Homemade Chili Seasoning

By Becky Hardin

Updated Oct 22, 2025

This homemade chili seasoning is my go-to to add the perfectly spiced punch to my chili recipes! I’ve packed with all the good seasonings, like smoked paprika, dried lemon peel, and cumin—it’s the perfect balance of heat and flavor!

Homemade chili seasoning in a glass bowl with a spoon in it. - 3

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Easy Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe

I find there’s nothing better than a warm, rich, and comforting bowl of chili , whether it be meat or vegetarian, and I find this chili seasoning just adds that finishing touch to punch up the flavor. It can easily be made at home, and in fact, I bet you have all the ingredients in your spice cabinet right now. I find having a batch of this seasoning on hand is a complete lifesaver and cheaper than buying store-bought.

Not to be confused with taco seasoning , chili seasoning is a mix of 5-8 spices, including chili powder, cumin, garlic, oregano, and others. Chili seasoning is similar to homemade taco seasoning and fajita seasoning, with many of the same ingredients, but has more of an emphasis on chili powder.

Tips for Beginners

Taste test . Chili powder can vary in heat from brand to brand, so make sure to give yours a taste before making your chili. If the chili powder you are using is spicy, you can reduce or eliminate the jalapeño pepper from this recipe.
Use fresh spices . For optimum flavor, use fresh spices. If your spices have been sitting in your spice cabinet for over 6 months, it is time to toss them.

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 2 tbsp ancho chili pepper powder
▢ 1 tbsp ground cumin
▢ 1 tbsp dried cilantro
▢ 2 tsp smoked paprika regular paprika also works
▢ 2 tsp onion powder
▢ 2 tsp garlic powder
▢ 1 tsp dried jalapeño pepper optional
▢ 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano
▢ ½ tsp ground black pepper
▢ ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
▢ ¼ tsp dried lemon peel

Instructions

Whisk together all ingredients in a medium bowl. 2 tbsp ancho chili pepper powder, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp dried cilantro, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried jalapeño pepper, 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano, ½ tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, ¼ tsp dried lemon peel
Keep in an airtight container, in a cool dry place, up to 3 months.
Enjoy!

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How To Make Homemade Chili Seasoning – Step By Step

Combine the ingredients: Whisk together 2 tbsp ancho chili pepper powder, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp dried cilantro, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried jalapeño pepper, 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano, ½ tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, and ¼ tsp dried lemon peel in a medium bowl.

Store: Transfer to a container or Ziplock bag and store.

How to Store

Store chili seasoning in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place, up to 3 months.

Top down shot of homemade chili seasoning in a bowl. - 5

Serving Suggestions

This homemade chili seasoning doesn’t just marry well with chili; I find myself sprinkling it on breakfast potatoes and these grilled ranch potatoes to add more flavor. I also like to add it to Mom’s tomato soup for a change of pace.

more homemade spice blends to try

Chicken Seasoning

Blackened Seasoning Recipe

Homemade Fajita Seasoning

homemade herbs de provence in a bowl - 12

homemade herbs de provence in a bowl - 13

Herbs de Provence Recipe

Homemade Chili Seasoning

Ingredients

2 tbsp ancho chili pepper powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp dried cilantro
2 tsp smoked paprika regular paprika also works
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried jalapeño pepper optional
1 tsp dried Mexican oregano
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
¼ tsp dried lemon peel

Instructions

Whisk together all ingredients in a medium bowl. 2 tbsp ancho chili pepper powder, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp dried cilantro, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried jalapeño pepper, 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano, ½ tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, ¼ tsp dried lemon peel
Keep in an airtight container, in a cool dry place, up to 3 months.
Enjoy!

Nutrition

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!