Easy Homemade Cajun Seasoning

This easy homemade Cajun seasoning is a great item to add to your cupboard! it’s easy to make and saves time and money. And is a great way to start making more of your own food from scratch.

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” –Ruth Reichl

Cajun seasoning is not something I use very often, so needless to say I had a hard time justifying buying cajun seasoning from the store. Since it was something we only need once in a great way, I simply can not justify spending that much money on a mix made-up of spices I already had at home, not to mention most seasoning mixes have added preservatives. So I thought why now just make my own? And that’s exactly what I did.

I’ve been making my own seasoning mixes for years, from taco seasoning to potato salad seasoning and more. This easy homemade Cajun seasoning is quick and simple to throw together. It’s another great seasoning mix I’m happy to have under my belt and in my cupboard!

Why you should make your own seasoning mixes at home

Here is a little bit more about why I make my own seasoning mixes at home, and why I think you should too!

1. They are way cheaper. Now I’m not sure that one-for-one seasoning mixes are that much more expensive than buying a spice. Especially if you are buying organic.

But have you ever looked at a recipe, and wondered if you can really justify buying a $3+ bottle of seasoning mix for one recipe? Personally, I have a hard buying a whole bottle of seasoning why I’m not even sure I’m ever going to use it again. Plus why bother buying something when you already have all the ingredients at home?

2. They don’t have added preservatives. I’ll never understand why so many seasoning mixes have added preservatives. Why do people take something that should be made of just spices and feel the need to fill it with preservatives and added sugar? I don’t know.

But since most companies do, and I for one don’t want to be putting those things in my body, I decided to start making my own, it takes very little time and I don’t have to worry about any added preservatives or extra sugars.

3. You only have to make as much as you need. Another big reason I decided to start making my own seasoning mixes is that, with the exception of taco seasoning, they always seem to come in large quantities. Usually, I only need a certain seasoning mix for one or maybe two recipes that I make. Making my own mixes allows me to make, only as much as I need.

4. They are great motivators. This might seem like a silly reason. But if you are trying to start making more of your own food from scratch. Or are looking for quick and simple things to swap out at home, homemade in place of store-bought. Then seasoning mixes are a great place to start! Some people might say that they don’t count, but I say that they do, and they are a great way to motivate yourself to start making more food from scratch. It might only be a small step considering the big picture, but life is best lived one step at a time.

How to Make Easy Homemade Cajun Seasoning

Ingredients.

1 1/2 tbsp. smoked paprika
1 tbsp. sea salt
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tbsp white pepper
1/2 tbsp black pepper
1/2 tbsp, onion powder
1/2 tbsp oregano
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp thyme

Directions.

In a bowl combine all thing ingredients and stir until well mixed.

Transfer the mixture to a canning jar, spice bottle, or any other air-tight container.

Notes.

Feel free to play around with the measurements of this recipe. I don’t use cajun seasoning very much so I don’t make a whole lot at once. If you use it more often feel free to double or even triple the measurements listed above. And on the flip side if you think the recipe is going to make way more than you need you can easily cut the recipe in half as well!

You can store homemade seasoning mixes in old spice bottles you have emptied, or canning jars or you can buy spice bottles and labels online.

how to store homemade seasoning mixes/keep them from clumping.

Homemade seasoning mixes can be stored in a variety of ways. In canning jars, old spice bottles, and even freezer bags make great storage for homemade seasoning mixes.

How do to stop your homemade seasoning mixes from clumping?

Avoid sprinkling/measuring your seasoning over anything hot.

The biggest cause of clumping in seasoning is caused by moisture getting into the seasoning. This is usually caused by steam when we measure or shake seasoning into something that is hot, like a pot of soup or a chicken that is roasting in the oven. Also, make sure you don’t leave your seasoning sitting open, this can lead to water getting into the seasoning as well as other unwanted things like dust and bugs.

Store them in a cool dark place.

Another thing that causes moisture is heat from sunlight. Storing your seasoning in direct sunlight or left out in the elements, can cause condensation thus letting moisture into the seasoning and causing clumps.

Add a few dried beans to your seasoning.

Personally, I’ve never done this, but I have heard people do it all the time. They simply drop a few dried beans into their homemade seasoning mixes and shake them around. The beans will soak up any moisture that gets into the seasoning.

I usually shake my jars/bottle of seasoning every now and then when I see them, and so far it’s worked great! I haven’t had to worry about any clumps in my seasoning. I like to store mine in small canning jars or old spice bottles, and they are always fresh and flavorful!