Fajita Seasoning
On March 24, 2025
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With 10 easy ingredients—including chili powder, lime zest, and Mexican oregano—you’ll create a homemade Fajita Seasoning to add a depth of savory, zesty heat to your steak, chicken, and shrimp.
Easy Fajita Seasoning
Bring the flavor of your favorite Mexican restaurant to your backyard with this homemade Fajita Seasoning. With just 10 rich ingredients, you’ll transform your steak, shrimp, and chicken into deeply-flavorful fajita fillings. Chili powder and cayenne bring the heat, lime zest adds a bright punch, and the Mexican oregano provides that one-of-a-kind taste you typically only find in Mexican restaurants.
I’ll teach you everything you need to know to make it, plus some pro tips so you can season with confidence. If you’re ready for a Fajita Seasoning worthy of that legendary fajita sizzle, let’s get started.
Ingredients for Fajita Seasoning
Here’s everything you’ll want to have on hand so you can make this easy Fajita Seasoning at home:
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon lime zest (0r ¼ teaspoon dehydrated lime juice)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
You can use regular oregano if you don’t have Mexican oregano on hand. Keep in mind though, you’ll lose out on some of that Mexican-inspired depth of flavor.
How to Make Fajita Seasoning
Ready to say goodbye to those store-bought seasonings? Follow these easy instructions, so you can have perfectly-seasoned fajitas whenever you want:
- Make the seasoning. Combine all the ingredients for your seasoning in a small bowl, then stir everything together until combined. Use a whisk or fork so you can break up any clumps. If you intend to store this seasoning blend, ensure you use the dehydrated lime juice instead of fresh lime zest.
- Use or store the seasoning. Use your seasoning immediately on all your favorite fajita recipes. We love this seasoning in a marinade or as-is for beef fajitas, shrimp, chicken, and even pork. Cook some onions and bell peppers and you’ve got an instant fajita party.
Susie’s Seasoning Pro Tips
I’ve made dozens of seasoning and rub blends feeding my family over the years, and I’ve learned some awesome tricks along the way.
- Hold off on the fresh ingredients. When using a fresh ingredient like lime zest, I recommend adding it when you’re ready to season for the best results. Some herbs are best ground right before using as well (like the rosemary in my Italian Seasoning).
- Make it your own. The best part about homemade seasonings is customizing them exactly how you like. You can adjust the heat levels up if you like spicy, or down if you’ve got kids to feed. Swap out herbs for a new flavor experience. Don’t be afraid to get creative and find something you love.
Ways to Use Your Seasoning
This fajita seasoning mix is incredibly versatile. You can use it as-is to season your meat or veggies before tossing it in a skillet or on the grill, or mix a couple Tablespoons of fajita seasoning it into a marinade with avocado or olive oil. Here are a few recipes for both ways.
As a fajita seasoning:
In a fajita marinade:
How much fajita seasoning you use depends on your personal preferences. I usually recommend around 1 Tablespoon for every pound of meat to start. After that, you can fine-tune it to your liking and the dishes you’re cooking.
Storage and Shelf Life
This seasoning stores easily in your pantry so you can make it ahead to have on hand when you get that fajita craving. Just place any unused seasoning mix in a sealable jar, then store it in a dry place like your pantry. I love these glass spice jars, but any airtight container will work. Just remember to wait to add the lime zest until you’re ready to cook.
More Homemade Seasoning Recipes
Now that you know how easy it is to create your own spice blends at home, you’ll never go back to those store-bought packets. I’ve got rub recipes and spice mixes for all kinds of flavor profiles, so you can make something delicious totally from scratch. Check out the Hey Grill Hey App to see them all, but for now, here are some of my family’s favorites:
Homemade Fajita Seasoning Recipe
Make this Fajita Seasoning following the recipe card below, then use it to make some grilled fajitas for the people you love. If you’re not already, be sure to follow my Instagram and Facebook pages, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Got the seasoning bug? Head over to The Grill Squad. I’ve got a Rubs & Sauces Pitmaster class, where I teach you all the basics of creating your own flavor blends to help you feel like a Backyard BBQ Hero.
Fajita Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon lime zest or ¼ teaspoon dehydrated lime juice
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Make the seasoning. Combine all the ingredients for the Fakita Seasoning in a small bowl. Mix together using a whisk or fork to ensure there are no clumps.2 teaspoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Use or store for later. Use your seasoning immediately on steak, shrimp, chicken, and of course, peppers. Store any unused Fajita Seasoning in a glass spice jar for up to 6 months for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
