Spices and seasoning blends can be expensive at the store. I like to buy my whole spices in bulk and mix up my favorite blends like these at home. Not only can it save you money but you can also control the amount of salt and fillers in them.

Why Make Homemade Spice Blends

I know that there are so many packages and bottles of spice blends on the store shelves that are easy to pick up but sometimes those blends have some added fillers and anticaking agents that aren’t always ideal for our health or flavor.

It’s surprising to me that when I look at the back of many spice blends I see things like sugar, maltodextrin, and “natural flavors”.

We all know that natural flavors can mean any number of things, so the FDA lets companies use that broad term for many things.

So making your spice blends gives you full control over what is and isn’t in your blends, which is important to me since I’m always trying to work on overall health and weight loss.

Not only is making your blends healthier, but they also taste way better than the premade packages in my opinion.

I now make all of my favorite spice blends at home from Taco to Pickling Spices, so today I want to encourage you to skip picking up those pre-packaged seasoning and spice blends.

Trust me you will get all the delicious flavors in your spice blends without any sugars or the other added fillers. That’s a win in the kitchen if you ask me!

Making your spice blends is quick, easy, and healthy too. Try these 3 easy recipes to get you started on a whole of homemade spice blends!

Buying Spices In Bulk

I am a huge fan of flavor in my food, so I have always cooked with a ton of spices. Since I like to have an array of spices and seasoning blends in my pantry I order many of my favorite spices in bulk.

Buying in bulk can be a money saver and keep you in stock but I always warn people to only buy the ones they love and use often in bulk.

Some spices like Thyme and Marjoram are pungent and not everyone’s cup of tea, so until you get familiar with the spice I would suggest starting with a small amount and see how you enjoy the taste and how fast you go through it.

Spices and herbs tend to lose flavor the longer they sit so it’s important that you don’t stock up on more than you can use reasonably quickly, about 6 months to a year at most.

I’ve purchased bulk spices on Amazon for a long time but recently I’ve started ordering some from Azure Standard as I ran out of stock I had.

So far the freshness and flavor of the organic herbs and spices I’ve gotten from Azure are superb. So if you are interested in taking a look at what they have to order you can check out their website HERE.

Just remember that if you are new to Azure you will need to check to see if there is a drop location near where you live because they deliver on drop days only in certain areas.

Reach out to me if you would like more information on Azure and how to find the nearest drop to your location. I’d be glad to help if I can.

How To Store Your DIY Seasoning Blends

Now that you can see how easy it is to make your spice blends at home, it’s time to give you some tips that are important to keep your spices fresh and flavorful for as long as possible.

Here are some tips for storing herbs and any of your homemade spice blends including the three recipes I give you below in the recipe card.

• Store all your spices and blends in cool, dry, and dark places. You’ll also want to store them away from any areas that are prone to heat or moisture. This will help prevent clumping by keeping them cool and dry.
• Avoid storing anywhere there is a lot of sunlight because it’s been proven that spices do start to lose their flavors the older they get and if they are exposed to sunlight for long periods.
• To help keep them as fresh as possible I highly suggest you store them in airtight containers to prevent exposure to air and again that moisture that can destroy your dry spices.
• Ground spices maintain their flavor for up to a year before they start to lose their potency and their flavors so I suggest you only make up enough of each blend that you can use up in less than that time so you get the best quality of flavors.
• Mason jars or little spice jars like THESE work great for storing whole spices and your homemade DIY spice blends.

3 DIY Seasoning Bends

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

In this recipe card, you will find the ingredients and steps for mixing up the following three homemade season blends: Cajun, Taco, and Ranch Mix.

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Ingredients

Cajun Seasoning

• 3 Tablespoons Smoked Paprika
• 2 Tablespoons of Garlic Powder
• 2 Tablespoons of Italian Seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon of Onion Powder
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of Cayanne Pepper
• 1 teaspoon of Mustard Seed or Ground Mustard
• 1 teaspoon of Black Pepper

Poultry Seasoning

• 3 Tablespoon of Sage
• 2 Tablespoons of Thyme
• 2 Tablespoons of Rosemary
• 1 Tablespoon of Marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg, optional

Ranch Dessing Mix

• 2 Tablespoons of Garlic Powder
• 2 Tablespoons of Onion Powder
• 2 Tablespoons of Dried Parsley
• 2 Tablespoons of Dried Dill Weed
• 1 teaspoon salt, optional

Instructions

1. For the Cajun Seasoning add all of the ingredients to a spice grinder and grind them until all the spices are smooth and combined. If you don't have a spice grinder, use mustard powder instead of the mustard seeds then combine the spices in a jar, and shake well to combine.
2. For the Poultry Seasoning, you'll add all of the spices into a spice grinder and process until all is well ground. Same with the Cajun if you don't have a grinder just add it to a jar and shake well.
3. To make up the Ranch Mix simply add all of the spices into a jar with a lid and shake the mix well until it is combined.
4. Store each of the 3 DIY Seasoning Blends in air-tight containers and avoid getting any moister near them to prevent clumping.
5. I recommend shaking each jar before measuring out the amount you need for your recipes.

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Keri Bucci

I am a southern girl through and through that loves to laugh, cook, read and spend time with family. My passions outside of home schooling my son are ministering to those in need and creating art in the kitchen! Every day is an adventure in our little house and I wouldn’t trade it or the chance to share here with you for anything!