Blackened Seasoning Blend (For Chicken, Seafood & Veggies)

This post may contain affiliate links.

Make your own Homemade Blackened Seasoning blend with simple herbs, spices and absolutely no sugar. It’s delicious on fish, shrimp, chicken and more, plus it’s Whole30, Paleo and Keto friendly.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

The blackened seasoning in a small glass dish on a white marble board with a tiny spoon.

Homemade Blackened Seasoning Recipe

Do you make your own spice blends yet? Trust me, once you start, you’ll never go back to store-bought packs again. I love to fill my own pantry with these jars of deliciousness. I love to make my own taco seasoning, Italian seasoning, and ranch seasoning, too!

But one of my recent favorites is this homemade blackened seasoning. This bold, smoky and slightly spicy spice blend is commonly used in Cajun and Creole cooking. You can use it to coat proteins like fish, chicken or shrimp.

Once it’s seasoned, sear the protein in a hot pan, which creates a flavorful crust. You can use it for grilling or pan-cooking, and even oven-baking! It’s so versatile and can even be your family’s go-to all-purpose seasoning. You’re going to love it!

Why Blackened Seasoning is Worth Making

Budget Friendly: Making your own spice blends is a great way to save money. I buy bulk spices, then make my own blends to use in tons of different ways!
Clean Ingredients: Making your own blackened seasoning ensures there’s no sneaky stuff added to your food. A lot of store-bought seasoning packets contain preservatives, gluten, maltodextrin, and other ingredients that may not help you feel your best.
Sugar Free: This recipe has no sugar or sugar substitutes. If you’re following Keto, Low Carb, Whole30, or any other clean eating plan, you should definitely try it!

A small glass dish filled with all the blackened seasoning spices: oregano, pepper, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, onion powder.

Ingredients

The ingredients in blackened seasoning are very simple. In fact, you probably have them in your pantry right now! Here’s what you’ll need:

Cumin
Chili Powder
Paprika, or substitute smoked paprika for a smokey option
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Oregano
Salt
Pepper

IMPORTANT: If you have an allergy or sensitivity to gluten, check your spice bottle labels for any allergy warnings to ensure what you're using is Certified Gluten Free.

How to Make Blackened Seasoning

Making seasoning blends is super simple. Here's what to do!

You throw everything in a jar or bottle. Or even in a bowl.
Shake or stir it up, until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

That's it! Use the blend right away, or store the spice blend for later. Keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place to maintain freshness and potency.

A plate with cooked blackened flounder drizzled with cream and served with sides.

Storage

Always store homemade spice blends like this blackened seasoning in an airtight container (like a spice jar). They should be kept at room temperature and in a cool, dark place like a cabinet or pantry.

The spice blend will keep for a long time (like 3 years!) unless any ingredient expires first, but for best taste, enjoy it within 3-4 months.

Be sure to check your spice blends' expiration dates before you use them! Spices can and do go bad, so it's a good idea to check them once a year or so and replace any that need it.

Tips for Success

This incredible Blackened Seasoning recipe is better than store-bought. To make it extra succesful, here are a few solid tips:

Label and date your spice mixes to track freshness.
Store spice blends away from heat and sunlight to prevent flavor loss.
Always shake or stir spice mixes before use to redistribute settled ingredients.

FAQ

What does blackened seasoning taste like?

Blackened seasoning tastes lightly spicy and herbaceous. The depth of flavor really compliments mild proteins or anything sweet.

How do you use blackened seasoning?

Coat your food with a little olive or avocado oil and rub a generous amount of blackened seasoning all over. Cook over medium-high heat to get a nice crust from the seasoning and enjoy!

Recipes That Use Blackened Seasoning

You can use blackened seasoning for all kinds of protein. It's great on white fish like flounder (pictured above!) or tilapia, as well as on blackened salmon. Seafood too — try it with shrimp or crawfish.

And it's also great on chicken — rub it all over a whole chicken or a batch of Cajun-inspired chicken wings. You can even sprinkle it on vegetables like microwave broccoli. It's equally delicious with shrimp, chicken, or veggies.