Best Chili Seasoning

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Make the best chili seasoning mix that's packed with flavor, and perfect for making a big pot of chili. It's also great for adding to other dishes, such as tacos, burritos, and soups.

small mason jar filled with chili seasoning mix.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This low sodium chili seasoning takes just minutes to make and will save you a trip to the store. Our chili con carne seasoning recipe lets you create a delicious chili that will rival any restaurant's.

Here are some of the benefits of making your own chili seasoning mix:

It's cheaper than buying pre-made chili seasoning mix.
You can control the amount of heat.
No salt filler! Easily make salt free or low sodium chili seasoning.
If you are gluten sensitive, you will love this gluten free chili seasoning mix recipe!
No anti-caking agents! No artificial preservatives. To prevent caking naturally, just add a couple dry beans to the container you store the chili seasoning mix in.
You can use chili seasoning in other recipes, such as tacos, burritos, and soups.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for homemade chili seasoning mix!

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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Chili Seasoning Ingredients
How to Make The Best Chili Seasoning
Serving Suggestions
Related Recipes
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage and Reheating
Tips for Success
Frequently Asked Questions
Food Safety
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Chili Seasoning Ingredients

You probably already have all the chili spices on hand to create the best chili mix you've ever used. You can tailor this basic recipe to create a smoky hot or mild chili seasoning also.

Chile Powder - Sold in bulk at Costco, Amazon, etc. It's a generic blend of ground chili pepper varieties, or a single type of ground chile pepper. It is not a chili seasoning mix.
Cumin, ground
Onion, powder
Cayenne, powder
Salt - Optional
Black pepper, ground

spices in a bowl to make homemade chili seasoning mix.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make The Best Chili Seasoning

Making your own chili seasoning blend that will be great not only making chili con carne, but also fajitas, burritos, Mexican Rice, and more. Chili seasoning is great on fries and grilled corn or other vegetables also.

Measure The Chili Spices

Measure out all the spices in a bowl.

PRO TIP: If you are doubling or tripling the recipe, you may want to use disposable gloves and a disposable mask. The fine powders can irritate your eyes, nose, and lips. The gloves will protect painful chili powder transfer to your face also.

Blend Up the Best Chili Seasoning

Combine all ingredients so that they are evenly distributed.

Store in Spice Jars

Package up in small mason jars, or spice jars.
Label and store in a cool, dark location like a pantry. Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat.

Serving Suggestions

Make a big batch of chili seasoning mix and store it in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Use it to make our Instant Pot Chili - No Beans, our your own favorite recipe for chili. This flexible seasoning is also fabulous for our Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos!

More great ideas for using your homemade chili seasoning:

Use your homemade chili seasoning mix to make a pot of chili.
Add it to your favorite ground beef or turkey burgers.
Sprinkle it on top of your favorite Mexican dishes, like tacos, burritos, or enchiladas.
Use it to make a flavorful soup or stew.
Add it to your favorite roasted vegetables.
Even use it to make your own chili-flavored popcorn!

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Substitutions

There are a lot of different chile powders out there. Chile powder is not chili seasoning, but it is the base of a chili seasoning blend. You will find Ancho chile powder, which is medium heat.

There is Chipotle chile powder, and while is tend to be REALLY hot (Chipotle are actually dried, smoked jalapenos!), it has the most amazing flavor. Common chile powder is often made from a blend of chilie peppers like New Mexico chiles, Ancho chiles, or Cascabel chiles.

Variations

Here are a few scrumptious variations using this recipe as a base:

Mild Chili Seasoning - Use a single variety of Ancho chile powder as the chili seasoning base. Ancho's are mild to medium heat.
Hot Chili Seasoning - A hotter blend of chile powder will include New Mexico chile powder, as New Mexico chile's are hotter than Ancho.
Chili Lime Seasoning - Buy some Lime powder and add to your chili seasoning for an amazing Tex Mex flair. Be sure to add a few dry beans to prevent clumping and caking when using dried citrus powders. They attract moisture from the air.
Chipotle Chili Seasoning - Go easy on this one, as pure Chipotle chile powder will have steam coming out of your ears. But a small amount add a mysterious, unique, smokey flavor to your chili seasoning blend.

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making homemade chili seasoning:

Disposable Nitrile gloves
Disposable Face Mask
Spice Jars & Labels

Storage and Reheating

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months.
If you live in a humid climate, add a few dry beans to the spice or storage jar so the spices don't clump together.
Do not store homemade chili mix seasoning in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
If your chili seasoning mix starts to lose its flavor, it's time to make a new batch.

Tips for Success

Use fresh, high-quality spices.
If you like your chili spicier, add more cayenne pepper, or chipotle powder for rich, smoky heat.
If you don't have chili powder, you can substitute 1 tablespoon of hot Hungarian paprika and 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
You can also add other spices to your chili seasoning mix, such as smoked paprika, lime powder, or thyme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a big batch of this chili seasoning mix?

Yes, you can make a big batch of chili seasoning mix and store it in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 6 months. Since it will be a large batch, be sure to wear disposable gloves and a face mask, as all the fine pepper powders can make you sneeze, or cause some eye, lip, and nose membrane irritation.

Chili Seasoning vs Taco Seasoning?

There are some key differences between the two. The main difference between chili seasoning and taco seasoning is the amount of cumin that is used and oregano. Chili seasoning typically has more cumin and cayenne than taco seasoning. Taco seasoning typically has more oregano than chili seasoning, and is milder.

Can I use different spices in my homemade chili mix seasoning?

Yes, you can use different spices in your chili seasoning blend to create your own unique flavor profile. Some popular additions include smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper, and chipotle powder.

What is the difference between chile powder and chili powder?

Chile powder is simply pure, ground chile peppers, blended or simply a single variety. Chili powder is a blend of chile powders, garlic powder, onion, powder, and other spices.

Food Safety

Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
Wash hands after touching raw meat
Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
Never leave cooking food unattended
Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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