• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Collaborate
  • Contact
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
BlogLovin'
RSS

Valerie's Kitchen

Simple, seasonal home cooking

  • Recipe Box
  • Videos
  • The Cookbook
  • Beyond the Kitchen
Home » Condiments, Dressings, and Sauces » Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix

Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix

By Valerie · January 19, 2019 · Updated May 4, 2020 2 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix adds a big flavor punch to a wide variety of recipes. Skip the store-bought blend and make your own Cajun seasoning at home with spices you most likely already have in your pantry.

 An over the top image of spices in a mason jar with a spoon on a grey board.

It was a strong craving for blackened fish that prompted me to create this recipe exactly three years ago and this fabulous blend of spices resulted in the most delicious Blackened Mahi Mahi. It is so good, in fact, that it rivals the restaurant version we love so much.

Since that time I’ve discovered just how versatile this wonderful Cajun seasoning mix is and decided it was time to share my recipe for a big batch that you can mix up and keep stored in your pantry.

Super convenient and a great time-saver.

Spices and a small spoon on a white plate.

It is a blend of onion powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, granulated garlic (or garlic powder), dried thyme, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

Tips For Making Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix

Granulated Garlic

If you are not familiar with granulated garlic, I highly recommend you pick some up. Costco has a good-sized container of it in their spice section and it’s a great value. It has a coarser, more granular consistency than garlic powder and is the best choice for rubs and seasoning blends. Granulated garlic adds great garlic flavor to recipes but doesn’t burn at high temperatures the way that fresh garlic will, making it a perfect choice for roasting veggies and meats. It also combines better with liquids since it doesn’t clump.

I love granulated garlic so much that I rarely use garlic powder anymore.

A closeup image of the spices on a white plate being scooped up with a small spoon.

Sea Salt

I use fine ground sea salt for all of my seasoning blends. Regular table salt will always work but the flavor of sea salt really shines in this recipe. It has become a popular choice over the years so you should easily be able to find it at your local grocery store. You can swap it out for table salt in the same amounts in most recipes.

Smoked Paprika

Smoked paprika is where it’s at! Whatever you do, don’t substitute regular “sweet” paprika or the Hungarian variety. You want that rich, smoky flavor that only smoked paprika delivers. It is one of my favorite spices and a quick way to add big flavor to a variety of recipes.

An overhead image of a small spoon lifting some of the  Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix from a mason jar.

Store the mixture in a mason jar or other airtight container on a cool dark shelf in your pantry or kitchen cupboard where it will stay fresh and ready to use for up to two years.

How to Use Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix

Let me count the ways!

Blackened Mahi Mahi and Blackened Salmon – trust me when I say that both of these are crazy good.

Burgers – Mix in about 2 teaspoons per pound of ground beef or turkey to create super flavorful Cajun burgers.

Grilled Meats – Make a rub with equal amounts olive oil and Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix to coat chicken, steak, or pork tenderloin before popping them on the grill.

French Fries – Skip the salt and sprinkle some of the seasoning on freshly baked French fries.

Cheesy Dips – Use it as a substitute for other seasoning blends to amp up the flavor in anything from Cheesy Artichoke Dip to Cheesy Hot Crab Dip.

Salad Dressing – Mix a little into Ranch dressing for a delicious salad or baked potato topper.

And, of course it is the basis for a variety of Cajun and Creole dishes like jambalaya and gumbo.

An image shot from the side shows a small spoonful of the seasoning mix after it is scooped from the mason jar.

A spoon lifts seasoning from a jar.

Kickin' Cajun Seasoning Mix

This Kickin' Cajun Seasoning Mix adds a big flavor punch to a wide variety of recipes. Skip the store-bought blend and make your own Cajun seasoning at home with spices you most likely already have in your pantry.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Seasoning Mix
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 4 teaspoons granulated garlic or garlic powder
  • 4 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 4 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 4 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 4 teaspoons fine grain sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper or to taste

Instructions

  • Add the onion powder, granulated garlic or garlic powder, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to a small mason jar or airtight container. Seal it with the lid and shake well to combine. 
  • Store the seasoning mix on a cool, dry pantry shelf.

Notes

Yields 10 tablespoons which comes to a little over 1/2 cup.
LOVE MY RECIPES? GET THE COOKBOOK!
The Foolproof Family Slow Cooker and Other One-Pot Solutions

Categories: Condiments, Dressings, and Sauces

< Previous
Next >

You May Also Like...

Blackened Mahi Mahi Blackened Mahi Mahi
A closeup of a sloppy joe on a wooden plate. Cajun Sloppy Joes
Pasta with sausage in a white bowl. One-Pot Cheesy Cajun Pasta
A small spoon scoops up Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Reader Interactions

Latest Comments
Skip to Comment Form
  1. Sam says

    September 10, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    5 stars
    Use this on all our fish recipes! Love it.

    Reply
  2. BAMC says

    September 7, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    5 stars
    This is an amazing Cajun seasoning blend. It was so good on out roasted chicken this evening. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




Stay Connected with Valerie’s Kitchen

Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
BlogLovin'
RSS

Stay updated!

Subscribe by Email

Get the latest straight from my kitchen to your email inbox. You can choose to receive an email every time a new recipe is published or a weekly summary.

Click to Subscribe

Primary Sidebar

Browse the Recipes

by Category
CP Slow Cooker OP One Pot 30 30 Minute Meals SD Side Dish S Dessert H Holidays A Appetizers MD Main Dish
Valerie Brunmeier, founder and author of Valerie's Kitchen

MeetValerie Brunmeier

Hello and welcome to my online kitchen! My focus here is to provide simple, seasonal meal solutions for busy households. I hope you find some inspiration while you’re here and visit again soon!

...
More About Me

Looking for something?

Archives

Categories

Spring Favorites

A side view of the Lemon Raspberry Bundt Cake with a slice missing revealing the center.
A Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich sliced in half and stacked on a plate with grapes.
A mug filled with ham and bean soup.
Cheesecake bars with blueberries stacked on a plate.
A glazed cookie stacked on top of another with a bite missing.
A skillet filled with a creamy sauce and slices of cooked chicken.
A skillet filled with orzo, chicken, grape tomatoes, and slices of lemon.
Slices of frosted Carrot Zucchini Bread on a white platter.

Mexican Favorites

A closeup of a carnitas taco.
A skillet filled with Mexican rice, cilantro and slices of lime.
A spatula lifts a piece of casserole from a baking dish.
A smothered burrito topped with sour cream on a plate with rice.
A small white bowl filled with tomatillo avocado salsa.
A white serving plate with two Chipotle Pork Street Tacos with halved avocados in the background.
A skillet filled with white rice, cilantro and lime slices.
Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos

Reader Favorites

A white serving dish filled with shredded beef, carrots, and potatoes.
A white bowl filed with crab dip with a spoon.
A spatula scoops up a zucchini boat from a casserole dish.
Blackened Mahi Mahi
A close up of a cheesesteak sandwich with peppers and onions.
Slow Cooker Beef Tips with Gravey
As Featured On
Back to Top
  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Collaborate
  • Contact
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
BlogLovin'
RSS
Valerie's Kitchen
Copyright © 2011–2021 · Valerie's Kitchen

Valerie's Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.