Homemade Chili Seasoning is the best DIY spice mix and tastes great in ground turkey, beef, and vegan chili recipes. This quick and easy recipe also has a secret ingredient and can be stored for up to a year.
Want other homemade spice mix recipes? You might also enjoy this Taco Seasoning, Italian Seasoning, Greek Seasoning, and this Blackened Seasoning.
Chili Seasoning – Better When Homemade!
Have you ever made your own chili seasoning mix recipe from scratch?
Not only are homemade blends better for you (free from MSG, gluten, wheat, and anti-caking agents)…
But they are also SO easy to make…
AND you can adjust the spice level to your preference.
Easy DIY Mix
By prepping this of time you will be able to easily make your favorite Instant Pot Ground Turkey Chili.
Simply pull it out of your cabinet, add the right amount, and voila!
You have a big pot of chili that is ready for the big game or a cozy couch day.
And your DIY mix just saved you a TON of time!
What is It?
Chili seasoning is a mix of 6-8 spices with chili powder being one of the main ingredients.
It can either be bought in the store or made at home using a simple recipe.
This DIY spice blend is often used in ground turkey, ground beef, and even vegan recipes.
Much like homemade taco and blackened seasoning, chili seasoning can be prepared ahead of time and stored for future use.
How to Make
Making this spice mix at home is quite simple and requires a few easy to find spices and herbs.
(See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.)
What Spices Go In?
- Chili Powder – This is the star of the show and makes up the bulk of the mix.
- Cumin – Much like in taco seasoning, cumin is also used in this recipe.
- Paprika – Feel free to use half smoked paprika and half regular paprika for an extra smokey kick!
- Garlic Powder – Please do not substitute for garlic salt. You can, however, substitute with onion powder.
- Oregano – Feel free to substitute with dried thyme or basil instead.
- Cayenne pepper – You can adjust the cayenne pepper level according to your spice preference.
- You can also substitute for red pepper flakes if you do not have cayenne pepper on hand.
- Cinnamon – This is the secret ingredient! It adds an extra level of flavor to your homemade chili recipes.
- Black pepper – A good ground black pepper works great.
- Salt – This is completely optional. You can leave this out if you want to decrease the amount of sodium.
How to Store
It is best to keep homemade spice mixes in an airtight container.
Store this container in a cool, dry space. A spice cabinet (NOT over the stove!) or a dry pantry will work great.
You do not want too much open space in the container. It is best to choose one that just barely fits all of the spices.
These 4-ounce mason jars are my favorite to store DIY seasoning mixes in.
Best Store Bought Brands
A store bought seasoning packet is a great substitute if you don’t have time to make it from scratch.
Mccormick’s is my favorite packet brand. They even make a gluten-free mix and a lower sodium blend, too!
How Much Mix per Pound of Ground Meat?
Use 3-4 tablespoons of chili seasoning mix per pound of ground meat.
Does a Spice Mix Ever Go Bad?
No, they will never go bad, but they will lose their potency over time.
Make sure you store in an airtight container for best results.
How Long Does it Last?
Chili seasoning will last for up to 1-2 years if stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
Recipes to Use It In
- Instant Pot Ground Turkey Chili
- Healthy Sweet Potato Ground Turkey Chili
- Instant Pot Chicken Pumpkin Chili
- Crock Pot Vegan Chili – use it in place of the taco seasoning!
Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe
Homemade Chili Seasoning is the best DIY spice mix and tastes great in everything from ground turkey and beef to vegan chili recipes. This chili seasoning recipe has a secret ingredient, is naturally gluten-free, vegan, low-carb, Whole30, and Paleo, is super easy to make, and can be stored for up to a year!
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 ½ Tbsp. cumin
- 2 tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. oregano dried
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 3 tsp. salt optional
Instructions
-
Whisk together all of the ingredients in a small bowl until well combined.
-
Use 3-4 tablespoons of seasoning mix for every 1 pound of ground meat.
-
Make this Instant Pot Turkey Chili with it or store in an airtight container for up to 6 months in a cool, dry place.
Recipe Notes
- Nutrition information is for 1 tablespoon of chili seasoning.
- Recipe yields ~½ cup of chili seasoning.
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TaccoDawg says
Really nice results. Beats store bought mixes in spades. I really love the cinnamon addition. I’ll throw out two more kickers I use.. For the above recipe I added 1/4 tsp ea. of Ground Mustard and Clove. They add a nice kick without bumping the heat any higher. I mainly rely on fresh peppers for heat.
London says
Yay! So happy you enjoyed the recipe – the mustard and clove sound incredible. Thanks for the comment and rating! 🙂
DonnaMarie says
This was a delicious chili seasoning , thank you !
Renee Brown says
Rave reviews from the family!
London says
Yay, Renee!! So happy to hear the fam enjoyed it. Thanks for your comment and rating! 🙂
Anonymous says
This will be perfect in our family chili recipe. Thanks for sharing!
London says
Yay!! I hope you love the recipe 🙂