Homemade Blackened Seasoning (5-Minute Recipe!)

This easy homemade Blackened Seasoning recipe is rich and bold, with the perfect amount of heat. It comes together in just a few minutes, to add a punch of crazy awesome flavor to everything from shrimp and fish, to chicken, beef, and vegetables!

Easy Blackened Seasoning Recipe

To add crazy-amazing flavor to all sorts of dishes – from fish & seafood, to meat, to vegetables – make my easy homemade Blackened Seasoning recipe! This flavor-packed blend includes ingredients like dried sweet and smoky paprika, cayenne pepper, oregano, and thyme. Make this seasoning mix in just a few minutes, to elevate even the simplest dish into a standout meal. And bonus: when you make it yourself, you can easily adjust any of the individual ingredients to fit your own flavor palate!

Why You Should Keep This Seasoning Blend On Hand

I like to keep homemade seasoning blends on hand, my family’s own personal flavor arsenal. (Have you tried our favorite green taco seasoning yet?!) Here’s why we think you’ll love this recipe, just like we do!

• Versatile. Use this seasoning blend to add a punch of smoky, spicy deliciousness to so many things – it’s perfect for shrimp, fish, chicken, pork, or beef. You can even add it to grilled vegetables or sprinkle it over scrambled eggs!
• Easy + Economical. DIY spice mixes are such a fun little secret. Not only are they quick to make, and easy to store in bulk – but they also end up costing less than buying pre-made blends.
• Adjustable. Custom spice blends give you the freedom to play around with individual ingredients. For example, you can be make this blend more or less spicy by adding or deleting some cayenne. Or make it a bit more spicy-complex by throwing in another favorite dried chile or two!

What Does Blackened Seasoning Taste Like?

Blackened seasoning is a bold flavor mix that consists of dried chili powder, spices, and herbs. Most recipes include a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt & pepper, plus a variety of dried herbs such as thyme and oregano. It’s a savory mixture of smoky, spicy goodness that’s not overly hot.

Cajun Seasoning vs Blackened Seasoning

You may notice similarities between Cajun seasoning and blackened seasoning if you’re familiar with both spice blends. Cajun seasoning tends to be a bit spicier than blackened seasoning, although if you prefer a more spicy blackened seasoning blend you can definitely add more spice. Both blends originated in Louisiana and are fantastic rubbed on meat or seafood to load them up with flavor.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a glance at what you’ll need to make this blackened seasoning recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.

• Smoked paprika – For a rich, smoky flavor. 
• Sweet paprika – This adds a warm, yet bright, red pepper flavor.
• Garlic & onion powder – These add a ton of earthy flavor.
• Dried herbs – Thyme and oregano add herby goodness.
• Salt & pepper – I use kosher salt and ground black pepper.
• Cayenne pepper – Feel free to use as little or as much as you like. If you aren’t a fan of spice, start with ¼ teaspoon and taste the seasoning before adding more. 

How To Make Blackened Seasoning

Just whisk the ingredients together and you’re all set. It’s really that easy! Find complete instructions in the recipe card lower down.

• Measure out spices & herbs. Grab your dried spices and herbs, and measure them out into a bowl.
• Whisk. Stir or whisk the spices together.

• Use/Store. Use the seasoning mix immediately, as much as you need. Or transfer to an airtight container, such as a glass jar, and store for a later time.

Tips & Variations

Make this recipe as-written for authentic blackened seasoning flavor, or try adjusting the amount of spice or types of herbs. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Adjust the heat. You can adjust the spice/heat by adding more or less of the cayenne. If you want more heat, play with adding dried red pepper flakes, more black pepper, or another favorite dried pepper of your choice.
• Make it more smoky. Adjust the smoky flavor of the seasoning by increasing (or decreasing) the amount of smoked paprika. Just make sure to also decrease (or increase) the amount of sweet paprika accordingly, so both paprikas equal two tablespoons total. 
• Use lemon pepper. Try swapping out the black pepper for lemon pepper. This adds a touch of acidity that is especially delicious with fish and seafood!
• Swap out the herbs. You could try basil or marjoram, for example.
• Double or triple the recipe. Once you have the dried herbs and spices out on the counter, it doesn’t take any extra time to double or triple the quantity. Then keep the mix on hand, to make flavorful cooking happen even faster in the future!

Ways To Use Blackened Seasoning

There are SO MANY WAYS to use this blackening seasoning recipe! You can see how to add seasoning to a main dish below, along with some flavor pairings:

• Add it to a protein: To blacken seafood (I especially like to blacken salmon and shrimp!), chicken, steak, etc., dredge or brush the protein in melted butter, then season generously with blackened seasoning. Heat a cast iron skillet to medium-high heat, then add the seasoned protein. The goal is a dark, crusty char on both sides. Depending on the protein and its size, this usually only takes a few minutes per side. Shrimp will take less time, chicken will require more time.
• Grill it! Take your blackened-seasoned protein outdoors and grill it over some flame, until it’s charred to perfection.
• Add rice. Serve blackened proteins with cilantro lime rice and pineapple salsa. 
• Make tacos. Make blackened shrimp or chicken, and add it to tacos or rice bowls.
• With mashed potatoes. Enjoy blackened chicken with a side of buttermilk mashed potatoes for a heartier side dish of comfort food. 
• Stir into chili. For an extra hit of flavor, add blackened seasoning to chili. It’s great in my slow cooker chili or creamy enchilada chili recipes.
• Sprinkle on vegetables. Love to roast and grill vegetables? Me too! Add a little sweet-smoky blackened seasoning to a pan of roasted sweet potatoes or carrots, or sprinkle it into taco stuffed sweet potatoes for an extra kick of flavor.

Proper Storage

Place the seasoning mix in an airtight container such as a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid or a spice container, and store it at cool room temperature for up to 4 months.

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