Easy Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe

This easy homemade Cajun seasoning recipe is a great item to add to your spice 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, well not often as I use most seasonings. It’s something that gets added to dishes here and there, but since nearly half the people in my house can’t handle spice whatsoever, I don’t get around to making Cajun food very often.

Now you might be thinking this is an odd introduction to post about making your own cajun seasoning, and albeit, it is. But then again maybe not. I decided to make my own homemade Cajun spice blend for a few different seasons. Some of these included, it’s way faster, easier, and cheaper to make your own homemade seasonings. I wanted to be able to make a small amount, that would better suit my needs. And why bother buying them when you already have all the ingredients in your spice cabinet and can whip it up in less than 5 minutes?

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 in my cupboard and I’m sure you will be too!

Why you should make your own seasoning mixes at home

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? You can easily mix up basically any spice mix at home, using the ingredients you already have. Meaning yes in the ending making them at home is a lot cheaper, and easier.

2. They don’t have added preservatives.

I’ll never understand why seasoning mixes have so many added preservatives. Not to mention added sugars, and to be honest they don’t usually taste very good or fresh. There are defiantly some companies on the market today that are making an effort to create good and preservative-free spice mixes. But we still have a long to go, so if like you would prefer to not be putting those things in your body or feed them to your family. Making your home homemade seasonings is a great and simple to cut out some of those unnecessary preservatives and sugars.

3. You only have to make as much as you need. As I said above a cajun seasoning mix isn’t something that gets used very often in this house. And I’m sure the same goes for you, everyone seems to have those few recipes that call for a certain spice or seasoning mix they don’t really use for anything else. Which is another reason I love homemade seasoning. You can easily cut recipes in half or double them to fit your needs, you can make exactly what you need to use for supper tonight. Meaning you won’t have to worry about a large bottle of seasoning sitting in your cupboard for weeks on end!

What is the difference? Cajun seasoning vs. Creole seasoning

Before we get into the recipe you might be wondering what is the difference between Cajun seasoning and Creole seasoning. Here’s a quick breakdown of what makes these seasonings different.

Cajun seasoning comes from South Louisiana cuisine. But it is believed it actually begins in the coastal islands of Canada where the French settlers known as the Acadians originally began using it, eventually, it found its way down to Louisana where both Cajun cooking and Cajun seasoning have been a staple for generations.

Creole Seasoning( and the creole cuisine) began in New Orleans where it dates make to the 1700s. Creole seasoning is a mixture of the traditions of French, Spanish, Italian, American Indian, African, and other ethnic groups.

Cajun seasoning is made up mostly of salt and arry of different ground peppers including black, cayenne, and white. While Creole Seasoning is more herbal being made up mostly of oregano, thyme, rosemary, and paprika. This is the main difference between the two. And while both these seasonings are highly similar, and in a pitch can even be sub, for each other. There is definitely a difference between the two.

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How to Make Easy Homemade Cajun Seasoning

Ingredients.

• Smoked paprika
• Sea salt
• Garlic powder
• White pepper
• Black pepper
• Onion powder
• Oregano
• Cayenne pepper
• 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 or an empty spice jar. A Mason jar or a freezer bag will also. And you can also easily buy spice bottles online. You can find the ones I use HERE

how to store your easy homemade cajun seasoning blend(keep your spices from clumping)

1 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. It’s best to avoid this if at all possible, as getting moisture in your spices is generally considered bad and can cause them to go bad. 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

2 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. All spices, and seasoning blends should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. A cupboard, kitchen drawer, or pantry would be ideal for seasoning storage.

3 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 just shake my jars/bottle of seasoning every now and then when I see them, and so far it’s worked great! And 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!

Looking for Cajun recipes to try? Check out these ideas.

Homemade Dirty Rice(Cajun rice recipe)