Homemade fajita seasoning is a flavorful blend of spices crafted with paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder.
This combination of flavorful herbs and spices is perfect for fajitas with chicken, shrimp, or pork.
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Ingredients in Fajita Seasoning
Fajita seasoning is similar to taco seasoning but is a bit bolder. Preparing your own seasoning mixes allows you to adjust the ingredients according to your tastes, and we like the flavor better than store-bought.
The recipe below is a blend of chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and other basic pantry spices.
Smoked paprika is different from regular or sweet paprika. It has a very smoky fragrance and will give the fajitas an extra boost of flavor. A pinch of sugar helps caramelize the meat or veggies as they cook.
Substitutions & Variations
The best thing about making seasoning mixes is that it allows you to unleash your creativity. Add more ingredients or subtract others to bring as much or as little heat or complexity as you desire. Consider adding or substituting oregano, celery salt, cocoa powder, turmeric, coriander, or chipotle powder.
Other Uses For Fajita Seasoning
- This spice mix can be used as a rub for beef, fish, or chicken.
- Make chicken, steak, pork, or shrimp fajitas or tacos.
- Stir it into a marinade for a boost of flavor.
- It’s a great addition to homemade chili, soups, and rice.
- Stir extra seasoning into refried beans, guacamole, or sprinkle over corn on the cob.
Storage
This fajita seasoning will last up to 6 months. Store it in a tightly covered jar to ensure the herbs and aromatics retain their oils.
Fajita Favorites
Fry up an onion and a handful of bell peppers and stir in a tablespoon of fajita seasoning for a dinner!
Did you make this homemade Fajita Seasoning? Leave a rating and a comment below.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar optional
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, salt pepper, and cayenne pepper, and whisk together.
- Store in a spice jar or an airtight container.
- To use fajita seasoning, combine 1 pound of meat and 1 ½ tablespoons of seasoning mix (or more to taste). Grill or cook in a cast iron skillet with sliced onions and bell peppers.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Pantry, Seasonings, Spices
Cuisine Mexican© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Great rub! I doubled it and still used almost all for 10 chicken thighs. I put thighs in large ziplock, included olive oil, rub, and left in fridge all day. Threw them on the grill that evening and they tasted wonderful. Thanks!
My family love this, easy to throw together at home.
I saw your comment about roughly 2 tbsp per pound, but what about the other things (the oil, lime juice, etc?). Is there a rough idea of what you’d recommend for those ingredients per pound as well?
Hi Curtis, you can take a look at these recipes for ideas for the other ingredients:
Enjoy!
This was perfect! I used seasoned salt instead of kosher, and I had to keep the cayenne pepper out due to allergy, but it was great!!
This seasoning mix is Wonderful. My family love it.
Great recipe easy to assemble, tastes great!
How much homemade fajitas seasoning should you use
This would depend on the amount of ingredients you use. I use about 2 tablespoons per pound of meat, you can adjust this to taste.
Delish!!! I only had ancho Chili powder so subbed it. Definitely will make again!
I love reading through a recipe and finding I have all the ingredients. I can’t wait to try this!
Let us know how it works out for you!
Thanks. But you would save your readers some arithmetic if you could list the ingredients from scratch (rather than assuming they would first concoct a 1 Tbs batch of chili powder and then add to it many of those same ingredients (cumin, paprika, garlic and onion powder) etc.).
Chili powder is a staple in my cabinet so I like to add it in. It can be purchased already prepared or can be homemade. Hope that helps!
Wonderful!! Thank you!!
You’re welcome!
Great recipies!
Thank you Linda, happy cooking!
Great flavor and mild enough for my sensative bride.
I literally just put double this recipe in with 2 diced chicken breasts and some peppers and it’s the perfect amount of spicy and flavorful!
Easy and fast
It’s great!!!
Excellent flavor! We had your chicken fajitas and it was superb. A new family favorite!
So happy to hear that Tammy!
I made this and used it on chicken and steak fajitas. I am on a low sodium restriction and Though I love Fajitas I cannot order them at most restaurants because they are way over salted. This had the perfect blend of taste and light salt. It turned out wonderful and I will definitely keep this one for future use.
How much water for 2 tbsp?
Hi Sara, there is no water added to this recipe. I hope that helps!
How much seasoning should be used per pound of meat?
I use about 2 tablespoons per pound.
Made the fajita seasoning and it was a huge with my teenage son. Mild enough to still taste the beef and veggies, but strong enough to give a terrific fajita experience. Thank you!