The end of May usually marks the start of cookout season, so you know you need a chili seasoning recipe on hand for your next cookout. Let’s fire up the grill!

With so many ways to serve up Homemade Chili, making your own seasoning blend really allows you to showcase the flavors you absolutely love without preservatives or additives! Serve the chili on top of burgers, hot dogs, as a dip, inside walking tacos… the possibilities are endless!

To be honest, this blend is so versatile. Besides chili, you can also use this as a replacement for taco seasoning! The flavors are so similar, sometimes I swap the two out in several recipes. Some examples of when I do this include these Flipped Over Puff Pasty Chicken Tacos, my Sheet Pan Wedge Salads, and this One Skillet Buffalo Chicken Chili Mac.

WATCH ME USE THIS ON THE GRAM TO MAKE CHILI!

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOMEMADE AND STORE-BOUGHT CHILI SEASONING MIX?

I’m sure you’ve seen these teeny-tiny packets at the grocery store, often a few bucks for a mere 3 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) of mix. While they might seem convenient, more often than not, these pre-made seasonings packets include anti-caking agents (like flour), fillers, and artificial flavors. Why pay for that extra stuff when you can make a cleaner version yourself in a matter of minutes? This recipe makes a single-serving, equivalent to just about the same amount that you would use from a store bought packet, but for way less money.

IS CHILI POWDER THE SAME AS CHILI SEASONING?

Nope! Chili powder is made by grinding together dehydrated chili peppers. You can use a hotter pepper for spicier powder blends or a more mild pepper for a powder with less heat (for instance, a bell pepper).

All chili seasonings include chili powder, but then they are mixed with other spices and ingredients to make a seasoning blend.

CHILI SEASONING VERSES TACO SEASONING:

While these both are very similar (hence why I mentioned above that you can interchange them with each other in some recipes), chili seasoning is often spicier with more emphasis on the chili powder. Taco seasoning tends to be milder with more of a focus on cumin.

SPICES FOR HOMEMADE CHILI SEASONING:

If you go look in your pantry, I bet you already have most of these items on hand.

Chili Powder
Cumin
Sweet Paprika
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Mustard Powder
Oregano
Brown Sugar
Salt
Red Chili Flakes

One thing I love about making my own is the fact that I can adjust it to feature different flavor profiles (earthy, smokey, spicy, etc.) and control the amount of salt.

STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE:

Often I’ll double, or even triple this recipe to keep extra in my spice cabinet. Feel free to use the recipe card below to convert to a larger batch. When doing so, I pour all ingredients into a mason jar that has a lid and then shake it up. Make sure your mason jar’s lid is air-tight and you can store this mix, in a cool dark place away from direct light and heat, for up to 2 months.

MORE GRILLING SEASON RECIPES:

Classic Homemade Chili (with beans)

How To Make Chili in 30 Minutes

Fun Hot Dog Recipes To Enjoy All Super Long

Grilled Corn with Cilantro Cowboy Butter

Super Refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta

Weeknight Grilled Sesame Ginger Chicken

How to Grill New York Strip Steak at Any Temperature

Hatch Chili Mexican Sweet Corn Dip

Mind-Blowing Southern Baked Mac & Cheese

BROWSE ALL RECIPES BY CLICKING HERE

Super Easy Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe

The end of May usually marks the start of cookout season, so you know you need a chili seasoning recipe on hand for your next cookout. Let's fire up the grill!

SERVINGS

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

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Ingredients

2 tbsp. Chili Powder
2 tsp. Cumin
1/2 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
1 tsp. Mustard Powder
1 tsp. Dried Oregano
2 tsp. Brown Sugar, or more to taste
1/2 tsp. Salt, or more to taste
1 tsp. Red Chili Flakes, optional per heat preference

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk together.
Use immediately or store in an airtight container to use later.

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MORE NOTES ON THIS RECIPE:

Ever wanted to make your own chili powder? My brother-in-law actually just gave me a full mason jar of dried Thai chilies from his garden and I’m going to try it! From the research I’ve done online, I’m going to try this method first from fellow blogger Love and Lemons.
I love the addition of mustard powder when making chili seasoning. I use Coleman’s Dry English Mustard for some extra zip, but you can also use generic ground mustard if that’s all you can find. Publix sells one that’s decent. Ground mustard is a little more course than dry mustard, but still does the trick.
This makes a little over 3 tablespoons of chili seasoning, which is the same amount as the grocery store packet (but more flavorful!). Use this amount per 1 pound of ground beef, chicken, or turkey when making chili.