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Blackened Seasoning Recipe

Robyn Stone

Published Jan 29, 2025

This Blackened Seasoning recipe is a mix of chili peppers, herbs, and spices used to blacken fish, seafood, poultry, beef, and vegetables! Adds so much flavor to your recipes!

Looking for more easy seasoning recipes? I think you will love my Stone House Seasoning , Homemade Taco Seasoning , and Homemade Ranch Seasoning recipes.

Photograph of ingredients for blackened seasoning in a white dish - 1

When you want to add bold, spicy flavors to a dish, you definitely want to add this blackened seasoning recipe. It delivers incredible flavor and spiciness that we crave from time to time.

What is Blackened Seasoning?

Blackened Seasoning, also called Blackening Seasoning, is similar to Cajun Seasoning and Creole Seasoning. All three originated from Louisianna and add so much flavor to recipes.

I love to think of the three this way:

Creole Seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices and is the least spicy of the three.
Cajun Seasoning is a blend of chilis and other spices and tends to be the spiciest of the three.
Blackened Seasoning is a blend of herbs, chilis, and other spices and sits right in the middle of the three as it relates to spiciness.

What is Blackening?

The term blackening refers to the cooking process, not the seasoning itself.

How to Blacken Foods?

Blackening foods is a quick and easy style of cooking. You season your fish, seafood, poultry, pork, beef, pasta, or vegetables with blackened seasoning and then cook over high heat in a cast iron skillet with butter. The food develops a dark crust that is blackened food’s signature look and flavor.

How to Make Blackened Seasoning

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

Blackening Seasoning is typically made with a mixture of a type of chili peppers, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, oregano, and thyme. I also like to include cumin in my recipe.

Substitutions and Additions

Chili powder – Use chili powder in place of the cayenne pepper called for in my recipe if you prefer a little less heat in your seasonings.

Customize Your Blackening Seasoning to Your Own Tastes

Once you have used this seasoning recipe in your cooking for a few recipes, customize it to your own preferences for just the perfect amount of spiciness.

If you prefer more heat in your seasoning: add more paprika, cayenne, or chili powder to the mix.

If you prefer less heat in your seasoning: add more garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and cumin to offset the heat of the paprika, cayenne, or chili powder used.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Make the seasoning. Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine well. Transfer to an airtight container and store in a dark place.

Equipment

Spice Jar

Ingredients

▢ 2 tablespoons paprika
▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt
▢ 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
▢ 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
▢ 2 teaspoons ground cumin
▢ 2 teaspoons dried thyme
▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

Combine all in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container in a dark place.

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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