By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 11, 2022
These DIY Spice Blends are so easy to make! Learn how to make all of your favorite seasoning mixes at home, instead of buying them all at the store. They will come in handy again and again for all kinds of recipes.
DIY Seasoning Recipes
Sometimes a recipe calls for a specific seasoning or spice blend that you don’t have on hand. Buying a new mix for one recipe starts to feel unnecessary, especially when you could make homemade seasonings with the spices you already have in your pantry!
There seems to be a new trendy seasoning mix every season (hello everything bagel seasoning, pumpkin spice, and the list goes on), and it feels wasteful to buy every single one. Since these blends are just a mix of individual spices, you really don’t have to buy a new mix if you already have the ingredients in your spice cabinet. And you probably do!
It’s easy to DIY by combining a few things into a small bowl for one recipe, or make a full jar to store and use in the future. The recipes below are some of my favorites blends to use in so many different dishes!
Keep reading to learn how to make 11 different DIY seasonings, as well as some tips and ideas on how to use them!
Why Make Your Own Spices?
There are a few reasons I recommend making DIY spice blends at home, but the main reason is convenience .
- If a recipe calls for a specific seasoning mix that you don’t have on hand, you might be able to make it yourself if you have the individual ingredients in your spice cabinet.
- And if you do have the individual spices, it saves you having to go buy yet another thing to sit in your cabinet.
- You can make a smaller amount of a certain spice blend if you know you won’t use it that often, instead of buying a full container of it.
- You can control the ingredients you use in the mix. That means you can use the best of the best, the freshest of the fresh, or even add a small variation to your DIY seasoning mix if you want (or leave something out of you prefer).
- If you buy herbs and spices in bulk, you can also save money by mixing your own spices.
What You’ll Need
You don’t need much to make your own spice blends at home, besides the individual spices and herbs listed under each recipe. But a couple of kitchen tools will help make things easier.
- Airtight jars and containers to store seasonings.
- Small mixing bowls to separate and measure out individual spices before mixing.
- Measuring spoons to properly measure everything out (or use a kitchen scale).
- Whisk to gently mix spices together.
- Spice grinder (can also use a coffee grinder) to make fresh ground spices or condense blends into a powder (optional).
Italian Seasoning
Italian seasoning blend is a mix of savory dried herbs (like sage, basil, and more) that adds a beautiful flavor to any dish. It’s particularly popular, of course, with Italian dishes, but there’s no limit to when you can use this blend.
When to Use it:
- Season any of your pasta dishes to kick things up a notch.
- Add some flavor to chicken, like this Grilled Bruschetta Chicken .
- Add it to fresh bread for something savory.
How-to: Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe
Ranch Seasoning
Everybody loves ranch, and this homemade blend means you can get that irresistable ranch flavor on anything and everything. The combination of parsley, dill, chives, and more is delicious savory. Skip the store-bought packets and make your own!
When to Use it:
- Make your own homemade ranch dressing .
- Make a delicious ranch dip for chips and veggies.
- Use it to make ranch-flavored chicken wings , chicken tenders , or chicken breast .
How-to: Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
Taco Seasoning
Taco seasoning is a must for taco night . It adds the perfect level of spice and flavor to taco meats, but you can use it in all kinds of Mexican dishes.
When to Use it:
- Make these reader-favorite Baked Chicken Tacos .
- Make Taco Soup !
- Use it to flavor these crockpot potatoes .
How-to: Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Pumpkin Pie Spice
This is another trendy spice blend you need in your cabinet. It’s a mix of all the spices you’d add to a pumpkin pie, but you can use it on all kinds of pumpkin recipes .
When to Use it:
- Make a homemade pumpkin pie with this spice mix.
- Top off your pumpkin spice latte .
- Add it into baked goods, to make pumpkin muffins or pumpkin cinnamon rolls !
How-to: Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
If you haven’t heard of this trendy seasoning blend, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Imagine the flavor of an everything bagel, and remove the bread. That’s what you get here (poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and more), and it adds the perfect savory mix to lots of dishes.
