Homemade Cajun Blackened Seasoning
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Homemade Cajun Blackened Seasoning made with cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and more is the perfect spicy accompaniment to any fish or chicken recipe!
I like to make my own seasoning blends at home, because I can be sure that they are completely gluten free! If you want to try more, check out my homemade ranch seasoning, taco seasoning, fajita seasoning, and Jamaican jerk seasoning!
Homemade Cajun Blackened Seasoning
Homemade Cajun Blackened Seasoning is a little trick I have up my sleeve when my family requests seafood for dinner. You can use it to blacken shrimp, fish, or even chicken! Or if you don’t want to go the full mile to make blackened fish, you can use this as a little extra seasoning for grilled, baked, or pan seared recipes. It’s spicy, but you can back off the cayenne pepper if you want a more mild version. Check out my blackened mahi mahi or blackened shrimp tacos for the full fish recipe.
What is blackened seasoning made of?
Blackened seasoning is a combo of spicy and savory seasoning. It usually has a lot of pepper and garlic, and a good amount of paprika which gives it that nice red color. You can adjust any of the seasonings up and down to meet your own taste. But if you want that signature dark color on your blackened meat, make sure you still include a lot of paprika.
Is blackened seasoning the same as cajun seasoning?
Technically, cajun seasoning is spicier than blackened seasoning on average. Both seasonings have a base blend of onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and paprika. I like to go the spicy route, so I’ve made mine a cajun blackened seasoning, which is the best of both worlds. If you want even more of a kick, add 1-2 tsp of red pepper flakes to your mix.
Creole seasoning, on the other hand, typically has more herbs in the blend. If you want it sweeter, more like jerk seasoning, you can add a tablespoon of brown sugar to any of these blends to cut the heat.
What does blackened seasoning taste like?
Blackened seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices that tastes savory and spicy. It has garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cayenne pepper which create a really nice spicy combination. When you use it to blacken meat, it gets seared to the meat with butter over high heat, bringing the aromatics in the spices out even more.
Does blackened seasoning go bad?
Blackened seasoning will last 1-2 years, tightly sealed in an airtight container in a cool dry place. Be careful not to get any moisture into your container, or the seasoning will clump together and harden.
Tips for How to Make Blackened Seasoning
- If you want to change up your blend, try adding thyme or smoked paprika for a smokey flavor. You can also try dried chipotle seasoning, or other dried chili peppers.
- Use blackened seasoning to make chili, soups, or even in my Sausage Dip!
- Leave the salt out for a lower sodium version.
- Add 3 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp of soy sauce, and 1 tbsp of lemon juice for a blackened seasoning marinade!
Homemade Cajun Blackened Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp ground white pepper
- 2 tbsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 2 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp chili powder
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together. Use 1-2 tbsp for 1 lb of meat.
Nutrition
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