Chili Powder is a simple spice blend that’s easy to make with spices you likely already have in your pantry!
A delicious pot of chili is the perfect food, summer or winter… game day or family meal. I started blending my own chili powder after running short one cold winters day and I have never looked back!
Chili is one of my favorite dishes to make in cold weather. It warms your body after a cold day and it is so deliciously filling that my family always hopes there will be enough leftovers for the following day!
This recipe is so easy that you are going to wonder why you have never made your own chili powder before.
How Do You Make Chili Powder?
This chili powder recipe couldn’t be easier… simply combine your spices in a bowl and mix. I keep it in a sealed jar in the pantry for several months!
The sweet flavor in chili powder comes from paprika which is a spice made from dried ground mild peppers. This chili powder recipe calls for smoked paprika, which is an optional ingredient. If you don’t have it you can certainly omit it but it adds a lovely smoky depth of flavor to the mixture (and you can usually buy just as much as you need in the bulk aisle area).
I add a pinch of cayenne to add a touch of heat, if you like it spicy feel free to add a little extra (be careful, a little goes a long way). If you prefer a very mild chili powder, you can leave the cayenne out completely or replace it with a bit of black pepper.
You likely have all of the spices you will need in your pantry and you will love the flavor of homemade chili powder!
This recipe for homemade chili powder can be used in many recipes to add a delectable kick to whatever you are cooking. It comes together in under 5 minutes and will store well for up to one years time if stored in a glass jar. I recommend storing your spices, including this one, away from your stove to keep it fresh.
My Favorite Recipes with Chili Powder
- Easy Crock Pot Chili Recipe – EASY!
- Slow Cooker Creamy White Chicken Chili
- Frito Corn Salad – Pot luck favorite!
- Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup
- Chili Mac Skillet – Quick family meal!
Homemade Chili Powder
Ingredients
- ⅛ cup sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and mix well.
- Store in a sealed container up to 1 year.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Spices
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muchísimas gracias por compartir tu receta…gracias. La incluyo en mi recetario para cuando haga charro beans, o lentejas estilo Texas (sureñas)…Incluyo tu receta en mi recetario a partir de este momento. Muchas gracias de nuevo, y un fuerte saludo desde Madrid (España).
Very nice recipe chef . Thank you for your effort
Thank you for this recipe. By the way, I love your web site. Now, I always want the best and I love to experiment. Chili powder is the greatest powder seasoning on earth that I know of. I could eat it everyday. Of course I add cocoa and sweetness to perfect it. I love all your other recipes. Literally billions of different combinations are possible with everything out there in this world. Keep putting a little spice in our life! God bless you!
Thank you so much for the kind words Tony, this made my day! I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes!
I love this recipe but, having made it several times, I now have more hot paprika (and of course smoked paprika) in my spice cabinet. I’m wondering: if I use hot paprika instead of sweet, can I just leave out the cayenne AND cumen?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure S. You could likely leave out the cayenne, but I would still add the cumin for flavor. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
Ran out of chili powder in the middle of cooking. This recipe saved me! Thank you!
You’re welcome Sherri, so glad that you had the recipe right when you needed it!
very good base to start with. I added extra smoked paprika and as I read the review suggestions, I added the chocolate w Adobo. such a rich flavor!
This looks like a good blend of spices, but where are the chili peppers?
We use paprika which is a spice made from dried ground mild peppers. Enjoy Connie!
Perfecto! Thank you for this awesome recipe, I will be making my own from now on!!
Excellent recipe! I will be making my own whenever possible now. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
made this today for the first time it was great.
Absolutely excellent recipe . I’m so glad I found it. I have to cut down a little on the cayenne pepper though.
Very good recipes. Can’t wait to try it.
The traditional combination for chili powder is ground Ancho chili (mild heat) and cumin. You don’t need the onion/garlic, if you prefer not to add it. Dried Ancho chilis are standard fare in Mexican grocery stores.
My granddaughter is allergic to garlic. Any suggestions for a substitute?
Hi Brenda, I would just leave it out or you can try replacing it with a little extra cumin and ground peppercorn.
Where did you get the little jars shown in the 1st picture, and the recipe picture?
BTW… This recipe looks good, I’m going to try it, and let you know.
I am pretty sure that jar came from Anthropologie many many years ago. It came with a little silicone cover (that looks like a cute piece of white cloth but it’s actually silicone). Enjoy the recipe!
Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe, it worked great in your chili recipe. It was quick and easy to make with great results. Best of all the ingredients are ones always found in the pantry.
You’re welcome Ger, so glad you found this so easy to make, with ingredients you already have!
wow its so nice recipe of homemade chilli powder. Chilli powder is mostly use of Indian spices at every home.
Thanks, Vyom, glad you enjoyed it!
Have tried other recipes on chili seasoning but, this one is the best. I didn’t put in the smoked paprika because I use home grown jalapeños. My family loved this better than any I’ve Cooked lately. There was none left over. Definitely will use this next time.
This chili mix is absolutely perfect. It has now become my go-to for chili.
For me, it was exactly the fact that you don’t use ground chili peppers, that made me choose your recipe over the umpteen others I ran across. I live in Canada where the seasoning blend is called “chili powder” to begin with, plus a lot of ground chili types (like ancho) are not readily available here. Also this recipe already has cayenne, which for me is enough kick for a blend like this. And finally, the taste is excellent – exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.
Nice blend, but all chili powders should include ancho, whereas cayenne (although more common) is optional.
Hi JS, I also live in Canada. Calgary actually. There is a spice merchant here the name is Silk Road I get all my Spices from them.
Doobie