Blackened Seasoning Recipe (easy homemade blackening mix!)
- Gluten-Free
- Dairy-Free
- Paleo
- Low Carb
- Keto
- Whole30
- Low Calorie
- Vegetarian or Vegan
- Pescatarian
This easy homemade blackened seasoning mix takes just 2 minutes to throw together and is perfect to use in all of your favorite dishes! It’s great on chicken, fish, and even vegetables. This irresistible seasoning is packed with flavor and the spice level is completely adjustable to your own taste! Want it without spice? Or super spicy? No problem. I’ll walk you through exactly how to do it.
The best blackened seasoning recipe
If you’re looking for the perfect blackening seasoning recipe to use on all of your favorite dishes, look no further! This simple homemade creole seasoning is better than anything you can buy in the stores. Plus, making your own seasoning blend is much more affordable. I love making my own spice blends at home.
If you do a lot of Southern cooking, a good blackening seasoning is one of the best homemade spice mixes to have ready to go in your spice cabinet. It has so much flavor and you can really use it a surprising variety of ways!
The great thing about my homemade blackened seasoning recipe is the the spice level is completely adjustable! I love that you can vary the spice level based on the dish you’re serving or the people you are serving it to. I love a nice medium spice on chicken, but on fish like mahi mahi or flounder I prefer something milder. And when I’m cooking for my kids, I know they won’t eat anything remotely spicy. So I omit the spice altogether!
Love super spicy? I’ve got you covered. This recipe is so easy to adjust to your own taste by varying the amount of cayenne pepper or even adding in some dried tabasco pepper! YUM!
Homemade spice blends are just so much better and easy to throw together!
What is blackened seasoning?
Blackened seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices used in a variety of Southern dishes like blackened chicken and blackened fish. It’s made up of sweet paprika, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, and oregano.
Blackened seasoning originated in the Louisiana region of the United States and is closely associated with Cajun and Creole cuisine. It’s creation is credited to famous New Orleans Chef Paul Prudhomme.
But is blackened seasoning just Cajun seasoning? The answer is yes and no. Cajun seasoning and blackening seasoning are similar spice blends. The key differences are spice level and oregano.
Cajun spice tends to be spicier than blackening seasoning and usually does not include oregano, as blackening seasoning does. So, they are similar, but unique.
Creole cuisine originated in New Orleans and is a more refined, city-style way of cooking with lots of European influence. Cajun cuisine originated in rural Louisiana and is more rustic, spicy, and simple. Both Creole and Cajun cuisines are known for their bold flavors. While Creole cuisine tends to be more complex with more flavor layering and varied ingredients, Cajun cuisine tends to be simpler with fewer ingredients and more of an emphasis on bold and spicy.
How to use blackened seasoning
Let’s go through some of the best ways to use this delicious seasoning blend.
This delicious seasoning is perfect for my easy Blackened Chicken recipe. The cooking process includes seasoning chicken breasts with your homemade blackening spice blend, searing in a cast iron skillet, then cooking in the oven in melted butter. With this cooking technique, the chicken comes out perfectly cooked, juicy, buttery, and oh-so flavorful! You’ve gotta try it! It’s one of those easy recipes that you’ll be making again and again.
You can use the blackened chicken for Chicken Alfredo, alongside simple sides like rice and vegetables, or even chop it up and add it to some tacos! The possibilities are endless.
My favorite thing is that this seasoning mix can be used in so many different ways, not just for chicken! It’s great for fish, shrimp, and grilled vegetables. And you NEED to try it on buttered corn on the cob this summer. SO GOOD!
Ingredients to make blackening seasoning
(keep scrolling for a printable recipe card below!)
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 1/4 cup smoked paprika
- 4 tsp fine sea salt*
- 4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tsp garlic powder
- 4 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper**
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp dried oregano
*For a salt-free version, just omit the salt.
**This amount of cayenne gives you the perfect medium spice level. For just a hint of spice (mild spice), use 1 tsp cayenne. If you want it spicy, use 3 tsp cayenne. And for no spice, omit the cayenne altogether. This no-spice version is perfect for kids or if you are very sensitive to spice. Adjust to your taste preferences.
For even more spice, consider adding in some dried tabasco pepper! It will give you a different kind of spice to really kick it up a notch!
How to make blackened seasoning
1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl until well-combined.
2. Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.
Keep in mind that even though dried spices can last in the pantry for years, their flavors will fade over time. For the best flavor, use this spice mix within 1 year. I can’t imagine it would last that long though! It’s so good, you’ll be putting it on everything!
Speaking of flavor, for the very best flavor make sure to use high quality spices that are as fresh as possible. Spices that have been in your spice cabinet for years will work, but the flavor won’t be quite the same. Want to take this blackened seasoning recipe to the next level? If you can find freeze-dried thyme and oregano, those are going to have a better flavor than normal dried spices.
How to store blackening seasoning
Make sure to store your blackened seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place. Dry is a key point here! If you have a lot of humidity where you live, it would be smart to place a moisture-absorbing pack in the back of your spice cabinet or spice drawer to keep all of your seasonings fresher for longer.
I like to reuse empty spice jars for storing my homemade spice mixes. But any small glass jar is great for a single or double batch of this blackening mix.
Stored under the right conditions, homemade seasoning mixes will remain fresh for up to 1 year. So the good news is that you can make a huge batch of it and keep it on hand for all of your favorite recipes! Small batches are perfect if you just want to use it for 1 or 2 recipes.
To ensure the longest shelf life, I found these really cool reusable dehumidifier packs that you can dry out in the microwave when they are full and use again! How cool is that? You can use them for your spices, in your pantry, and even in you closet or car. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a more sustainable, eco-friendly option.
