Blackened Seasoning (2024)

Create THE BEST Blackened Seasoning mix to add a ton of flavor to chicken, fish, steak or veggies! A simple combination of 8 spices and herbs are tossed together in this recipe to make a flavorful, spicy seasoning blend.

Blackened seasoning is traditionally used as part of a cooking technique called blackening, which results in a dark and flavorful crust on seafood, meat or veggies!

Seafood like salmon or shrimp are popular proteins to blacken, as well as catfish, tilapia, or red snapper. You can also use it for chicken, steak, pork chops or vegetables!

But don't stop at the classics, get creative! Use it to add a kick of flavor to recipes from breakfast, to snacks, to dinner. See below for 15 ideas on how to use this delicious blackened seasoning!

Making your own homemade seasoning mix is simple to do, and it's better than buying one! This way you can adjust the ingredients to fit your taste and spice preferences.

So mix it up in minutes and explore the possibilities!

Ingredients

• Paprika - I used standard paprika in this recipe, but you can use smoked paprika if you want to add a smoky flavor to the spice blend.
• Cayenne pepper - Feel free to adjust the amount used to reach your desired heat level. Use less to make it more mild, and more to make it spicier!
• Garlic powder - Make sure to select the powder and not minced garlic, you want the flavor to be dispersed evenly.
• Onion powder - Same with this, avoid using onion flakes or minced onion.
• Thyme - This herb helps to give a wonderful flavor to the mix. Some recipes use basil as well, so if you are out of thyme you can use that instead.
• Oregano
• Salt - You can reduce the sodium by using less salt, however it will change the flavor.
• Black pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all of the spices together in a small bowl or mason jar. (If you mix directly in a storage container, like a mason jar, you skip extra dishes!)

That's it! Just one step and you've made a delicious blackened spice blend, perfect for seasoning chicken, fish or veggies.

Store the seasoning mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, like your pantry, for up to 6 months. After 6 months the spices will begin to lose their flavor.

I recommend dating your homemade spice mixes with a label so you know when to throw them out and make a new mix. Luckily, I'm sharing several ways to use the spice mix, so I don't think it will last in your pantry for 6 weeks, much less 6 months!

What to make with it

The possibilities really are endless with this homemade blackening seasoning! Here are 15 ideas to get you started.

1. Make easy Blackened Chicken and Wild Rice Bowls (pictured above).
2. Prepare blackened chicken breasts or thighs to go in salads or bowls all week. Try it in this Blackened Chicken Salad recipe!
3. Blackened salmon is a classic favorite and is easy to make.
4. Catfish, tilapia, red snapper, and ahi tuna are also great when prepared with blackened seasoning.
5. Quick and easy blackened shrimp can be enjoyed as an appetizer, entree, or as part of a bowl or salad.
6. Create the most flavorful fish tacos like these Blackened Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos.
7. Treat yourself to blackened steaks like this Blackened Beef Tenderloin with horseradish butter.
8. Coat your hamburger, turkey burger, or veggie burger patties in the seasoning mix before cooking.
9. Mix into your favorite Chili recipe.
10. Season Air Fryer Zucchini.
11. Coat corn on the cob before grilling.
12. Season fries, grilled potatoes, or Smashed Potatoes.
13. Use it to add flavor to White Rice or Cauliflower Rice.
14. Sprinkle some into scrambled eggs for a kick.
15. Stir it into your favorite dips and spreads.

Frequently asked questions

• What's the difference between blackened seasoning, Cajun seasoning and Creole spice? Each of these spice blends are pretty similar and usually include paprika, pepper, garlic, and onion powder. Cajun seasoning is generally spicier than the other two, and Creole seasoning contains more herbs. Blackened seasoning falls somewhere in the middle of the two.
• Is blackening seasoning the same as old bay? No, the two are different blends of spices. Old Bay seasoning is made with celery salt, paprika, red pepper, black pepper, and other spices.
• How do you make something blackened? Once a protein or veggies are coated with the blackened seasoning blend, cook on high heat in a cast iron skillet until each side has a blackened color to the crust and the middle is cooked through. The cook time will be different depending on what you are making.
• Is the seasoning blend Whole30 approved? Yes, all of the ingredients in this recipe are allowed when following a Whole30 diet.
• Is it gluten free? Yes, this blackened seasoning recipe is made with ingredients that are all naturally gluten free.
• Is blackened seasoning spicy? Yes, but you can cut down on the spice level by reducing the amount of cayenne pepper in the spice blend.
• How much seasoning should I use? I recommend 1 tablespoon of seasoning per pound of meat or veggies. This recipe makes approximately 7 tablespoons of seasoning.

More seasoning blends

Ditch the store bought seasoning blends and make your own at home. They're less expensive, better for you and more delicious!

Grab a bunch of bulk spices at your local grocery store, or online, and fill up your pantry with all of these delicious homemade seasoning blends.

• Umami Seasoning
• Shawarma Seasoning
• Jerk Seasoning
• Moroccan Seasoning
• Everything Bagel Seasoning
• Fajita Seasoning
• Taco Seasoning

Recipe

More Seasoning Mix