Homemade fajita seasoning is fast and easy to make, and much healthier than the store-bought packets. Make a batch today to have on hand for all your fajita night needs!
Welcome to fajita week on the blog!
We are starting off with the very must basic part of any fajita recipe. The seasoning.
Homemade fajita seasoning is so easy to make you guys. It’s ridiculously easy really.
You just measure out the different spices, mix them together and bam! You are done.
Plus, you get to control the ingredients, which means you’ll have a mix that’s much lower in sodium than those store-bought packets and doesn’t contain any weird preservatives or unknown “flavor agents.”
And the flavor is so much better too because it’s fresher and only what you really need, none of those crazy extras. (Try it in easy chicken fajitas, they take just 20 minutes!)
(Same goes for my homemade taco seasoning and southwest seasoning mixes. Super simple to make, way more fresh and flavorful! I even make my own enchilada sauce. And oh my goodness, it’s SO tasty!)
Plus, you can mix this up in just a few minutes and you’ll have plenty on hand for at least a couple of fajita nights.
More fajita dinners is always a good thing.
And most likely, these are ingredients you already keep stocked in your kitchen.
What spices are in fajita seasoning?
- Chili powder, paprika, salt, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper are the spices you’ll need to make fajita seasoning.
- Optionally, you can also include a bit of brown sugar, oregano and/or cayenne pepper.
Easy, on-hand ingredients and a big step up in the healthy and tasty departments. Win, win!
Now, I’ve got some notes, tips and FAQs coming up below on how to make homemade fajita seasoning. Just tryin’ to be helpful.
If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Notes on homemade fajita seasoning:
- The recipe calls for the basic seasonings - regular chili powder and paprika - but you can change up the flavors by using an ancho chili powder and/or smoked paprika if you prefer.
- A lot of fajita mix recipes omit the oregano, which you can do as well. I just like the herby flavor it brings to the seasoning.
- Brown sugar or white sugar will work for this seasoning mix. You could also leave it out if you’d like this to be sugar-free. It simply helps balance out the flavors, but it’s just a single teaspoon.
- You can substitute extra black pepper for the cayenne pepper - or just omit it - to control the heat. Or add a little extra if you want a spicy fajita seasoning.
Make fajitas often? Double the recipe below so you have some of this ready to go the next fajita night.
As is, the recipe makes a little less than ⅓ cup of seasoning mixture.
You’ll use about 2 tablespoons for most recipes, so this will get you through two to three recipes worth.
And a word of caution: As always with spice mixes, it’s best to use fresh spices. If yours have been sitting around for more than 6 months, or certainly if it's been more than a year, the flavor won’t be quite as good.
How to store fajita seasoning:
- This seasoning mix should be stored in an airtight container or small covered jar to keep it as fresh as possible.
I have and love these small OXO containers, which I use for all different kinds of seasoning mixes. (They would also be great for nuts, trail mix, snacks, etc.)
How long does fajita seasoning last?
- It will last up to six months. Be sure to store it in a covered container or small jar at room temperature.
Finally, for a couple other questions I get frequently - and have wondered about myself.
How much fajita seasoning is in a store-bought pack?
- About two heaping tablespoons are in a packet of store-bought fajita seasoning mix.
What is the difference between taco seasoning and fajita seasoning?
- Fajita and taco seasonings have very similar ingredients and spices, but taco seasoning contains a much higher proportion of chili powder. It also usually has a bit more cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a bit of heat and includes oregano, which some fajita seasonings don’t have.
So there you have it! You are gonna love how fresh and delicious your fajitas are when you use this homemade seasoning mix. It makes a big difference!
And stay tuned because I have some delicious fajita recipes coming up so you can use your homemade seasoning mix! (Update: Check out these skillet chicken fajitas, sheet pan chicken fajitas and Instant Pot fajitas! Oh, and crock pot chicken fajitas too.)
You can sign up for free e-newsletter to get all of my new recipes delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a thing. I’ll even send you my free e-cookbook, Healthy Weeknight Dinners, as a thank you!
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Homemade fajita seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoons dried oregano (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or sub more black pepper or omit for less heat)
Instructions
- In a small jar or container with a tight-fitting lid, combine all of the seasonings and mix well.
- Store, covered, at room temperature for up to 6 months.
Notes
Nutrition
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