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This homemade Cajun Seasoning recipe is the perfect blend of zesty, spicy, savory flavors that are sure to kick any dish up a delicious notch.
Do you guys have a jar of Cajun seasoning in your spice drawer right now?
If not, grab your measuring spoons and let’s make a quick batch homemade! Cajun seasoning has long been one of my go-to faves for amping up everything from chicken to seafood, veggies to potatoes, soups to stir-frys, dips to dippers, roasting in the oven or on the grill — you name it. It’s one of those brilliant spice blends that works well with just about everything. And this particular bold, zesty, and homemade Cajun seasoning blend is my all-time fave.
It only takes a few minutes to make, and I bet you already have the ingredients in your spice drawer.
Let’s do it!
Cajun Seasoning Recipe | 1-Minute Video
What Is Cajun Seasoning?
Alright but first, let’s back up a sec. Exactly what is Cajun seasoning, you might ask? It’s a rustic seasoning blend that hails from Louisiana, the home of delicious Cajun cuisine. Everyone tends to have their own spin on it, but in general, it’s a spicy blend featuring lots of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper and oregano. Various other seasonings can be added to taste. I’ve also included salt in my blend, so that you can use the seasoning on its own. But you’re welcome to leave the salt out if you would prefer to add it separately to taste.
Cajun Seasoning Ingredients:
My homemade Cajun seasoning recipe calls for:
paprika (I prefer using smoked paprika)
kosher salt
garlic powder
ground black pepper
ground white pepper
onion powder
dried oregano
cayenne
thyme
How To Make Cajun Seasoning:
To make Cajun seasoning, simply mix all of the spices up in a jar and cover with a lid. Then the seasoning blend should keep for up to 1 year.
How To Use Homemade Cajun Seasoning:
Stay tuned, because I have a yummy new Cajun recipe coming on the blog tomorrow, which would be a fantastic way to take this seasoning for a first test run. I also regularly use it to season everything from jambalaya to roasted sheet pan dinners to stir-frys, soups, kabobs and more. It especially pairs well with:
Proteins: Chicken, fish, shellfish, pork, steak and tofu.
Veggies: Especially roasted or in stir-fries. Also, Cajun seasoning is fantastic on all kinds of potatoes (baked, roasted, fries, etc
I love this recipe! I’m making it today and sneaking it into the commercial seasoning hubby (from New Orleans) loves to use generously – so high in sodium! I’ll surprise him with fresh grilled cajun fish this weekend. He’ll think he’s back home eating MawMaw’s cooking.
The timing of this recipe couldn’t be better! I ran across a recipe that called for Cajun Seasoning, but I couldn’t find any at Trader Joe’s. It got me wondering which ingredients made up Cajun Seasoning. Alas, now I’ve discovered it thanks to you! Much appreciated :)
I use homemade Cajun seasoning all the time and love it. One of my go-tos. I learned a few extra tips from a few chefs down in New Orleans on how to tweak it and make it your own. Super great! I like mine a touch extra spicy. Shocker! Nicely done.
Thanks for sharing this spice blend – I will definitely try it. I do make a similar blend in a large batch and give small mason jars of it for Xmas gifts to friends. They love this gift.
I usually buy ready-made Cajun seasoning and use it to marinate meats, especially poultry. The mix of herbs/spices does vary slightly from one vendor to another. Some of the formulas I’ve seen also include basil, smoked paprika, and mustard seeds.
I’ve tried other recipes for Cajun seasoning. This is the last recipe I’ll try because it was great. Backed off a little on the oregano, as it isn’t one of my favorite. Thanks for the recipe.
This blend was introduced to me a few years ago. I worked in a southern kitchen and we learned quite a bit. My favorite are Cajun shrimp tacos. Thank you for reminding on the mixture. I always forget the white pepper. ?
What a wonderful and easy way to do home made Cajun seasoning! Thank you so much for your great twists in cooking where you make it so easy to follow! Keep it up and I’m sure a lot of moms love you!
