Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe

Making your own spice mixes gives you better tasting food, and you'll save a lot of money.  Buy high quality spices in bulk so you can make several mixes at once to keep your pantry stocked.

Best Chili Seasoning Recipe

We eat a lot of chili in the winter because it's a quick and easy slow cooker meal.  I usually freeze the meat already cooked, and I freeze chopped peppers to add to the chili to save prep time.

It's one of the few slow cooker meals the entire family will eat.  I also like it for karate nights because it can sit in the slow cooker for hours on low, so we can eat before we leave or after we get back.

I make my own chili seasoning DIY mix to save money and for a better flavor.  I buy a lot of my spices and herbs in bulk, so I have supplies on the shelf to make more as needed.

For more cooking from scratch ideas, check out these posts:

• How to Make Onion Powder at Home
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• How to Make Breadcrumbs from Bread
• How to Make Butter From Cream
• How to Make Sourdough Starter
• How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar
• How to Make Vanilla Powder for Baking
• How to Make Vanilla Sugar
• How to Make Dried Lemon Peel
• How to Make Panko Breadcrumbs
• Apple Pie Spice Mix Recipe

What Can I Use If I Don't Have Chili Seasoning?

If you do not have your own chili seasoning on hand, you can easily make your own. This post will give you everything you need to make your own chili seasoning using simple ingredients. 

What Is Chili Seasoning Made Of?

Here's what you'll need to make chili seasoning DIY:

• Chili Powder - Chili powder is a mainstay ingredient of pretty much any chili recipe. It has tons of flavor and helps to add heat to the recipe.
• Cumin - Cumin is a rich herb that has an earthy flavor, and helps to balance the spicy, acidic tastes of the chili leading to a better overall flavor. 
• Onion Powder - Onion powder helps to balance out the flavors of the chili. It is a potent spice that isn’t spicy making it great for chili.
• Cayenne Pepper - Like chili powder, cayenne peppers help to boost the spiciness of the chili while also providing a unique and tasty flavor. 
• Salt - Not only does salt enhance the flavor of the chili as an ingredient, but it also boosts the flavor of the other spices. 
• Black Pepper - Black pepper adds a bit of bite and a familiar taste sensation to chili.

I buy my herbs and spices in bulk from the Amish bulk food stores.  The spices have a much better flavor, and you'll save money buying in bulk. 

Buying in bulk doesn't mean a pound at a time; you can get a few ounces of most spices for around $1-3, which is cheaper than what you buy at the store for a better quality product.

Learn about my essential herbs and spices for pantry to keep your kitchen stocked for cooking.

If ordering online, I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs, The Plant Guru, Mountain Maus Remedies, or Grassroots Herb Supply.

I also grow some of my own herbs  Here's how to do container gardening with herbs.

Is There A Difference Between Chili Powder And Chili Seasoning?

Yes, there is a difference between chili powder and chili seasoning. Chili powder is a powder made from one or more kinds of chilis. 

Chili seasoning, however, is a mix of spices and powders that are used to flavor a chili recipe.

What Gives Chili The Best Flavor?

When searching for the best chili seasoning recipe, there are a lot of variables at play. The best way to give chili a good flavor is to use a good mix of quality spices. 

While quality spices are easy to come by, a good mix is not. I recommend playing around with this recipe, adjusting it to your liking for the best chili seasoning mix. 

How To Store Chili Seasoning DIY

The best way to store chili seasoning diy is in a sealed container, such as a tupperware container or a mason jar. This way, moisture does not get into the powder which causes it to go bad and get clumpy. 

How Long Does This Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix Recipe Last?

If stored properly, this chili seasoning mix should last about a year on its own. When making chili seasoning diy, it is always best to have some quality containers on hand to store the homemade chili seasoning.

What’s The Secret Ingredient To A Good Chili?

While there is no definitive secret ingredient to a good chili seasoning recipe, there are specific foods you can use to make your chili taste the way you want it to. For instance, in this recipe are ways to make your chili sweeter or spicier.

Is Chili Powder Just Parika?

The primary difference between chili powder and paprika is that chili powder typically has multiple kinds of chilis in it. Further, it may sometimes have additional ingredients, such as garlic powder.

What Herbs Are Good In Chili?

Making the best chili seasoning recipe requires you to utilize a wide range of ingredients, such as herbs. Common herbs to put in chili include cumin, garlic, chili powder, oregano, and other such herbs. 

How Do You Spice Up Bland Chili?

The best way to spice up bland chili is with a quality chili seasoning recipe that is sure to add some flavor, and can make it taste the way you prefer it to.

Is Sugar Necessary In Chili?

While not strictly necessary, adding a bit of sugar to your chili is highly recommended. This is because the tomatoes used in chili are very acidic, and sugar helps to balance that out. 

This leads to a more balanced flavor that is tastier and more enjoyable for most people. 

Homemade Chili Seasoning Ingredients

Preparation Time: Five Minutes

Makes About Six Tablespoons

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons Chili Powder
• 2 Teaspoons Cumin
• 2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

How to Make the Best Chili Seasoning Mix

Step One

Combine all of the spices into a small bowl or jar and mix well.

Step Two

Use the mix right away, or you can store it in a sealable container, such as a bag or jar, for up to a year, if stored properly. You will want to use one tablespoon per every pound of meat.

Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe Tips

• For a spicier seasoning, just add in half of a teaspoon of crushed red pepper to the recipe.
• If you want a sweeter mix, add a teaspoon of sugar in.
• For a bolder flavor, you can add in an extra tablespoon of your preferred chili powder.
• I recommend tasting it and adjusting the recipe to your liking. This recipe is a great starting point but can easily be tweaked. If the recipe works just fine on the first go, however, then continue using it as is.
• Always be sure that you smash up any clumps of spice in the recipe so the seasoning is nice and smooth.
• You can double or quadruple the recipe to fit in a pint sized mason jar.
• For a thicker chili, add cornstarch or cornmeal.  I add it after my chili is cooked just before I'm ready to serve.  I've also used my zucchini flour to thicken without adding carbs.

More Spice Mix Recipes

For more spice mix recipes, check out these posts:

• Homemade Onion Soup Mix 
• Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
• Apple Pie Spice
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Fajita Seasoning
• Italian Seasoning
• Poultry Seasoning
• Steak Seasoning

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