Simple Spice Blends That Are Cheaper to Make Than Buy

By the author of The Flat Broke Cookbook and Lifestyles of the Flat Broke and Resilient

If you’re anything like me, you absolutely love a well-seasoned dish of food. But spice blends are super expensive! Just one ounce of taco seasoning in a little packet costs a dollar. You can make your own for a fraction of the price and you can control what goes in it. You can limit the salt and sugar if you want, or even omit it. You can avoid chemical concoctions like monosodium glutamate and simple combine delicious, healthy spices and herbs to create your own delicious concoctions.

Here are some of the simple spice blends that I always keep on hand.

Taco Seasoning

I love, love, love Mexican food and make it at least once a week.  Here’s my personal blend of delicious spices.

• 4 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp oregano

Optional:

• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1/2-2 tsp cayenne pepper

Add salt and cayenne pepper to taste. Cayenne can really turn up the heat!

Burger Seasoning

Do you have a favorite burger seasoning? Mine is pretty simple but my family loves it.

• 2 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp mustard powder

Optional

• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp white sugar

Italian Seasoning

Use this seasoning to jazz up meatballs, chicken, or your favorite Italian soup or sauce.

• 4 tbsp basil
• 3 tbsp oregano
• 2 tbsp thyme
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbps garlic powder
• 1 tsp sage
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp chili powder (trust me)

Optional

• 1 tsp salt

Greek Seasoning

I love this seasoning on grilled chicken, in meatballs, and sprinkled over a greek salad or a hunk of feta cheese.

• 3 tbsp oregano
• 2 tbsp parsley
• 1 tbsp dried lemon zest
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp rubbed dill weed
• 1 tsp black pepper

Optional

• 1 tsp salt

Season-Anything Salt

This is my own knock-off of my beloved Lawry’s Season-All.

• 2 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 2 tsp white sugar
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp celery salt

If you’re watching your sodium you can dial the salt down – that’s the joy of making your own seasoning blends!

Salt-Free Seasoning Blend

This is basically a DIY version of Mrs. Dash. You can remove anything you or your family dislikes when you make your own.

• 3 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp basil
• 1 tbsp marjoram
• 1 tbsp thyme
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp sage
• 1 tbsp ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp dried lemon zest
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp cumin

Optional:

• 1 tsp savory
• 1/2 tsp mustard powder

New Bay

If you’re a fan of Old Bay seasonings for your Bloody Marys and seafood, you can make a very similar version of your own using the following:

• 2 tbsp celery salt
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1 tsp ginger
• 5 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp mace
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Ragin’ Cajun

Maybe it’s the Southern gal in me but I absolutely love Cajun food. A lot of it is made with inexpensive base ingredients then beautifully spiced with a seasoning mixture that will get your mouth tingling.

• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper

Optional:

• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar

This is so so so delicious in red beans and rice!

Poultry Seasoning

Sprinkle this seasoning generously on your chicken before baking or mix it into your batter before frying. It’s also tasty on your holiday turkey!

• 3 tbsp sage
• 2 tbsp thyme
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp dried lemon zest
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Optional:

• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp white sugar
• 1 tsp marjoram

Bulk Spices to Keep On Hand

You can combine the following bulk spices to create almost all of the above with just a few small additions that you probably already have in your spice cabinet. I keep my bulk spices in completely dry mason jars for longevity and freshness.

• Chili Powder
• Oregano
• Basil
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Salt
• Sugar
• Smoked Paprika
• Cumin powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Lemon peel powder
• Thyme

In smaller quantities I also keep on hand:

• Sage
• Marjoram
• Dill weed
• Dry mustard
• Mace
• Allspice
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon

With these spices, I can create many different meals. My family loves a variety of foods from around the globe and these basics are prevalent in many different cuisines, allowing me to capture a multitude of flavors. When you’re on a budget, it’s important to be able to create variety with the same old, same old basic ingredients, and seasoning is a wonderful, thrifty way to do so.

Be sure to check out any local ethnic grocery stores for bulk spices, as well as the ethnic food aisle in your grocery store.

Do you make your own spice blends?

What are your favorite flavors? What do you like to cook up in your kitchen? Share the spices and blends that you keep on hand in the comments.