This Blackened Seasoning recipe is a mix of chili peppers, herbs, and spices used to blacken fish, seafood, poultry, beef, and vegetables! Adds so much flavor to your recipes!
Looking for more easy seasoning recipes? I think you will love my Stone House Seasoning, Homemade Taco Seasoning, and Homemade Ranch Seasoning recipes.
When you want to add bold, spicy flavors to a dish, you definitely want to add this blackened seasoning recipe. It delivers incredible flavor and spiciness that we crave from time to time.
What is Blackened Seasoning?
Blackened Seasoning, also called Blackening Seasoning, is similar to Cajun Seasoning and Creole Seasoning. All three originated from Louisianna and add so much flavor to recipes.
I love to think of the three this way:
- Creole Seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices and is the least spicy of the three.
- Cajun Seasoning is a blend of chilis and other spices and tends to be the spiciest of the three.
- Blackened Seasoning is a blend of herbs, chilis, and other spices and sits right in the middle of the three as it relates to spiciness.
What is Blackening?
The term blackening refers to the cooking process, not the seasoning itself.
How to Blacken Foods?
Blackening foods is a quick and easy style of cooking. You season your fish, seafood, poultry, pork, beef, pasta, or vegetables with blackened seasoning and then cook over high heat in a cast iron skillet with butter. The food develops a dark crust that is blackened food’s signature look and flavor.
How to Make Blackened Seasoning
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
Blackening Seasoning is typically made with a mixture of a type of chili peppers, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, oregano, and thyme. I also like to include cumin in my recipe.
Substitutions and Additions
- Chili powder – Use chili powder in place of the cayenne pepper called for in my recipe if you prefer a little less heat in your seasonings.
Customize Your Blackening Seasoning to Your Own Tastes
Once you have used this seasoning recipe in your cooking for a few recipes, customize it to your own preferences for just the perfect amount of spiciness.
If you prefer more heat in your seasoning: add more paprika, cayenne, or chili powder to the mix.
If you prefer less heat in your seasoning: add more garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and cumin to offset the heat of the paprika, cayenne, or chili powder used.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the seasoning. Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine well. Transfer to an airtight container and store in a dark place.
Blackened Seasoning Recipe
Equipment
- Spice Jar
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Combine all in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container in a dark place.
Notes
Recipe yield: 1/2 cup
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Substitutions
Chili powder – Use chili powder in place of the cayenne pepper called for in my recipe if you prefer a little less heat in your seasonings.Customize Your Blackening Seasoning to Your Own Tastes
Once you have used this seasoning recipe in your cooking for a few recipes, customize it to your own preferences for just the perfect amount of spiciness. If you prefer more heat in your seasoning: add more paprika, cayenne, or chili powder to the mix. If you prefer less heat in your seasoning: add more garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and cumin to offset the heat of the paprika, cayenne, or chili powder used.      ÂNutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I can’t stop eating the shrimp with this seasoning. The taste is amazing.
I”m happy you enjoy it, Sheena. Thanks!
Can you please tell me which vegetables are the best to use when blackening? Thanks for sharing your many delicious recipes!
Some vegetables that are good blackened are carrots, broccoli, parsnips, and fennel.
Thank you so much for the recipe!
On the Blackened Seasoning recipe, you’ve stated that whether you wanted less or more heat, then add less or more of certain seasonings. My question is ‘how much’ less or more? Is it just a little here or there or is it the ‘same amounts’ of the seasoning as mentioned in the recipe? Can’t wait to try this…..thank you for your delicious recipes – as always – and taking the time to answer my question.
Hi Bill,
Great question. Sorry I wasn’t really clear on that. Once you’ve used the recipe as written a few times, then I would recommend customizing it to your personal “spicy” preference. I didn’t really give an amount of that adjustment since it is so personal, but here’s what I would recommend. I would begin by adding 1/4 of the amount for the spices called for in the recipe for the adjustment. For example, if you want your blackened seasoning to be even spicier, I would start by adding 1/2 tablespoon paprika and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the seasoning and try that. Then, if you still want it spicier, do the same thing until you reach the customization that you like. I hope that helps! Let me know what you think when you give it a try! I can’t wait to hear!