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This homemade fajita seasoning is spicy, smoky, salty, and the only seasoning you’ll need to make perfect fajitas every time. It’s loaded with onion, garlic, and cumin, and only takes a few minutes to make.
One of my favorite foods to make is chicken fajitas. We all know I am all about any type of Mexican food. But fajitas are loaded with flavor, seared meat, and plenty of onions and peppers. There is just something special about it.
The secret to this recipe is that it’s so well-balanced. It’s not too spicy, not too salty, and not too smoky. I had when the packages are just super salty or sweet, so a homemade version so much better for when you cook up a batch of chicken, steak, or shrimp fajitas.
Why This Is the Best Fajita Seasoning Recipe
I always have a jar of homemade fajita seasoning on my spice rack. Here’s why I know you’ll love it.
- Fast and easy. There’s nothing easier than making a good spice rub. All you have to do is take seven spices, mix them together, and put them in a jar.
- Better than store-bought. Most people use a store-bought rub when they make fajitas. But this lets you control the spicy, salt and sweetness.
- Cheaper. It’s also way cheaper to make your own spice rubs. Fajita seasoning gets really marked up in the store, so you can save a lot of money by making your own.
- Super versatile. This spice rub is a one-stop shop for when you make fajitas. You can also use it to season the meat in any other Mexican recipe.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Paprika – I like to use smoked paprika for fajitas.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper – For best results, use freshly-cracked black pepper.
How to Make Fajita Seasoning
Here’s how to make this restaurant-quality fajita seasoning in just a few minutes. It’s as easy as recipes get!
- Mix. Put all of the ingredients together in a bowl or a jar, and mix until well combined.
- Store. Transfer the fajita mix to a spice jar or other airtight container.
Recipe Tips & Variations
Here are a few tips for making the best fajita seasoning, and a few variations you can try.
- Adjust to your liking. One of the best things about homemade seasoning mixes is that you can adjust them to your tastebuds. If you like your fajitas spicier, you can increase the chili powder and black pepper, or add cayenne pepper or hot paprika. If you don’t like spicy food, just cut back on the chili. You can add chipotle powder for additional smokiness, or dried herbs like oregano, thyme, and rosemary for a fresher flavor. Feel free to add and subtract based on what you like!
- Use fresh spices. Dried spices don’t expire, but they do lose their flavor over time. For the freshest and most flavorful fajita seasoning, use spices that you’ve purchased within the last year.
- Shake before using. Sometimes homemade spice rubs can separate over time, as the heavier ingredients sink to the bottom of the jar. Before using this smoky and spicy fajita seasoning, give the jar a shake to make sure the ingredients are mixed together.
How To Use Homemade Fajita Seasoning
I use 2 Tablespoons of this recipe for every pound or 1 ½ pounds of meat. You can use it as a dry rub, or mix it with olive oil and lime juice to create a marinade. Then all you have to do is make your favorite fajitas (I’m currently in love with Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas).
You can also use fajita seasoning to flavor the meat in any other Mexican recipe, such as Taco Casserole, Mexican Pizza, or Totchos.
How to Store
Storing homemade fajita seasoning couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is place it in an airtight container and keep it out of direct sunlight. It will last forever, but I recommend using it within a year or the flavors will grow stale.
More Easy Homemade Spice Rubs
- The Best Dry Rub
- Italian Seasoning
- Pork Chop Seasoning
- Ranch Dressing Mix
- Taco Seasoning
- Italian Dressing Mix
Fajita Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 Tablespoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 scant teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all of the spices together.2 Tablespoons chili powder, 1 1/2 Tablespoons ground cumin, 1 Tablespoon paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 scant teaspoon black pepper
- Store in an airtight container out of direct sunlight.
Notes
- Use 2 tablespoons of fajita seasoning for each 1-1 1/2 pound of meat.
- You can use this as a dry rub, or mix it with olive oil and lime juice to make a marinade.
- For best results, use spices that have been purchased within the last year.
- The fajita seasoning will last indefinitely if store out of direct sunlight, but will start to get a little less flavorful after a year.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I have to give this mix a try. I love making my own spice mixes because I can control the salt.
I use this blend all the time – thanks!
I love homemade seasoning! This is seriously amazing! Thank you!
This is a terrific recipe. I couldn’t find a fajita sauce in the stores that I liked, so I decided to try my hand at making something from scratch. Thank you, Erin, for the recipe. I sprinkled it on my veggies which were sizzling in the pan and then added a little lime juice as you suggested could be done for a marinade. Threw in sliced flank steak, and we had a quick, easy and mostly healthy lunch. (I had marinated the flank steak in one of the unsatisfying store-bought sauces, and then had frozen it. Next time I’ll just use this for a dry rub.)
So glad that you like it! It is super versatile you really can use it in a million different ways.