Perfect blend…Ive had store bought in the past but having tried this, I will always make my own from now on…I boiled some basmati rice, diced 150 grms of chicken and added 2 good teaspoons of this mix…Fried it up in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil then added the rice and stir fried it for a couple of mins, adding a bit of chopped fresh coriander….It was so yummy….Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom…..
This is delicious! My hubby LOVES Cajun seasoning on his burgers when we go out. I haven’t been able to find a store bought mix that he likes. This was it!
I’m so happy to have every seasoning! ? I am cooking a chicken meal called “Homestyle Skillet Chicken” from 3 Books in 1 One Dish Slow Cooker Casserole Cookbook right now using your Cajun Blend! I can’t wait to try the meal when it is all complete! Stop by my website and view my blog to see pictures of the meal! I will shout you out on my blog and Instagram @eatingkosher_ ! Thanks so much! -EthnicMamma
Thank you for posting this recipe! It came in very clutch for me this weekend!! I am glad I ran out of cajun seasoning because it forced me to learn how to make this nice fresh one.
How hot, on a 1 to 10 scale, would you say this is? Most Cajun seasoning is too spicy for me and the little ones, so I’ll probably need to tone it down a bit.
Meaghan —
I would say a 7-8. It was perfectly spicy for me, but I like it spicy. I would half the cayenne and then adjust to your liking.
OK so I ran out of my cajun seasoning that I had bought from the store while making 2 batches of creamy red beans and rice. I found this recipe and decided to give it a whirl. I’ll let you know in about 1 hr if it’s a hit or not! I have 5 hungry boys and a hangry husband waiting to try it. I did lower the salt content because my husband has high blood pressure so that might change the flavor some but I don’t think it will be by alot.
Just made this tonight to put on our foil packet dinner. It was fabulous!! Definitely going to make this again.
Thank you for sharing your recipe for cajun seasoning.
nice changed it to suit our taste but used your framework. i dont use many other folks recipes except as a reminder (to many cuisines mostly widely divergent so its hard to remember all the make my life easy spice mixes) thanks for this one.
Fantastic spice mix! I make Cajun grilled chicken sandwiches, I cut back a little on the cayenne. Awesome tasting meat. This recipe is a perfect base, adjustments on the certain aspects of it to fit an individual might be in order but I am so happy to find this spice jewel! Thank you
Best Cajun seasoning ever. Will never buy Cajun seasoning again. What’s so great is I can control the salt which I am not a big fan of. You always need salt but over the counter seasoning of all kind are to loaded with salt. Thank You
Have a recipe that required cajun seasoning and I couldn’t go out the house so I googled it and found this one and I had all the spices in the cupboard. It was very nice and easy to make. Love it thank you.
You saved me some cash grocery shopping for my gumbo tomorrow, thanks! Had all this on hand and got it mixed up to make sure it was good to go before I went shopping and it smells terrific! Can’t wait to smell it simmering in the slow cooker tomorrow morning!
I made seafood gumbo for the first time and one recipe called for Cajun seasoning. I found this recipe and decided to try it. YUM! I did however reduce the salt to 1T. This will definitely be a mainstay in the spice rack – Thank you for sharing.
I make this minus the thyme (because it’s not one have typically have on hand. My son loves it Nd says he likes it better than any store bought Cajun spice we’ve used. He uses it on and in just about everytbing.
Thank you, this was a big help. The only ingredient I didn’t have on hand and was a bit lazy to buy, was Cayenne. So I used some Indian red chilli powder instead, and it worked great. Used the seasoning in both a seafood gumbo, and vegetarian red kidney beans, and it tasted amazing.
Hello, I’m glad I found your ingredients to make the Cajun seasoning as impossible to find it in Italy. However I have a question, I looked in all our stores for the kosher salt without success, what is so special about this salt? Can I use another type. At home I have the pink and smoked one and normal. Can I use one of those?
Your advice qill be appreciared. Thank you.
