Love making fajitas? Contrary to what you might think, the seasoning doesn’t have to come out of a packet. Meet this homemade fajita seasoning! It’s quick and easy to make, using spices you might already have on hand. The flavor is unreal: vibrant and punchy, without a lot of heat. The best part? It’s all natural: there are none of those preservatives or additives that are in store-bought mixes. And you can control the salt content, too. Here’s how to mix up a batch.
How to make fajita seasoning
There’s no official definition of fajita seasoning, but most mixes contain the heavy hitters in Mexican cuisine: cumin, chili powder, garlic, and paprika. This recipe takes only a few minutes to make! All you’ll have do is mix together these spices (which you might already have on hand):
CuminChili powderSmoked paprika or paprikaGarlic powderSalt and black pepper
Taco seasoning vs fajita seasoning: what’s the difference?
If you’re into seasonings like we are, you might notice that taco seasoning is very close to fajita seasoning. What’s the difference between the two? (Great question: we wondered the same.) Both are very similar, and there’s no “official” definition of either. While they use many similar ingredients, taco seasoning has more chili powder and oregano than fajita seasoning. Compare our recipes and you’ll see this fajita seasoning is more cumin heavy, whereas taco seasoning is more chili powder heavy. That makes the taco seasoning a bit spicier, too. Speaking of…
What’s smoked paprika?
If you can find it, use smoked paprika! It’s a Spanish version of paprika that adds a smoky flavor, but no heat or spice. It’s made up of dried pimiento peppers that that are smoked over a fire, then ground. You can find smoked paprika in the spice aisle in most grocery stores. You can also buy it online here. Keep the following in mind:
Smoked paprika may be labeled as any of the following: pimentón, Spanish smoked paprika or sweet smoked paprika.Avoid hot smoked paprika! It’s too spicy and not interchangeable.Need more recipes to use up the jar? Here’s our Best Smoked Paprika Recipes.
Is fajita seasoning spicy?
No! At least, this one isn’t. If you’d like your fajita seasoning to be spicy, you can add some cayenne to this mix. We’d recommend starting with ¼ teaspoon cayenne, then adjusting to fit your heat tolerance.
How long to store homemade fajita seasoning
You can store your homemade fajita seasoning mix in an airtight container for 6 months to 1 year. Of course, the fresher the better! Spices generally last for 8 months to 1 year, but of course they are best when freshly purchased. Need spice organization tips? If your spice drawer or cabinet is like ours, always getting messy and overcrowded, go to How to Organize Your Spices…the Minimalist Way. It’s a helpful way to keep tabs on your spices.
Ways to use fajita seasoning
There are so many ways to use fajita seasoning, outside the obvious ways. Here are a few ideas of recipes where you can use it:
This fajita seasoning recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten free, vegan, plant based, dairy free, naturally sweet, refined sugar free, low carb, and keto.
More seasoning blends
Making DIY seasoning mixes at home is so easy! They taste incredible—much better than storebought—and are fun gifts, too. Try all our seasoning blends (listed by style): 4 from 2 reviews For a spicy variation, you can add cayenne pepper: start with ¼ teaspoon and adjust to your taste.
Mexican: Taco SeasoningMediterranean: Greek Seasoning, Italian Seasoning, Herbes de ProvenceCajun: Cajun Seasoning, Blackened SeasoningAmerican: Old Bay Seasoning, Chili Seasoning, Everything Bagel Seasoning, Ranch SeasoningAll Purpose: Seasoned Salt, Seafood Seasoning
