans, and this recipe of spices. When the chicken was done baking I cut up a couple chicken breasts and stirred those in. I can’t even believe how good it was! I did make one small change- I don’t like anything too salty so I only used about 3/4 t salt and it was perfect, I may use even less with beef bc skinless baked chicken breasts are pretty bland.
I will DEFINITELY be making a big batch of this spice mix to keep on hand! So good!
I gave this recipe a try last night and wanted to say THANK YOU for making me look so good. My husband and stepdaughter hold high chili standards and both went back for seconds. The mix of spices is perfect, with just enough heat. This will be our chili seasoning going forward. Thanks again!
Wonderful!! Never buying store mix again! My family loved and said it was better than my other chili!!
This homemade seasoning was better than the store bought packs of seasoning my family usually buys! Only change I’d make would be less salt, maybe 3/4 teaspoon instead of a full teaspoon. My vegetarian chili turned out great and was super flavorful!
I will never use the package chili seasoning again! This is excellent chili seasoning! I accidentally used the wrong measuring spoons for the cayenne so it’s a bit spicier than I wanted but the flavor is the bomb!!! I did add about 1/4 tsp smked paprika for a little smoky flavor. LOVE!!!
So I’m missing the ingredients. I can deduce, but don’t have the quantity. It says ingredients (then blank), then next are the instructions. I thought for sure everyone else was going to complain.
Hmm, I’m able to see the ingredient quantities. What are you trying to view the recipe with? Desktop or mobile? Mac or Windows/Android? What browser?
How’s about different levels of chili powders: Anaheim Chili Powder- mild and very tasty, Chipotle powder for a med heat and smoky level, and Jalapeño or Serrano Chili Powder. Mixing powders brings many more levels of taste and spicyness.
I wish I would have caught the note about the cayenne pepper. It was much to spicy for my kids! Next time I’ll leave it out. Otherwise was great!
If you get it too hot put a pinch or two of sugar to the pot it will tone down the heat level
Great suggestion!!
Awsome ! thank you ! :)
Homemade chili seasoning and you add store bought chili powder?
you are on Budget Bytes and acting like yer gordon ramsey bro.
Now that was funny Scott B
I don’t get why people nitpick on something so dumb.
First Ron
1. You…….are online, looking at simple chili recipes hmm 😶🤐
2. Chili powder, however you use it, or what type it is, does not make or break the chili
3. Maybe this guy has great quality spices and wants to control his own salts and heat.
Good Lord. I will pray for those who think their ways are better than others.
Thanks for sharing Scott. I have walked away learning a lesson.
I would love to learn
more about all of you all recipes
I used this tonight it was great thanks
This saved the day at our house warming party when I realized I was out of cumin and didn’t have any premade chili seasoning! I substituted the cumin for more chili powder and paprika, but left the rest the same. Our chili was a hit!
Excellent recipe. We use it EVERY time we make chili!
Congratulations for your site and this homemade seasoining. I would like to introduce myself. This is Antonio Catalán. I have a shop of spices and herbs for cooking in Spain. I am the third generation of the family business. We make also some blend of spices in our shop.If you want to know a bit more about myself, I invite you to have a look to my web http://www.buyspices.net