When to Use it:
- Make avocado toast and top it with this seasoning. Add a fried egg too, to fill out the meal.
- Sprinkle it on edamame or other veggies.
- Season your shoestring fries , avocado fries , or sweet potato fries .
- Use it to make this Everything Bagel Cheese Ball .
How-to: Homemade Everything Bagel Seasoning
Fajita Seasoning
Fajita seasoning contains a mix of savory spices (like cumin and nutmeg) and herbs (like thyme and rosemary) that create a delicious but subtle blend. It’s great for fajitas, of course, but works so well with lots of meats (chicken, beef, etc), tacos, and other Mexican dishes.
When to Use it:
- Make a marinade to use on meats.
- Make all the fajitas ( Grilled Steak Fajitas , Chicken Fajitas , Fajita Nachos ).
How-to: Homemade Fajita Seasoning
Chili Seasoning
This DIY chili spice blend packs the flavor and the heat. It’s a mix of everything you’d want in a nice bowl of chili (like cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, and more), but you can use it for other recipes too.
When to Use it:
- Use it for every bowl of chili you make! Try this Crockpot Chili .
- Use it as a dry rub for meats.
- Mix it into soups for extra flavor.
How-to: Homemade Chili Seasoning
Chicken Seasoning
This mix of spices and brown sugar makes the perfect rub for chicken that comes out delicious every time. A little sweet, a little heat, and plenty of savory flavor. There are also plenty of variations you can try for slightly different flavor.
When to Use it:
- Rub it on chicken breast, thighs, wings, or any cut you like, then grill, roast, or pan fry!
How-to: Chicken Spice Rub
Creole Seasoning
In this DIY seasoning blend you’ll find lots of dried herbs, like basil and thyme, as well as some spices to add a subtle heat, like paprika and cayenne pepper. Overall, it adds a rich savory, herby flavor.
When to Use it:
- This mix is a must for this shrimp creole recipe !
- Use it with any well-known creole dishes, like gumbo .
- It goes well with all kinds of meat and seafood dishes.
How-to: Homemade Creole Seasoning
Herbs de Provence
Herbs de Provence is a blend of herbs often used in French cuisine. It adds a fragrant and savory flavor to lots of recipes. It’s made with rosemary, tarragon, oregano, and lots more.
When to Use it:
- Make this Whole Roast Chicken for a beautiful dinner.
- Add it to any potato dish for a savory flavor.
- Mix it in to make an herby cream cheese dip .
How-to: Homemade Herbs de Provence
Blackened Seasoning
This seasoning blend is savory and a bit spicy too, thanks to the mix of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, dried herbs, and more. It’s mostly used to season meat and seafood, but you can add this rich flavor to anything you want.
When to Use it:
- Use it for this Blackened Salmon recipe.
- Season steaks, shrimp, or any protein.
- Make blackened veggies (this would be great with corn on the cob , broccoli, or asparagus ).
How-to: Homemade Blackened seasoning
Generally you can expect DIY spice blends to last as long as any store-bought spices would last (so, a long time). As long as you are storing the DIY mixes in airtight containers, they should keep just fine anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. They won’t “go bad” but they will lose their potency. It’s recommended to refresh your spices every 3-6 months for the most flavor.
Any airtight container will work for storing DIY spices. Resealable bags are a great option for ease of storage, plus you can write directly on the bag to keep track of what it is. You can also buy a set of small spice jars for organization, plus they’re visually pleasing! You can get a set of small seasoning/spice jars like these to fill up and reuse as you go.
Store them in airtight containers, in a cool, dry place. Keep them in your regular spice cabinet, spice rack, or in your pantry.
Each recipe makes a different amount, but it’s so easy to either make larger batches (for a seasoning you know you’ll use often), or make less (if you just need it for a single recipe).
Now you can make all of these delicious homemade seasonings and spice blends yourself to fill your spice rack. Add them to all your cooking and take your dishes up a notch. Enjoy!
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