One last note, under normal conditions your spices should be fine at room temperature. However, if you live in a humid environment with very high temperatures, then you might want to vacuum-seal your spices and keep them in the refrigerator or freezer. This will extend the shelf life and ensure freshness. Just make sure they are vacuum-sealed because refrigerators and freezers tend to have high humidity levels.
Check out some of my other Southern recipes!
Do you love Southern food? Me too! I grew up in the South and have a ton of yummy Southern recipes that I know you’ll love.
- Simple Creole Jambalaya (one of my absolute favorite foods!)
- How to Make Blackened Chicken (in only 20 minutes!)
- Blackened Shrimp & Bacon Bowls
- World’s Best Paleo Gumbo
- Country Style Ribs in Oven (Boneless Pork Ribs)
- Salt-Free Creole Seasoning
- Keto Shrimp and Grits
- The Best Shrimp Boil and Cocktail Sauce
- Maple Bourbon Pork Tenderloin
- Bacon-Wrapped Grouper Bites with Spicy Peppercorn Ranch Dip
- Instant Pot Jambalaya
- Bacon Bourbon Meatballs
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Blackened Seasoning Recipe (easy homemade blackening mix!)
- Gluten-Free
- Dairy-Free
- Paleo
- Low Carb
- Keto
- Whole30
- Low Calorie
- Vegetarian or Vegan
- Pescatarian
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 1/4 cup smoked paprika
- 4 tsp fine sea salt*
- 4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tsp garlic powder
- 4 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper**
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl until well-combined.
- Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.
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Notes
Nutrition
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Frequently asked questions
Blackened seasoning is made with sweet paprika, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, and oregano. It originated within Creole cuisine in New Orleans with its creation credited to legendary Chef Paul Prudhomme.
To make blackened seasoning, just mix together sweet paprika, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, and oregano in a small bowl or jar. It can be used right away or stored in a jar in your spice cabinet.
Blackened seasoning is a mix of sweet paprika, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, and oregano.
Blackened seasoning usually has a medium spice level. The great thing is that with a homemade seasoning mix you can adjust the spice level to your taste! You can make it a classic medium-level spice, a mild spice, super spicy, or even no spice at all!
Making your own seasoning mixes is the perfect way to get the exact flavors and ingredients you want in your recipe. It is also often a more affordable option than buying pre-made spice mixes.
Not at all! Blackened meat is seared at medium-high heat and the spices naturally blacken when they are seared like that. It will not taste burnt unless you leave it on the stove or grill too long.
To make blackened chicken spice, just mix together sweet paprika, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, and oregano. Coat your chicken in the spice mix, sear on the stovetop, then cook in a bath of melted butter in the oven until you get to 165ºF. Perfectly cooked blackened chicken every time.
No. Cajun seasoning and blackened seasoning are different spice mixes. The most notable difference is that Cajun seasoning tends to be spicier than blackened seasoning. Another difference is that Cajun seasoning typically does not include oregano, while blackened seasoning does. Blackened seasoning is a Creole spice blend, originating from the urban cuisine of New Orleans. Cajun seasoning is associated with Cajun cuisine, which originated in rural Louisiana. Cajun cuisine is more rustic, with simple but bold flavors and lots of spice. Creole cuisine is more refined with more complex layering of flavors and heavy European influence.
Blackened seasoning can be use on chicken, fish, shrimp, pork, vegetables, potatoes, corn, or even tofu! It’s a versatile seasoning that can be used in a wide variety of ways.
Alternative ingredients/methods to try:
Things I recommend
- Dried tabasco pepper – Ground tabasco pepper a great way to add that extra spicy kick of heat to this blackened seasoning recipe! It’s not one of your common pantry staples, but it’s worth investing in if you love spicy food and Creole cooking!
- Brown sugar – Brown sugar is a secret ingredient that can take your blackened chicken to the next level. If you are following a low carb or low calorie diet, then I would omit the brown sugar. It’s a nice taste, but not at all necessary or one of the key ingredients for making great blackened chicken or fish.
- Dry mustard – Dry ground mustard is a great ingredient to add to your Cajun seasoning mix if you want a little extra tang to it.
Things I don’t recommend
- Chili powder – Chili powder is an amazing spice often used as an essential ingredient in your classic bbq dry rub and homemade taco seasoning, but I do not recommend it for your blackened seasoning. In my opinion, the flavor profile will not be right. But, as with all cooking, follow your own preferences! If you love chili powder, then add some to the mix.
- Kosher salt – While chef’s often use kosher salt to maintain a consistent salt level in their dishes, I prefer to use sea salt because it also has other trace minerals in it that can promote health, like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. This can help you meet your daily values for these minerals. Sea salt is also minimally processed. The best part about sea salt is that it can help your body maintain a good electrolyte balance! So cool! Plus, it just tastes better.
- White pepper – You can use this instead of or in addition to black pepper if you prefer. I don’t love the flavor of white pepper though, so I rarely use it in my cooking. Just personal preference.
Other options to try
- Olive oil – If you want to try my easy Blackened Chicken recipe, but don’t want to use butter, you can substitute with olive oil. You can also reduce the amount of butter or oil if you want to make the recipe a little healthier. But keep in mind that you want to use enough oil to ensure the chicken stays moist during the cooking process and does not dry out. It’s worth noting that the amount of butter or oil that actually sticks on the chicken, and that you’ll be consuming in the end, is just a fraction of the amount of butter/oil used in the recipe. Most of that fat will be discarded in the end. Just something to think about.
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