Lidia
Kelly —
I bought a Cajun spice and it was so salty and expensive. I made this and spread about two Tablespoons over a chicken and roasted it in the oven. OMG! It was sublime. It was maybe one of the best roasted chickens ever. Thanks you so much for this spice recipe!
Store up to a year? What happens after a year, does it just evaporate into the air? What if I use it a year and 5 days after I make it, is it now poison?
Bri Coog —
After 1 year, you turn into a Brian “smartass” Coogan…gasp!
Great taste on the seasoning.
iU Corbe —
So far so good, thanks a lot for this. I was putting order the kitchen spices, I remembered I had made this seasoning time ago, I looked for a receipt again and I found yours. I can’t wait to cook a dish with it right now, hahaha! Delicious! THX so much Ali!
Those little jars of spices have become very expensive so it makes sense to make your own mixtures. You can get some of the best deals for individual spices and herbs (and even spice blends) if you shop at the ethnic markets. Then just mix them up together when you get home to make fresh blends, as little or as much as you want.
I can tell I’m going to love Cojun seasoning and now I have the recipe to make homemade Cojun. Thank you so very much. When I buy some and make lunch or dinner I’ll be sure to come back and let you know how it taste. THANKS again for the recipe
This seasoning was ok. Useable, and I could see how it could work, however there was far too much pepper. You’d do well to reduce the amount of each pepper (ESPECIALLY the white pepper) to a teaspoon of each rather than a tablespoon.
For someone with a mild-moderate heat tolerance, there was far, far too much cayenne in this.if you have a low heat tolerance, reduce the cayenne to about a teaspoon.
I’m not overly familiar with cajun seasoning in general and how it should or should not taste, but overall this recipe did not sway me to try it again, and if I’m going to be brutally honest, I regret using the recommended quantities of spices in this mix, they could have been put to far better use.
Do you mean to use ground cayenne? Or flakes? In the video it looks like ground, but that seems like a lot of cayenne. I’ve made this twice but left the cayenne out because I hadn’t any. Now I’m rearing back to make a large batch and would like to include everything, so I will buy some ground cayenne if that is what you mean. I Might use half the amount though.
This spice it quite good: I sprinkle it on everything, including sourdough toast. I have yet to cook it into many things, though I find it good in some sauces and gravy.
Very good! I love spicy foods and I used this to make a cajun potato soup. It turned out wonderfully and I still have extra spice to use later. Thanks!
This is a truly delicious seasoning recipe! I mixed it with mayonnaise to make a spicy condiment to put on breaded fish. I am looking forward to trying it on more things! Thank you so much.
This seasoning looks so delicious….good…same time I’ll cook use this..
Love making homemade seasonings! I make your “Everything but the bagel” seasoning religiously :)
I love this recipe! I’m making it today and sneaking it into the commercial seasoning hubby (from New Orleans) loves to use generously – so high in sodium! I’ll surprise him with fresh grilled cajun fish this weekend. He’ll think he’s back home eating MawMaw’s cooking.
The timing of this recipe couldn’t be better! I ran across a recipe that called for Cajun Seasoning, but I couldn’t find any at Trader Joe’s. It got me wondering which ingredients made up Cajun Seasoning. Alas, now I’ve discovered it thanks to you! Much appreciated :)
I use homemade Cajun seasoning all the time and love it. One of my go-tos. I learned a few extra tips from a few chefs down in New Orleans on how to tweak it and make it your own. Super great! I like mine a touch extra spicy. Shocker! Nicely done.
Your seasoning mixes are great and a wonderful resource. A request for a Moroccan blend!
Thanks for sharing this spice blend – I will definitely try it. I do make a similar blend in a large batch and give small mason jars of it for Xmas gifts to friends. They love this gift.
Do you mind sharing your recipe! Would love!
I usually buy ready-made Cajun seasoning and use it to marinate meats, especially poultry. The mix of herbs/spices does vary slightly from one vendor to another. Some of the formulas I’ve seen also include basil, smoked paprika, and mustard seeds.
