- Versatile. We put it on steaks (of course), but we also put it on potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, carrots… pretty much any vegetable we can get our hands on…
- Flavorful! Steak seasoning adds such great flavor to so many different foods that few other blends can replicate.
- Free of preservatives and fillers. I’m REALLY not a fan of the MSG, and this homemade seasoning recipe is free of all flavor enhancers and artificial preservatives, yet it tastes just like the real thing!
Here’s What You Need
Montreal Steak Seasoning
- Coarse salt
- Cracked pepper
- Onion flakes
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Coriander seed
- Dill
- Garlic flakes
Montreal Chicken Seasoning Mix
- Coarse salt
- Garlic flakes
- Onion flakes
- Cracked pepper
- Parsley
- Crushed red pepper
- Coriander seeds
- Paprika
- Thyme
Notes on Ingredients
- Coriander. This spice is often used interchangeably with cilantro, but we’re using the seeds in this recipe to impart a spicy citrus taste that compliments the pungent garlic and onion!
- Big spices. The size of the spices matters! If you want “flavor you can see,” be sure to use cracked black pepper and garlic and onion flakes. Of course, you can substitute granulated and still get a delicious seasoning, but if you really want to mimic the real thing, bigger pieces of spice are what you need!
Step by Step Instructions
Recipe Tips
You can use this Montreal steak seasoning as a rub or marinade on your steaks!
Rub
Turn any seasoning into a rub by adding just a hint of liquid. The most common ingredient is brown sugar, which is naturally moist from the molasses. Plus the sugar caramelizes as it cooks, creating a crust on the meat. You don’t have to use sugar though – a tablespoon of olive oil will work too.
The key to seasoning with a rub is to:
- lay it on thick
- let it sit for several hours in a plastic bag for meat that will be packed with flavor.
Marinade
- Adding 1/3 – 1/2 cup of oil and a bit of vinegar turns any seasoning mix into a marinade.
- Mix up the oils and vinegar flavors to find your own favorite combinations for meat, poultry, pork, and seafood. I like this marinade bottle because it has suggestions for a variety of oils and vinegar/acid right on the bottle!
- Like rubs, the key to marinades is time. Be sure to let the meat marinate for at least one hour (the longer the better).
FAQS
The flavor of Montreal steak seasoning is a strong combination of garlic, ground pepper, and other spices that create a delicious savory flavor! You have to try it!
Despite the incredible versatility of steak seasoning, there’s one thing I don’t use Montreal steak seasoning on, and that’s chicken.
Steaks are heavy and thick and can withstand the dark, robust flavor that steak seasoning is known for. But it’s just too much for chicken, in my opinion. Chicken is lighter in nature, so it needs a lighter spice to compliment. Try my Montreal Chicken Seasoning above!
The term ‘natural flavor’ is often another word for MSG. When I read the labels of store-bought items, and I see ‘natural flavor,’ I always put them down.
If you often find yourself short on time, make a batch of homemade Montreal steak seasoning and keep it in the pantry. When you get home from shopping, separate out your meat. Add a couple of tablespoons of steak seasoning, a generous pour of oil, and a splash of vinegar and seal it up for the freezer. When you pull the meat out to thaw, it’ll marinate at the same time!
To Serve
Try sprinkling this steak seasoning magic over:
More Seasoning Recipes
- Homemade Italian Seasoning
- Blackened Seasoning
- Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Homemade Poultry Seasoning
Dinner on a Dime
Subscribe to my newsletter and get instant access to “Dinner on a Dime”: 15+ family-friendly and kid-approved recipes that are quick, cheap and healthy!Montreal Steak Seasoning and Montreal Chicken Seasoning
Try your hand at this homemade Montreal steak seasoning using the spices you already have. Plus, I’ve also got you covered with a lighter version for poultry. They’re so quick and easy to make and completely free of MSG!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 Tbsp 1x
- Category: Sauces & Condiments
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For Steak Seasoning:
- 4 tsp coarse salt
- 1 Tbsp cracked pepper
- 1 Tbsp onion flakes
- 1/2 Tbsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 Tbsp thyme
- 1/2 Tbsp rosemary
- 1/2 Tbsp coriander seed
- 1/2 Tbsp dill
- 1 tsp garlic flakes
For Chicken Seasoning:
- 4 tsp coarse salt
- 4 tsp garlic flakes
- 3 tsp onion flakes
- 2 tsp cracked pepper
- 2 tsp parsley
- 2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp thyme
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a glass jar and shake well to combine. If seasonings are whole, process in a blender or food processor so that they’re still large, but not whole.
Notes
The key to seasoning with a rub is to lay it on thick and let it sit for several hours in a plastic bag
Do both and your meat will be packed with flavor!
Nutrition
- Calories: 24
Keywords: Montreal steak seasoning
Thank you so much for this recipe. I’m going to try to make both of the steak version and the chicken version. But I do have a comment about MSG: MSG is not a bad thing. It occurs naturally and adding a bit to food is not a bad thing. A lot of people claim they are allergic to it was sensitive to it but they eat potato chips and that kind of thing that has lots of imaginary with no problem at all.
I’m just curious if there are different types of Montreal seasoning because I have looked up several online, and the ones in my cupboard and they all say NO MSG. I’m still going to try this recipe….thank you.
Perhaps… but MSG is also called by many other names: http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html
Did you know that Coriander and Cilantro are the same plant? Coriander is the seed & Cilantro is the leaf! 🙂 Pretty neat. I’ll def be using this recipe seasoning!
I’ve been looking for a good steak and burger seasoning for a while since we’re also former Montreal Steak Seasoning fans. Now we can have the flavor and feel good about it too – pinning and sharing this!
Can’t wait to try those. They all look great. I hate buying MSG too.
Thanks Christine!
Hello – Where do you purchase the individual spices from or do you grow some of them? Thank you 🙂
Hi B! I’m on the hunt for a reliable, quality spice source, but the budget is guiding me to the dollar store at the moment. 🙂 Rosemary grows wild around here so we dry our own. I also dehydrated hot peppers last year for homemade crushed red pepper. If you’re looking online, Mountain Rose Herbs is a good choice: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/MRHSpices
My husband has been diagnosed with kidney problems. Therefore, salt is not allowed, and the salt substitutions are loaded with potassium, another thing he cannot have. Is there any other spice I can use in place of the salt to enhance the flavor? I tried Mrs. Dash and, while it’s good, it’s expensive, and probably has MSG in it, too. Thanks for all your help. Pat
I don’t know of a substitute Pat, but I wonder if this blend (minus the salt) would provide enough flavor so that your meals aren’t so lacking in flavor? Maybe just adding more seasons in general would help?
Patricia, have you heard of Penzeys? We found this spice store and it’s AMAZING. With the exception of their bullion pastes, everything is free of dyes, MSG, and artificial ingredients. They have salt free versions of most of their spice mixes. The spices are fresher than you find in the grocery. The prices are wonderful, the selection is wonderful, and they have online ordering. They also have items that they just give away regularly. I don’t work for the place, but it is honestly one of my favorite stores to walk into. They are now my only go to for spices. And I have over 50 in my pantry right now. They should have everything you need to make this recipe and a whole lot more.
Make the spice without the salt and when you get ready to use it also squeeze fresh lemon juice on it.
Where did you find the little re-sealable jars? I want to make some and save it.
These will work, Merlin: https://amzn.to/3aQc3sX
I have long been looking for a recipe for these blends! Thank you so much for posting! I pledge to make my own Montreal seasoning’s this summer!
Enjoy Laura!!