Whip up this easy homemade blackened seasoning blend in just a few minutes. Add bold spicy and savory flavor to fish, chicken, or roasted veggies!
Have you ever ordered something “blackened” at a restaurant and wondered how they achieved that awesome flavor?
I have, and for a long time, I thought that going out to dinner was the only way I could get that spicy, blackened seasoning goodness.
Not anymore!
Homemade blackened seasoning comes together fast for a spice mix you can use to add loads of flavor to all sorts of meals!
BLACKENED SEASONING RECIPE
If you’ve never had blackened seasoning before, you’re in for a treat! It’s a delicious blend of seasonings that is:
- Spicy but not too hot! Smoked paprika and cayenne give this versatile seasoning a spicy kick. Cajun seasoning tends to taste hot, but you can adjust the heat to your own tastes!
- Quick and easy. This blackened seasoning mixture comes together in less than 5 minutes!
- Cheap! Made with typical pantry spices, you can whip up a batch using ingredients you already have.
- Versatile. Blackened seasoning is so yummy on fish, chicken, or pork…or vegetables.
And it’s totally unlike any other homemade spice blend you’ve made before.
As much as I love my own seasoning mixes like Montreal Steak Seasoning and Homemade Poultry Seasoning, this homemade blackened spice mix is the blend I come back to most often!
BLACKENING SEASONING RECIPE INGREDIENTS
So what blackening spices are in blackened seasoning? As I mentioned, you probably already have the ingredients you need to make this blackening seasoning recipe!
- Smoked paprika (this key ingredient must be smoked!)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried thyme
- Ground black pepper
- Cayenne chili pepper (Use less or more to adjust the spice levels)
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Salt (try THIS one from Ava Jane’s Kitchen and get your first bag for FREE – just pay shipping and handling!)
At first glance, that might seem like a lot. BUT, this recipe has all pretty standard pantry spices (maybe except for smoked paprika) so you can easily make this in bulk and have it ready to go in the spice cabinet!
HOW TO MAKE BLACKENED SEASONING
Here’s the SUPER SIMPLE 1-2-3 method…
Step 1. Get all the spices out of the cabinet.
Step 2. Measure each spice into a 4 oz jar (or small bowl).
Step 3. Cover, shake the jar (or stir), and use liberally!
Store homemade blackened dry rub in a jar or another airtight container in a cool dry place.
WHAT TO SERVE BLACKEN SEASONING RECIPE WITH
Now that you’ve got your blackened seasoning mixed up, what is blackened seasoning used for?
- I use this blackened seasoning recipe most often for fish. Easy Blackened Salmon is my favorite, and it would also be yummy on cod, pollock, or tilapia. Look for wild-caught fish instead of farmed if possible.
- Try blackened seasoning on Instant Pot Shrimp.
- Make blackened chicken to add to Caesar Salad – yum!
- Use this blacken seasoning recipe to make blackened steak in a cast iron skillet or slow cooker pork, and pair it with Lemon Butter Asparagus or Pan-Roasted Broccoli for a fast, delicious meal!
Blackened seasoning isn’t just for meat. Use it wherever you want a flavor boost!
- Sprinkle liberally on Easy Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Add to Oven Roasted Potatoes or mix into Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Top your Scrambled Eggs for a breakfast pick-me-up
- You can even sprinkle blackened seasoning on popcorn!
BLACKENED.SEASONING RECIPE FAQS
What spices are in blackened seasoning?
Smoked paprika and cayenne pepper are the key flavors here, with several other spices for added depth and flavor.
Is this blackened.seasoning recipe healthy?
The blacken seasoning recipe blend itself is nothing but dried herbs. No unnecessary additives or fillers make this a great choice for adding flavor to your meals!
What’s the difference between grilled and blackened?
Grilled is a cooking method where blackened is a spice blend. You can add blackened seasoning to your protein and decide to grill it, sauté it, bake it, or prepare it however you wish!
What’s the difference between Cajun seasoning and blackened seasoning?
Cajun seasoning mixes are very similar to blackened seasoning, but they use cumin and regular paprika while blackened spices use thyme and basil. You can find my Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe here.
Can you make low sodium blackened seasoning?
Sure! Just lower or omit the salt used in the seasoning mix.
OTHER HOMEMADE SPICE BLEND RECIPES
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Homemade Seasoning Salt
- Ranch Dressing
- Dry Onion Soup Mix Recipe
- Italian Seasoning Recipe
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Whip up this easy homemade blackened seasoning blend in just a few minutes. Add bold spicy and savory flavor to fish, chicken, or roasted veggies!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 oz 1x
- Category: Sauces/Condiments
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 1 Tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Get all the spices out of the cabinet.
- Measure each spice into a 4 oz jar.
- Cover, shake the jar, and use liberally!
Notes
- Store this homemade blackened dry rub in a jar or another airtight container in a cool dry place.
Nutrition
- Calories: 89
We’ve used this on fish. REALLY like that. We’ve used this on roasted potatoes. That was really good too… but I use this MOST on lightly buttered POPCORN!!! Wow! You MUST try it! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
That is amazing Stephanie! Thanks for sharing!
Ooh, I can’t wait to try your mix! We discovered blackened seasoning a couple years ago and it’s a favorite. We have found that, while blackened salmon is good, it really shines on swordfish and tuna! We love ours grilled.