Really good Cajun seasoning better than the store bought
I made this from scratch for my cajun chicken pasta recipe and it was a big hit?? Never gotten so many compliments on my good, so I am very impressed
I’ve tried other recipes for Cajun seasoning. This is the last recipe I’ll try because it was great. Backed off a little on the oregano, as it isn’t one of my favorite. Thanks for the recipe.
This blend was introduced to me a few years ago. I worked in a southern kitchen and we learned quite a bit. My favorite are Cajun shrimp tacos. Thank you for reminding on the mixture. I always forget the white pepper. ?
What a wonderful and easy way to do home made Cajun seasoning! Thank you so much for your great twists in cooking where you make it so easy to follow! Keep it up and I’m sure a lot of moms love you!
?
Perfect blend…Ive had store bought in the past but having tried this, I will always make my own from now on…I boiled some basmati rice, diced 150 grms of chicken and added 2 good teaspoons of this mix…Fried it up in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil then added the rice and stir fried it for a couple of mins, adding a bit of chopped fresh coriander….It was so yummy….Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom…..
This is delicious! My hubby LOVES Cajun seasoning on his burgers when we go out. I haven’t been able to find a store bought mix that he likes. This was it!
I’m so happy to have every seasoning! ? I am cooking a chicken meal called “Homestyle Skillet Chicken” from 3 Books in 1 One Dish Slow Cooker Casserole Cookbook right now using your Cajun Blend! I can’t wait to try the meal when it is all complete! Stop by my website and view my blog to see pictures of the meal! I will shout you out on my blog and Instagram @eatingkosher_ ! Thanks so much! -EthnicMamma
Thank you for posting this recipe! It came in very clutch for me this weekend!! I am glad I ran out of cajun seasoning because it forced me to learn how to make this nice fresh one.
How hot, on a 1 to 10 scale, would you say this is? Most Cajun seasoning is too spicy for me and the little ones, so I’ll probably need to tone it down a bit.
I would say a 7-8. It was perfectly spicy for me, but I like it spicy. I would half the cayenne and then adjust to your liking.
OK so I ran out of my cajun seasoning that I had bought from the store while making 2 batches of creamy red beans and rice. I found this recipe and decided to give it a whirl. I’ll let you know in about 1 hr if it’s a hit or not! I have 5 hungry boys and a hangry husband waiting to try it. I did lower the salt content because my husband has high blood pressure so that might change the flavor some but I don’t think it will be by alot.
Just made this tonight to put on our foil packet dinner. It was fabulous!! Definitely going to make this again.
Thank you for sharing your recipe for cajun seasoning.
So glad I took time out to make this easy seasoning. It was great in my jambalaya recipe! Ill never do store bought again! Thank you!
nice changed it to suit our taste but used your framework. i dont use many other folks recipes except as a reminder (to many cuisines mostly widely divergent so its hard to remember all the make my life easy spice mixes) thanks for this one.
Fantastic spice mix! I make Cajun grilled chicken sandwiches, I cut back a little on the cayenne. Awesome tasting meat. This recipe is a perfect base, adjustments on the certain aspects of it to fit an individual might be in order but I am so happy to find this spice jewel! Thank you
Best Cajun seasoning ever. Will never buy Cajun seasoning again. What’s so great is I can control the salt which I am not a big fan of. You always need salt but over the counter seasoning of all kind are to loaded with salt. Thank You
I love your Cajun seasoning it’s much better than the restaurant thank you for sharing the seasoning.
Have a recipe that required cajun seasoning and I couldn’t go out the house so I googled it and found this one and I had all the spices in the cupboard. It was very nice and easy to make. Love it thank you.
From Louisiana good to know you can find
Hi, do we need onion powder? I have everything except onion powder.. does it makes any difference? Thanks ^^
Great seasoning. Love using it on grilled chicken and makes a delicious addition to pasta!
You saved me some cash grocery shopping for my gumbo tomorrow, thanks! Had all this on hand and got it mixed up to make sure it was good to go before I went shopping and it smells terrific! Can’t wait to smell it simmering in the slow cooker tomorrow morning!
