This Southwest seasoning is the perfect homemade spice blend to use in Tex-Mex and Southwestern-style cooking! It has a bold and savory flavor that can truly transform a dish. Plus, you have complete control over the spice level, so you can easily adjust it to suit your taste!
Homemade Southwest Seasoning Mix
I'm a huge fan of making my own seasoning blends at home, and this Southwest seasoning mix is one of my favorites! It's super versatile and has all the flavor of the popular store-bought brands without the preservatives or the price tag.
You can use it to give flavor to vegetables, such as grilled corn or sautéed squash, or add it to your favorite Tex-Mex recipes like chicken fajitas or beef tacos. Not to mention, it can also be used to make an excellent rub or marinade for chicken, pork, beef, or fish!
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If you're ready to ditch store-bought seasonings, my full collection of homemade spice mixes and seasoning blends is a great place to start!
🥘 Southwest Seasoning Ingredients
If you keep your spice cabinet stocked, then you may have these ingredients at home already! This recipe is a little spicy as it is written, so adjust the cayenne and red pepper as needed.
- Chili Powder - 2 tablespoons of chili powder, ancho chili powder, or a chili powder substitute.
- Cumin - 2 tablespoons of ground cumin.
- Paprika - 2 tablespoons of paprika, smoked paprika, or a paprika substitute.
- Garlic Powder - 1 ½ tablespoons of garlic powder.
- Oregano - 1 tablespoon of dried oregano or a dried oregano substitute.
- Ground Coriander - 1 tablespoon of ground coriander. If you have whole coriander, then you can grind it down with a spice grinder.
- Salt - 1 tablespoon of salt.
- Cayenne Pepper - 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper adds the most spice to this seasoning, so adjust it as needed.
- Red Pepper Flakes - 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Black Pepper - ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
- Ground Turmeric (optional) - ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Southwest Seasoning
Making your own Southwest seasoning is as easy as combining the ingredients! Grab your measuring spoons, a small mixing bowl, and an airtight storage container or spice jar to get started.
This recipe makes about ¾ cup of seasoning.
- Combine. Put all of the seasoning ingredients into a small mixing bowl and then stir to combine. (2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 tablespoons ground cumin, 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 ½ tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon ground turmeric)
- Put in a spice jar. Transfer your Southwest seasoning to a spice jar with a lid or another airtight container.
- Use or store. Use right away to season your favorite recipes, or store somewhere dark and cool to be used later.
I most recently used this seasoning to make Southwest dressing for a quick salad, and it was delicious! Additionally, you can use it to add flavor to steak quesadillas, ground beef taquitos, or any of your favorite Tex-Mex recipes. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- This recipe yields about 11.5 tablespoons, just under ¾ cup of seasoning, or approximately 8 1.5 tablespoon servings.
- If you like your Southwest seasoning to have a smokey flavor, then opt for smoked paprika in place of regular paprika.
- You can easily adjust the spiciness of this seasoning by increasing or decreasing the amount of cayenne pepper and/or red pepper flakes you use.
- Before each use, shake your seasoning to redistribute all the ingredients that might have sunk to the bottom of the jar.
🥡 Storing
Keep your homemade Southwest seasoning in an airtight jar or container somewhere cool and dark (such as a cupboard or pantry). For the best flavor, use it within 6 months though it will be safe to use for much longer.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
It depends on the brand and the recipe. Some Southwest seasoning blends can be quite spicy, while others are milder. This recipe is a little spicy as it is, but you can easily adjust the heat level by using more or less cayenne and red pepper flakes.
Southwest seasoning can be used on a variety of dishes, including tacos, fajitas, chili, roasted meats, grilled vegetables, and even popcorn! You can use it to make salad dressings, marinades, and dry rubs, too. It's full of flavor and incredibly versatile!
The main ingredients in this Southwest seasoning are chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, coriander, oregano, and salt. I also included some cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes for heat.
🌮 Tex-Mex Recipes To Try
- Steak Burrito Bowl - Juicy slices of steak on a bed of rice with all your favorite Tex-Mex toppings.
- Ground Beef Mexican Casserole - Layers of tortilla chips, beef, beans, corn, and cheese come together in this easy-to-make comfort food.
- Mexican Cornbread Casserole - Perfectly seasoned ground beef with cheese, tomatoes, and chiles sandwiched between two fluffy slabs of cornbread.
- Taco Pasta - A mouthwatering fusion of both classic Italian pasta and Mexican spices and flavors.
- Chicken Burrito Bowl - This satisfying chicken and rice bowl makes a great lunch or dinner any day of the week!
- Breakfast Quesadillas - Start your day off right with a cheesy and protein-packed breakfast quesadilla!
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📖 Recipe Card
Southwest Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon chili powder (or ancho chili powder)
- 2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoon paprika (or smoked paprika)
- 1½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric (optional)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Put all of the seasoning ingredients into a small mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Transfer your Southwest seasoning to a spice jar with a lid or another airtight container.
- Use right away to season your favorite recipes, or store somewhere dark and cool to be used later.
Notes
- This recipe yields about 11.5 tablespoons, just under ¾ cup of seasoning, or approximately 8 1.5 tablespoon servings.
- If you like your Southwest seasoning to have a smokey flavor, opt for smoked paprika in place of regular paprika.
- You can easily adjust the spiciness of this seasoning by increasing or decreasing the amount of cayenne pepper and/or red pepper flakes you use.
- Before each use, shake your seasoning to redistribute all the ingredients that might have sunk to the bottom of the jar.
- To store: Keep your homemade Southwest seasoning in an airtight jar or container somewhere cool and dark (like a cupboard or pantry). For the best flavor, use it within 6 months though it will be safe to use for much longer.
Anonymous says
Fabulous recipe. Nice blend of spices. Thanks!
Sandra says
I will be using this recipe! Thank you!!