Cajun Seasoning
On March 27, 2023 (Updated May 10, 2024)
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This Cajun seasoning is a must-have rub to add to your pantry. It combines simple ingredients like salt, pepper, onion, and garlic powder with a full teaspoon of cayenne pepper for some major heat.
What is Cajun Seasoning?
Cajun seasoning was developed by Cajun-Acadians in Louisiana. It combines flavors and spices from a variety of locations, including France, Spain, and West Africa.
Cajun seasoning is unique and flavorful with a decent amount of heat from cayenne pepper. It’s delicious on shrimp, fish, chicken, beef, and pork as well as in gumbo, jambalaya, and more.
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Homemade Cajun seasoning is a great recipe to have on hand if you love the bold flavors of Cajun cuisine. This savory seasoning has a base blend of common pantry staples like salt, paprika, garlic, and onion powder, but then it brings the heat with a punch of cayenne.
I also love the addition of oregano, white pepper, and mustard powder to up the freshness and zestiness factors. This seasoning blend hits all of the right notes and works just as beautifully on fresh grilled seafood and chicken as it does in a low-country boil.
Ingredients for Cajun Seasoning
This recipe combines 9 ingredients, most of which you’re likely to have in your pantry already. Here’s what you need to make this seasoning.
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
How to Make Cajun Seasoning
It is extremely easy to make this recipe. All you need is a mixing bowl and a fork or spoon. Here’s how to make Cajun seasoning.
- Combine ingredients. Combine all the ingredients for the cajun seasoning in a medium bowl, using a fork to break up any clumps.
- Enjoy! This seasoning is ready to be used immediately. If you have any seasoning left over, store it in an airtight container. I like to have empty glass spice bottles handy for any homemade seasoning mixes that I make.
Tips for Making Cajun Seasoning
Here are some tips to consider when making this rub. Sometimes, there’s a bit of trial and error to make your own homemade seasonings exactly how you like them, so hopefully these tips come in handy when making your own.
- Start with less cayenne. Good Cajun seasoning has HEAT and cayenne provides the perfect combination of spice and flavor. However, every store-bought cayenne powder has different levels of spice and freshness. It’s always better to start with less and then add. It’s much easier to increase the amount of cayenne in the recipe than it is to take it away.
- Make a big batch. Rubs don’t really go bad, so you can prepare a large batch of this Cajun seasoning and store it until you’re ready to use it. Seasonings do lose some of their freshness over time, so store your blends in a jar with an airtight seal to extend their flavor.
- Experiment! The most fun part of making your own seasoning blends is the ability to customize them. For example, this recipe doesn’t have any sugar, but I know some popular blends on the market include it. That could be something you can try adding in to see if you like the flavor of a little sweetness in your own blend. Recipes are a great jumping-off point to make something your own.
More Seasoning Recipes
Looking for more amazing, homemade seasoning recipes from Hey Grill Hey? These are reader favorites that will bring a bunch of flavor to your BBQ meats.
Cajun Seasoning Recipe
This recipe was created for you, backyard griller! Here at Hey Grill Hey, we’re in the business of helping you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes here on my website (browse the Homepage for inspiration) on Instagram, YouTube, or our Facebook Page.
Cajun Seasoning
Video
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Make the seasoning. Combine all seasonings in a small bowl. Use ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to start and then add more, as needed, until you reach your desired spice level.
- Use or store. Use this seasoning immediately on beef, pork, seafood, and more. Store any unused seasoning in an airtight container for up to 6 months for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
