Making your own spice mixes is very easy. This fajita spice mix recipe is a basic Tex-Mex fajita spice mix that you can use to season chicken, steak, or shrimp. This spice mix recipe has only 7 ingredients and is made entirely from scratch with no processed or pre-made ingredients.
The ingredients are: paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. If you want to make this recipe vegan, substitute 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika for 1 teaspoon of the regular paprika and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
You can store this fajita spice mix in a sealed container for up to six months.
2 tablespoons = 1 packet
You’ll often see fajita spice mixes for sale at the grocery store. They are convenient, and when you buy them already made you don’t have to worry about accidentally buying a pre-mixed batch of fajita spice mix that contains ingredients you don’t want (an onion powder for example).
But making your own homemade fajita spice mix is easy, fast, saves money and allows you to customize the blend to your own tastes. Turmeric, an ingredient in many of the store-bought versions, is one that some people may prefer to avoid adding to their food. If you’d prefer not to use turmeric in your own fajita spice mix, it’s easy enough to leave it out.
For a tasty alternative way of eating chicken breast or turkey breast, try this Tex-Mex recipe with homemade fajita spice mix from scratch:
Chili Lime Grilled Turkey Breast Recipe
Ingredients
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves (or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves)
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Fajitas are a very popular Tex-Mex dish made from grilled meat and onions. Fajita spice mix typically contains paprika, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder. Some versions include a little Worcestershire sauce for more flavor.
This fajita spice mix is easy to make from scratch, and it goes well on chicken or steak or vegetables. This recipe makes more than you will need for one meal, so you can use the leftovers for fajita nights throughout the week.
Fajita spice mix is a versatile blend that can be used for many more dishes than fajitas.
Serve this fajita spice mix with grilled chicken, beef or pork and make a killer DIY fajita burrito bowl. Or use it to spice up your meat and rice casserole dish. You can use the mix to coat grilled veggies, add it to your favorite ground meat recipe, or even sprinkle it on your scrambled eggs. Or use it as a dry rub for pork tenderloin or ribs before barbecuing them.*
I love fajitas, but it’s not all that easy to find high-quality spice mixes for them. Most are just chili powder and salt. I wanted something more interesting, so I set out to make my own mix.
I started with a list of spices on the back of a McCormick fajita spice packet and experimented from there, making notes as I went so that I could reproduce the results later. The final recipe is pretty far off from the McCormick mix, but it captures a lot of the same flavors while being free of preservatives and fillers.
Fajita Spice Mix from Scratch
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder (I like this blend)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons paprika (this is smoked paprika if you can get it)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Blend everything together in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months.**
Fajita spice mix is a blend of spices used to season fajitas, tacos, burritos and the like. It typically contains cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. It can also include chili pepper flakes for heat (I don’t use any heat in my mixture).
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon chili powder (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
¼ teaspoon onion powder
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine. Store in an airtight container until ready to use. To use: sprinkle one or two teaspoons of fajita spice mix on your meat or chicken just before grilling or sautéing. Enjoy!
I love fajitas and the spice mix used in them so much, I wanted to see what the recipe was. I never found it anywhere, so I made my own. As you can see, it’s not complicated.
This is how you make your own fajita spice mix:
1/2 cup chili powder
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to combine. To use: Rub vigorously on meat or vegetables before grilling or sauteing.
Serves 8 with about 1/4 cup left over for seasoning another time.**