Homemade Cajun Seasoning

Homemade cajun seasoning

The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 18 servings
Yield: 3/4 cup

If you come across a recipe that calls for Cajun seasoning, there is no need to buy it. If you have a semi-well-stocked pantry, it's likely that you already have all of the ingredients on hand already. By making Cajun seasoning home, you avoid additives and preservatives, and—even better—you can dial in the spices to really make this mix your own.

For those who like to kick things up a notch, as Emeril would say, add a little more cayenne to this spice mixture. And if you are on a low sodium diet, feel free to omit or reduce the salt. Then sprinkle it on fish, chicken, vegetables like corn, and much more. This recipe makes just over 3/4 of a cup of seasoning, which is 36 teaspoons or 18 servings if you use 2 teaspoons per recipe. However, it's easily halved or doubled if you need less or more seasoning.

What Is Cajun Seasoning Made Of?

Cajun seasoning is a classic mix of dried herbs and spices. Many brands make versions of Cajun Seasoning, including Louisiana outfits such as Slap Ya Mama and Louisiana Fish Fry Products. Blends vary but typically include easy-to-find spices like paprika, onion powder, and oregano, and get a kick from cayenne pepper.

Is Cajun Seasoning the Same as Old Bay?

In a word: No. While Cajun seasoning comes in many varieties, Old Bay is a specific brand, though you can make our Old Bay copycat recipe at home. Most Cajun seasoning blends are spicier than Old Bay, and Old Bay contains ingredients like bay leaf, celery salt, and mustard that aren't usually in Cajun spice blends.

What's the Best Substitute for Cajun Seasoning?

If you don't have all the ingredients on hand for this recipe, just use as many of them as you do have. While not all Cajun food is spicy, cayenne does play a key role in this blend, so do try to replace it with something spicy. That could mean adding a different kind of dried pepper, hot paprika, or even chipotle powder if you'd like something a little smoky. Or you can season the final dish with Tabasco or another hot sauce.

You can also use other spice blends, such as Creole seasoning, which usually has a somewhat similar flavor profile to Cajun seasoning but often has less heat. And while Old Bay isn't the same as Cajun seasoning, it does taste good in many recipes that call for Cajun seasoning, especially seafood and fish recipes.

11 Great Things to Do with Cajun Seasoning

Once you've mixed up your batch of Cajun seasoning, you'll want to use it on just about anything that needs a flavor kick. It's perfect on fresh slices of juicy tomatoes, ripe cantaloupe, or even a bagel with cream cheese. Here are just a few more ideas, below. Share your favorite uses in the comments!

  • Rub it on chicken, fish, or any other protein before grilling, baking, broiling or sautéing.
  • Mix it with mayo and chopped leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken, and chopped herbs or scallions for the perfect creamy salad for sandwiches.
  • Mix the Cajun seasoning together with mayonnaise and sour cream for a tangy dip or sauce for veggies, wings, or anything else.
  • Mix it into your favorite deviled egg mixture. For an added kick, dust the top of the prepared deviled eggs with the Cajun seasoning.
  • Stir it into creamy pasta dishes.
  • Sprinkle it on popcorn.
  • Use it to season corn on the cob.
  • Sprinkle it onto broccoli or other vegetables before roasting.
  • Add it to shrimp sautéed in butter.
  • Sprinkle it on french fries.
  • Use it in a marinade for beef, pork, or chicken.

"This spice blend nicely captures the fabulous flavors of Cajun cuisine. I was surprised to discover I already had all of the spices needed to make it—you might be pleasantly surprised that you don't need to make a trip to the store either. I used the blend on fish, and I'm looking forward to trying it on many more dishes." — Megan O. Steintrager

Homemade Cajun Seasoning Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup paprika

  • 1 tablespoon onion powder

  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make homemade cajun seasoning

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

  2. In a small bowl or a zip-close food storage bag, combine all ingredients. Mix well to combine and break up any clumps. Store the spice blend in a tightly sealed zip top-bag or transfer to a jar. Label the bag or jar with the date. It should maintain its quality for as long as 2 to 3 years but will become less potent in flavor over time. Shake or stir well before each use.

    A bowl of paprika, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, garlic powder, ground white pepper, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Margot Cavin, Food Stylist: Kristin Stangl

Making a Batch of Cajun Seasoning for Gifts

If you really enjoy making (and eating) Cajun seasoning or you are known for it among your friends and family, consider making a big batch and giving the seasoning out as a holiday gift. If you do this, you should buy all of your spices in bulk. You'll also want to get empty spice jars.

Make a large batch of seasoning and using a funnel, fill up each jar. Make your own label and feel free to customize the name of your Cajun seasoning. You can also create a recipe card or some personalized tips and tricks about your favorite way to use the seasoning. Attach the cute card with some ribbon and your gift is ready to give. 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
8 Calories
0g Fat
2g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 18
Amount per serving
Calories 8
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 237mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 49mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)