Use this homemade Cajun seasoning recipe to make your own blend from scratch, with your own preferred ingredients, with an ingredient chart that you can refer to for commonly used ingredients.
My very favorite seasoning blend in the world is a good Cajun seasoning. If you scroll through the recipes on this site, as well as thumb through the several cookbooks I’ve written, you’ll find “Cajun Seasonings” in the ingredients quite often.
What is Cajun Seasoning?
A Cajun seasoning recipe is typically a blend of specific chili powders along with garlic, onion, salt and a potential slew of other ingredients, like dried herbs and spices. That is the beauty of it, really. No two people make it exactly the same, though you WILL find many commonalities.
Cajun seasoning came about with southern Cajun cooking, as the Cajuns would eat a lot of game meat, including swamp critters that had some pretty tough flavor. They would highly season their food with bold ingredients to make it more palatable.
This is why I LOVE a good Cajun blend. BOLD! Perfect for chicken, shrimp, whatever you're cooking.
Let's talk about how to make Cajun seasoning at home, shall we?
What's in Cajun Seasoning? Common Ingredients
After a poll of New Orleans cooks and chefs and researching numerous Cajun seasoning recipes, I've found the common ingredients to ALL of these recipes include the following ingredients:
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Salt
- Pepper
The next most common is Cayenne. After that we have Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Thyme, and then the ingredients start to thin out from person to person and include Cumin, Coriander, White Pepper, Basil and Celery Salt.
When I was in New Orleans, I spoke to numerous chefs and cooks about the specifics of Cajun and Creole cooking, including how to make a proper roux, as well as making Cajun and Creole seasonings. See My Foodie Trip to New Orleans to learn more about that.
These cooks and chefs invariably told me that a good Cajun seasoning includes “whatever your momma taught you”. I asked, “So there is no specific one recipe for Cajun seasoning? Some exact mixture?”
NOPE.
That isn’t to say you can toss ANYTHING in. I mean, Chinese 5 Spice is good stuff, but the flavor profile really doesn’t have a home in making a Cajun seasoning blend.
One chef told me she was ready to market her own Cajun spice mixture with dried lemon peel. I don’t believe I’ve had a Cajun seasoning with lemon in it, but I’d sure give it a try.
Regardless, homemade is better than any store bought seasoning mix.
Even Emeril Lagasse himself lists the following ingredients for his Cajun seasoning blend on his web site:
Emeril Lagasse's Cajun Seasoning Recipe
- 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons sea salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
This doesn’t mean you can’t include other ingredients, such as dried lemon peel, to make your Cajun seasoning special. It’s what I call “The Secret Ingredient” factor. Do I have a secret ingredient? Sure! I’ll even tell you what it is.
Ghost Pepper Powder.
Yep. I will share my preferred Homemade Cajun Seasoning blend below, but I like to include either ghost powder or some superhot powder, such as 7 Pot Chili Powder, to bring in some extra heat.
I dehydrate my own garden grown peppers, grind them down, then make my own seasoning blends, such as Cajun Seasoning. It's the perfect spice blend. Essential for Cajun cuisine.
I’ve created a graphic that you can refer to for making your own Cajun Seasoning blend. Let's take a look at some of the common spices.
How to Make Cajun Seasoning - the Recipe Method
- Measure out and combine your ingredients in a small bowl.
- Sift them together until they are well mixed.
DONE. You now have your own Cajun Seasoning recipe blend. Easy enough, right?
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Experiment and Adjust. Of course use it for any recipe that calls for Cajun seasoning and adjust from there. Not enough heat? Add more cayenne pepper. Or ghost powder! Want smokiness? Add smoked paprika. Need more salt? Red pepper flakes? Add it in.
Storing Cajun Seasoning
Keep Cajun seasoning sealed in stored in an airtight jar or container. I store them in a dark cupboard. A spice drawer is good. It will keep your spice mix longer. It's the perfect blend.
How Long Does Cajun Seasoning Last?
Cajun seasoning will say fresh for 3 months, and will then begin to lose potency. It is better to make smaller batches as you need them, depending on how often you use them and cook with them.
Have fun making your own Cajun seasoning! The keys are, first, experiment and taste. Second: Have FUN! Repeat!
Let me know how yours turns out, and what secret ingredients makes yours stand out! I look forward to hearing from you.
-- Mike Hultquist - Author of "The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook" and "The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook".
What to Make with Cajun Seasonings - Recipe Ideas
- Cajun Pasta with Shrimp and Smoked Andouille
- Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Red Sauce
- Cajun Shrimp Stuffed Poblano Peppers
- Crawfish Etouffee
- Creole Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- Shrimp Creole
- Shrimp and Grits
- Easy Creole Sauce
- Cajun Shrimp
- Oyster Stew
- Seriously Awesome Jambalaya
- Cajun Corn Maque Coux
- Hoppin' John
- Cajun Boiled Peanuts
- Cajun Baked Chicken Thighs
If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.
Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon cayenne powder
- 1 tablespoon granulated onion
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon granulated salt
- OPTIONAL OTHER INGREDIENTS
- Cumin coriander, thyme, white pepper, dried basil, celery seed, dried jalapeno powder, superhot powder, smoked chili powder, etc.
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Store in airtight containers.
Video
Nutrition Information
Mike’s Cajun Seasoning Recipe Blend
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons paprika
- 3 tablespoons cayenne powder
- 1 tablespoon granulated onion
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon granulated salt (optional - you can omit salt and add it at the time of your recipe)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon ghost pepper powder
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Store in airtight containers.
Notes
Nutrition
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 3/19/21 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 1/8/18.