Perfect! We really enjoyed this Cajun seasoning recipe.
So good! Made a veggie jambalaya with this last night and it was excellent!
I made seafood gumbo for the first time and one recipe called for Cajun seasoning. I found this recipe and decided to try it. YUM! I did however reduce the salt to 1T. This will definitely be a mainstay in the spice rack – Thank you for sharing.
Made it salt free and love the flavor it brought to my chicken!
I make this minus the thyme (because it’s not one have typically have on hand. My son loves it Nd says he likes it better than any store bought Cajun spice we’ve used. He uses it on and in just about everytbing.
Thank you, this was a big help. The only ingredient I didn’t have on hand and was a bit lazy to buy, was Cayenne. So I used some Indian red chilli powder instead, and it worked great. Used the seasoning in both a seafood gumbo, and vegetarian red kidney beans, and it tasted amazing.
Very tasty
Hello, I’m glad I found your ingredients to make the Cajun seasoning as impossible to find it in Italy. However I have a question, I looked in all our stores for the kosher salt without success, what is so special about this salt? Can I use another type. At home I have the pink and smoked one and normal. Can I use one of those?
Your advice qill be appreciared. Thank you.
Lidia
I bought a Cajun spice and it was so salty and expensive. I made this and spread about two Tablespoons over a chicken and roasted it in the oven. OMG! It was sublime. It was maybe one of the best roasted chickens ever. Thanks you so much for this spice recipe!
Store up to a year? What happens after a year, does it just evaporate into the air? What if I use it a year and 5 days after I make it, is it now poison?
After 1 year, you turn into a Brian “smartass” Coogan…gasp!
Great taste on the seasoning.
So far so good, thanks a lot for this. I was putting order the kitchen spices, I remembered I had made this seasoning time ago, I looked for a receipt again and I found yours. I can’t wait to cook a dish with it right now, hahaha! Delicious! THX so much Ali!
Excellent and a life saver because here in Barcelona you can’t easily find cajun seasoning but I had all the spices in it readily available.
Those little jars of spices have become very expensive so it makes sense to make your own mixtures. You can get some of the best deals for individual spices and herbs (and even spice blends) if you shop at the ethnic markets. Then just mix them up together when you get home to make fresh blends, as little or as much as you want.
I can tell I’m going to love Cojun seasoning and now I have the recipe to make homemade Cojun. Thank you so very much. When I buy some and make lunch or dinner I’ll be sure to come back and let you know how it taste. THANKS again for the recipe
Love it. Used with grits, shrimp, n burst small tomatoes.
This seasoning was ok. Useable, and I could see how it could work, however there was far too much pepper. You’d do well to reduce the amount of each pepper (ESPECIALLY the white pepper) to a teaspoon of each rather than a tablespoon.
For someone with a mild-moderate heat tolerance, there was far, far too much cayenne in this.if you have a low heat tolerance, reduce the cayenne to about a teaspoon.
I’m not overly familiar with cajun seasoning in general and how it should or should not taste, but overall this recipe did not sway me to try it again, and if I’m going to be brutally honest, I regret using the recommended quantities of spices in this mix, they could have been put to far better use.
?
Do you mean to use ground cayenne? Or flakes? In the video it looks like ground, but that seems like a lot of cayenne. I’ve made this twice but left the cayenne out because I hadn’t any. Now I’m rearing back to make a large batch and would like to include everything, so I will buy some ground cayenne if that is what you mean. I Might use half the amount though.
This spice it quite good: I sprinkle it on everything, including sourdough toast. I have yet to cook it into many things, though I find it good in some sauces and gravy.
Thanks,
Max
Very good! I love spicy foods and I used this to make a cajun potato soup. It turned out wonderfully and I still have extra spice to use later. Thanks!
Good 2 go.
Seasoning made alot, so I cut it in half
This is a truly delicious seasoning recipe! I mixed it with mayonnaise to make a spicy condiment to put on breaded fish. I am looking forward to trying it on more things! Thank you so much.