The secret to the BEST chili recipes!
Nothing says fall or football season like a big ol’ bowl of chili—am I right?!
But let’s be real: not all chilis are created equal.
After years of tweaking and taste-testing, I’ve figured out the secret to the BEST chili… and it’s all in the seasoning.
That’s why I whipped up this super simple Chili Seasoning Mix—it’s easy to make, easy to store, and brings that bold, cozy flavor every time.
Keep a jar on hand and give your next batch of chili that extra UMPH! it’s been missing.
(If you need a little inspo, try it out in this Instant Pot Beef Chili, Pumpkin Chili or Sweet Potato Turkey Chili!)
Ingredients
The ingredients you need to make this homemade chili seasoning include:
- Chili Powder. The star of the show, this 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 kick!
- Garlic Powder. Please do not substitute for garlic salt. You can, however, opt for onion powder, instead.
- Oregano. Feel free to swap out with dried thyme or basil.
- Cayenne pepper. You can adjust the amount according to your spice preference. Or, use red pepper flakes if you do not have cayenne pepper on hand.
- Cinnamon. A super tasty secret ingredient! It adds an extra level of flavor to your homemade chili recipes.
- Black pepper. Any good ground black pepper works great.
- Salt. This is completely optional. Leave this out if you want to decrease the amount of sodium.
How to Make Chili Seasoning
Below you’ll find the simple steps to make this homemade chili seasoning mix:
Gather Ingredients
Making this spice mix at home is quite simple and requires a few easy to find spices and herbs.
The first step is to collect everything you need. All of the ingredients should be readily available at your local grocery store.
Mix it Up
After you collect the ingredients, all you need to do is stir it together.
You can either use a bowl, or combine everything in the container you want to store it in to save time.
Storing
It is best to keep homemade spice mixes in an airtight container.
Store this blend 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.
Chili seasoning will last for up to 1-2 years if stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
FAQs
Use 3-4 tablespoons of chili seasoning mix per pound of ground meat.
No, they will never go bad, but they will lose their potency over time. Make sure you it store in an airtight container for the best results.
Cinnamon is a fabulous secret ingredient for chili! It adds the best subtle yet amazing flavor.
The two spice mixes are quite similar, and you can use taco seasoning for chili, especially for more of a Mexican flair. However, to make traditional chili it is best to stick with chili seasoning.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Make it smoky. Mix in half smoked and half regular paprika.
- Use less dishes. Combine the ingredients in the container you are using to store the blend.
- Know how much. Season one pound of meat with 3-4 tablespoons of chili seasoning.
- Store it right. Keep the blend in a small, airtight container.
- Keep it cool. Heat will ruin this spice mix, so store it in a cool place away from moisture.
Recipes with Chili Seasoning
Use this delicious DIY recipe in any of these chili variations for the perfect, cozy meal:
Instant Pot Beef Chili, Instant Pot Chicken Pumpkin Chili and Instant Pot Ground Turkey Chili can be ready in no time!
Healthy Sweet Potato Ground Turkey Chili is a family favorite in our house.
Vegan Chili and Pumpkin Chili are both creative ways to use up chili seasoning!
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Best Chili Seasoning Recipe
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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 Ingredients: Add all ingredients to a small bowl or mason jar for storing. Whisk together until well combined.3 Tbsp. chili powder, 1 ½ Tbsp. cumin, 2 tsp. paprika, ½ tsp. cayenne pepper, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. oregano, ¼ tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. black pepper, 3 tsp. salt
- Use 3-4 tablespoons of seasoning mix for every 1 pound of ground meat.
- Make this Instant Pot Turkey Chili or Instant Pot Beef Chili with it or store in an airtight container for up to 6 months in a cool, dry place.
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Notes
- Nutrition information is for 1 tablespoon of chili seasoning.
- Recipe yields ~½ cup of chili seasoning.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If I’m using 2 lbs of ground beef would I use about 6 Tablespoons of this mixture?
That’s right!
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.
Yay! So happy you enjoyed the recipe – the mustard and clove sound incredible. Thanks for the comment and rating! 🙂
This was a delicious chili seasoning , thank you !
Rave reviews from the family!
Yay, Renee!! So happy to hear the fam enjoyed it. Thanks for your comment and rating! 🙂
This will be perfect in our family chili recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Yay!! I hope you love the recipe 🙂