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A new world of flavor is effortlessly achievable with my Cajun Seasoning Recipe! It combines peppery heat, rich smoky paprika, and a light herbal touch, to create an easy pantry seasoning blend you'll want to use for everything!
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Louisiana Cajun Seasoning
One of my favorite parts of living in Florida is the food! Fresh seafood is readily available, just waiting to be the star of your next dish. But the real hero is the seasoning! Deliciously spicy, incredibly flavorful Cajun seasoning is all any seafood recipe needs.
My initial encounter with Cajun cooking left me hooked. It's the perfect blend of spicy, smoky, and completely delicious. Plus, it's surprisingly easy to make at home, so you can stop buying those pricey mixes at the store (seriously, why are they so expensive?). If a recipe calls for "cajun seasoning", this is the perfect Cajun Seasoning substitute!
The key to the best homemade Cajun seasoning blends is in the pepper. In this spice blend, pepper is no longer a simple sprinkling on top but the star. Try it on everything from seafood to chicken, pork, vegetables, and even tofu, and embrace a new love for flavor!
Cajun Seasoning Ingredients
- Smoked Paprika: Smoked paprika works best for Cajun seasoning, but if all you have is another variety, such as Hungarian paprika, sweet paprika, or hot paprika, you can use that instead.
- Salt: I always recommend sea salt flakes, but kosher salt is the next best choice.
- Black Pepper: Although I usually recommend freshly cracked black pepper, you can use pre-ground pepper for this recipe.
- White Pepper: White pepper offers a more mild flavor profile than black pepper. If you really want to skip it, use extra black pepper - but I recommend giving it a try!
- Garlic Powder: If you use granulated garlic, which is a coarser grind than garlic powder, you may need to use a bit more.
- Italian Seasoning: If you don't have any Italian seasoning, mix together a blend of dried basil and dried oregano. You can also add a bit of dried thyme and/or dried rosemary.
- Cayenne Pepper: Use extra paprika or add red pepper flakes for spice if you don't have cayenne on hand.
Optional extra seasonings:
- Onion Powder: This will add a slightly sweet onion flavor to the seasoning.
- Dried Thyme: Always delicious in this blend of spices!
- Dried Oregano: If your Italian seasoning blend doesn't include it, adding some is a nice touch.
- Red Pepper Flakes: For adding extra spice!
How to Make Cajun Seasoning
- Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well to combine.
- Store in a spice jar or other airtight container for up to six months!
Cajun Spice Blend Tips
- For an extra kick, add more cayenne or a dash of red pepper flakes.
- The flavor really shines with a mix of black and white pepper. However, if you only have one type, you can use it to substitute for both.
- Homemade Cajun seasoning is delicious on everything! I recommend sprinkling it on pasta, steak, chicken, or a classic favorite, Cajun shrimp!
Cajun Spice Recipe FAQ
Cajun seasoning is known for having a spicy kick, due to including spices like cayenne pepper. However, when making homemade Cajun seasoning, you can adjust the spice level to best suit your taste preferences.
Yes! Cajun seasoning makes a fantastic rub for everything from pork and chicken to steak.
Yes, you can reduce the salt as necessary in this recipe. Adjust it to your preferred sodium levels.
What to Serve with Cajun Powder
- Chicken: Cajun seasoning for chicken is a classic! Blackened grilled chicken or pan-fried chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning is a delicious way to add flavor.
- Shrimp: Who can pass up Cajun shrimp? Served up in gumbo or deliciously creamy polenta, this is my favorite seasoning for shrimp!
- Fries: If you love making your own fries, you'll love Cajun fries seasoning! Just sprinkle this seasoning over fries (even be frozen bagged fries!) before cooking them for a spicy twist. I love it with my Crispy Baked Potato Wedges!
- Salmon: You can't get better than Cajun salmon! Top fresh salmon with plenty of Cajun seasoning, then blacken it in a pan, on the grill, or even sous vide for an incredibly tender, spicy treat! Try my Sous Vide Salmon with this Cajun spice blend!
Spice Blend Recipes
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Creole Seasoning Mix
- Chicken Wing Seasoning
- Burger Seasoning
- Carnitas Seasoning
If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Smoked paprika
- 2 Tablespoons Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon Black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon White pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ Tablespoon Cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl, and whisk well to combine.3 Tablespoons Smoked paprika,2 Tablespoons Salt,2 Tablespoons Garlic powder,1 Tablespoon Black pepper,1 Tablespoon White pepper,1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning,½ Tablespoon Cayenne pepper
- Store in a spice jar for up to six months!
Notes
- Add extra cayenne or red pepper flakes for more heat.
- Mix black and white pepper for enhanced flavor; but, one type can substitute for both!
- Cajun seasoning is versatile; great on pasta, steak, chicken, and Cajun shrimp!
Bettie Hall says
Is Cajun the same as Chili Seasoning?
Can’t wait to try it!
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Bettie! They're not identical, but they are very similar! Enjoy!