Two Smoky Seasoning Blends You Can Customize

Most packaged spice blends (like taco or burrito seasoning) are full of unnecessary additives, anti-caking agents, hidden sugars, artificial flavors and more. They’re convenient, but not healthy. Making your own blend is even more convenient once you have a jar of it in your cupboard ready for use!

I’ve been playing around with smoky seasoning blends lately and ended up with two slightly different versions. I thought I’d share both because they show how easy it is to tweak a recipe based on what you have on hand and what you like.

One leans more bold and spicy (great on chicken and meat), while the other is deeper and smokier (especially nice on roasted vegetables). Both are very forgiving — you don’t need every single spice listed. You can leave some out or adjust the amounts to suit your taste.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Version 1: Smoky Cajun-Chipotle Seasoning

Mix together in a jar:

• 3 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
• 2 Tbsp Cajun Seasoning
• 2 tsp Chipotle Chili Powder
• 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Coriander Powder
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• ¾ tsp Sea Salt
• ½–1 tsp Cayenne (or Carolina Reaper if you like it hot. I combine them both)
• ½ tsp Turmeric (optional)

Version 2: Smoky All-Purpose Seasoning

Mix together in a jar:

• 4 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 Tbsp Regular Paprika
• 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
• 2 tsp Cumin
• 2 tsp Coriander Powder
• 1½ tsp Cajun Seasoning
• 1 tsp Chipotle Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• ¾ tsp Sea Salt
• ½–1 tsp Cayenne (adjust to taste)
• ½ tsp Turmeric (optional)

How to customize these:

You can leave out any spice you don’t have (like coriander or turmeric) and it will still taste good. Want it milder? Use less cayenne. Want it smokier? Add a bit more smoked paprika. These are just starting points. Adjust the salt or whatever you like!