This fajita seasoning recipe is perfect for steak, shrimp, or chicken fajitas, with cayenne powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, brown sugar, cumin and black pepper. This is my personal favorite blend.
We're making homemade fajita seasoning in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen today, my friends. Would you care for some?
Ever get a wild craving to suddenly make fajitas? I do! Growing up we always used those store bought packets, which worked great, but as I grew older and began to experiment, I found making my own spice mix at home results in a more personal experience as well as a flavor blend that works best for me.
This is especially true of fajitas, one of my favorite meals. I'll take steak, chicken, pork, shrimp, you name it when it comes to fajitas. Toss it together with bell peppers and onions in a pan and sear them up. It doesn't get any better. Don't forget the lime juice.
It's all so VERY Tex-Mex, that awesome blend of Mexican and Texan cuisines.
This will become your new family favorite, especially after you make your own personal adjustments to taste. It's so easy to make extra spicy if you'd like, or dial it back to focus on your own favorite ingredients.
What Ingredients Go Into Fajita Seasoning?
Fajita seasoning consists of cayenne powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, brown sugar, cumin and black pepper. I sometimes like to include corn starch as well, which acts as a thickener, depending on how you're using it. This is especially useful when making braised fajitas, like these Beer Braised Chicken Fajitas, as it thickens up the braising liquid into a nice sauce.
There are not a lot of ingredients overall, but the resulting blend is IDEAL. Also, just so you know, it isn't only about the ingredients, but about the RATIO of those ingredients. You can easily include more or less of each to your own personal enjoyment.
I urge you to make this blend for your next fajita dinner or party and see how you like it. Then, experiment.
Let's talk about how we make it, shall we?
Fajita Seasoning Ingredients
The ingredients you need to make homemade fajitas seasonings include:
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika is great for this recipe, though you can use sweet paprika or hot paprika as well)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Optional: Corn starch, as a thickener
How to Make Your Own Fajita Seasonings
Gather Your Ingredients. Gather up cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, brown sugar, cumin and black pepper.
Mix the Spice Blend. Once you've gathered up all of your ingredients, simply mix them together in a small bowl. Make sure they are nicely combined.
Optional Corn Starch. Note: You can also include corn starch if you'd like a bit of a thickener for your fajitas.
Boom! Done! Quick and easy, isn't it? This will make you about 1/4 cup of seasoning. You can easily double or even triple the recipe to make a larger batch. Great if you like to make a lot of homemade fajitas! A family favorite, I'm sure.
Store in an airtight container. It is best to make smaller batches of seasonings, as they start to lose their potency and flavor after a few months.
How Long Does It Last?
Fajita seasoning will last for 6 months or longer when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. However, it begins to lose potency after 3 months, so it is best to make it in smaller batches as needed.
Using Fajita Seasoning
Use 1-2 tablespoons of fajita seasoning for every pound of meat as a rub for making steak, shrimp or chicken fajitas. Rub the seasoning into the meat, then sear it in a hot pan with olive oil until cooked through.
You can also use fajita seasoning to season ground meats for making easy homemade tacos, or use it as a general seasoning. I have enjoyed the flavor in soups, stews, and other grilled foods.
So easy and delicious!
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Adjust to Your Personal Tastes. Start by increasing a bit of garlic here, decreasing a bit of oregano there. Adjust to your own personal preferences. Sometimes I will slip in a bit of superhot chili powder, like ghost or 7-pot that I've dehydrated, for that extra heat blast. Totally optional, though! I like mine extra spicy. Shocking, I know.
- Make a Fajita Marinade. Combine 2 tablespoons of this fajita seasoning with 3 tablespoons of oil and the juice from 1 lime. Marinate your chicken, shrimp or steak before cooking them. Chicken and steak should marinate longer, at least several hours or overnight. Shrimp can marinate for 1 hour. You can also marinate fish with this fajita marinade.
I hope you enjoy this version of homemade fajita seasoning. It's my personal favorite blend. Now, go make some fajitas!
Try this Fajita Seasoning on Some of These Recipes
Check Out Some of My Other Homemade Seasoning Blends
- Homemade Seasonings/Powders Recipes
- Steak Seasoning Mix
- Homemade Cajun Seasoning Blend
- Homemade Fajita Seasoning
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Homemade Rib Rub
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 Fajita Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Mix to combine.
- Use as a rub for steak, chicken or shrimp fajitas.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 4/30/21 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 9/21/16.
Bill Williamson says
I was wondering if you had any suggestions on making a thicker pepper mash. I'm talking about the stuff that you see in the barrels for tobasco sauce before being mixed with vinegar. Do you have a recipe for this thanks bill.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Bill, take a look at this page and review the first method for making a mash with only salt and peppers: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/cooking-with-chili-peppers/how-to-make-fermented-pepper-mash/
Peggy says
I sprinkled some in my egg salad. Delicious!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I love it!
Larry Joseph Morgan says
Have you tried this with smoked paprika, and, if so, does it give it a better flavor?
REPLY: Larry, you can use smoked paprika. I have that in my pantry as well. I wouldn't say better, but sure, it will affect the flavor. It's more about personal preference. I enjoy adding dehydrated habanero or ghost powder to my own. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.