Bring bold, zesty flavor to your kitchen with this homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe! Perfect for adding a kick to everything from grilled meats to roasted veggies, this blend captures the essence of Southern cooking with its rich, smoky, and slightly spicy notes.

If you’re looking for more seasoning mixes, The Most Amazing Fajita Seasoning Mix and Taco Seasoning Mix will help transform your meals into something magical.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Whether you’re whipping up a classic jambalaya or want to sprinkle some heat onto your fries, this versatile seasoning is a pantry must-have.

Crafting your spice mixtures lets you tailor flavors precisely to your liking, ensuring each dish carries a personal touch of warmth and care. It’s a small, yet mindful ritual – grinding, mixing, and storing in little glass jars – that connects you to the simple joys of homemade cooking.

Plus, knowing your blends are free from unnecessary additives makes every sprinkle feel like a little act of love for your food and your home. Buying your spices in bulk also saves money.

Cajun Seasoning vs Creole Seasoning

Cajun seasoning and Creole seasoning both originate from Louisiana cuisine, but they have distinct differences in flavor and ingredients. Cajun seasoning is typically spicier, with bold peppery heat from black and cayenne peppers, alongside paprika, garlic, and onion powder.

In contrast, Creole seasoning is milder and more balanced, incorporating a mix of the same spices but with the addition of dried herbs like oregano and thyme, resulting in a more complex and aromatic blend.

While Cajun seasoning is commonly used in dishes like jambalaya and blackened meats, Creole seasoning is often found in dishes such as shrimp Creole and étouffée.

Ingredients to Gather

• Granulated garlic – Adds a rich, savory depth to Cajun seasoning, enhancing its bold flavor with a hint of aromatic warmth that complements the heat from spices like cayenne and paprika.
• Kosher salt – Enhances the seasoning flavors by helping to balance the heat and spices while improving the texture and adhesion of the seasoning to meats and vegetables.
• Paprika – Lends a warm, smoky sweetness to Cajun seasoning, adding depth of flavor and a vibrant red hue that enhances the dishes’ taste and appearance.
• Onion powder – Brings subtle sweetness and savory richness to Cajun seasoning, enhancing the overall flavor and complementing the bold spices.
• Ground black pepper – Adds a sharp, earthy heat to Cajun seasoning, enhancing its boldness and providing a subtle bite that balances the blend’s savory and smoky flavors.
• Cayenne pepper – Adds the seasoning’s signature fiery heat, delivering a spicy kick that intensifies the flavor.
• Sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness to Cajun seasoning, balancing the heat from the spices.
• Ground celery seed – Brings an earthy depth and subtle bitterness to the Cajun spice mix.
• Ground basil – Lends a subtle earthy bitterness and aromatic depth to Cajun seasoning, enhancing its savory complexity.
• Oregano – Brings herbal warmth to the seasoning blend.

I found this recipe through Cody and Sam Carroll, who star on the show Cajun Aces.

Tools Used

• Mortar and Pestle or Spice Grinder – Using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder allows you to freshly grind spices, enhancing their aroma and flavor.
• Spice Jars – Storing your freshly ground spices in cute spice jars not only keeps them fresh but also adds a charming, personal touch to your kitchen.

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How to Make Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe

Step 1: Blend together the granulated garlic, kosher salt, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, sugar, celery seed, basil, and oregano in a bowl until combined. Store in an airtight jar for up to 6 months.

Tips for Making Seasoning

• If you prefer milder seasoning, reduce the cayenne pepper.
• Add more cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
• Smoked paprika instead of regular paprika gives a deeper, smoky flavor. A pinch of ground cumin can add even more smokiness.
• If you want a smooth texture, use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to blend everything evenly.

How to Use This Spicy Seasoning Mix

• Sprinkle on chicken, shrimp, fish, or steak before grilling or pan-frying.
• Stir into soups, gumbo, or jambalaya for extra depth.
• Toss with fries, roasted potatoes, or popcorn for a flavorful kick.
• Mix into mayo or sour cream for a spicy dip.

Storage Tips

• Keep your Cajun seasoning recipe in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
• The seasoning should stay fresh for up to 6 months, but the flavors are best within the first few months.

How to Make a Cajun Gift Basket

A Cajun gift basket is a fun, flavorful way to share Louisiana’s bold and spicy taste with friends and family. Whether for a holiday, birthday or just because, here’s how to assemble an authentic Cajun-themed gift basket.

• Choose a Rustic Basket or Container – A wicker basket, wooden crate, or even a cast iron skillet makes a great base. Line the basket with red and white checkered cloth, burlap, or shredded paper.
• Include Cajun Seasoning – Package homemade seasoning in a glass jar with a label. For variety, you can add a Creole seasoning mix.
• Specialty Louisiana Ingredients – Add hot sauces like Louisiana hot sauce, Cajun roux or gumbo base, canned or dried beans, rice mixes, and cornmeal or grits.
• Classic Cajun Snacks – Include snacks like cracklins, pork rinds, pralines, beignet mix, or chicory coffee.
• Cooking Essentials – Mini cast iron skillet, perfect for blackening fish or making cornbread, wooden spoon or roux spoon, essential for stirring gumbo, or a kitchen towel with Cajun sayings or Louisiana map, adds a personal touch.
• Cajun Cookbook – Include a Cajun cookbook with classic recipes.
• Fun Extras – Add a Lousiana-themed magnet or ornament.

This gift basket is perfect for food lovers and brings a taste of Louisiana right to their kitchen.

We’ve reached the end of The Best Cajun Seasoning Recipe. I hope you enjoyed it!

Let me know in the comments below if you tried the recipe and what you thought.

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I created a pin for you above to add to your Pinterest seasoning mix board to refer back to this recipe.

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Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!

More Seasoning Mixes You’ll Love

• BBQ Rub Recipe
• Homemade Poultry Seasoning Mix
• Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning Mix
• DIY Herb Salt Recipe

Printable Recipe Card for Cajun Seasoning Mix with Nutritional Information