If you’re anything like me, you try to cook food that tastes good, but you’re mainly concerned with getting dinner on the table. All I really care about is that it tastes good and that my family is willing to eat it. If that sounds like you too, then you’re in luck, because today’s post is all about making more flavorful food without getting swept up in the particulars.
In my experience, the absolute easiest way to produce better tasting food is to season it properly. Under-seasoned food is bland and unexciting, and makes eating feel like more of a chore than a treat. Simply taking the time to add the right amount of seasoning to whatever you’re cooking can make a world of difference!
So today I’ll be sharing my personal favorite blend of seasonings, which I’m calling “Jillee’s House Chicken Seasoning” (though I use it for much more than just chicken!)
Related: Everything You Need to Make 10 Homemade Spice Mixes in Under an Hour
I’ll also be sharing five store-bought seasoning blends that were strongly recommended to me by my Facebook followers! Most of these blends are all-purpose seasonings that can be used to add flavor to just about anything you might want to cook.
Take a look, and you might just find your new favorite seasoning. And if you have a favorite seasoning blend that isn’t listed here, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section at the bottom of this post! :-)
6 Tried-and-True Seasoning Blends That Make Everything Taste Better
1. Jillee’s House Chicken Seasoning
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Dried parsley
I developed this blend of seasonings over years of cooking chicken breasts for my kids when they were younger. I never really felt the need to turn this into a true “blend” by pre-mixing it because sprinkling each one onto whatever I’m cooking only takes a few seconds, and these five seasonings are always within reach when I’m cooking anyway.
From its humble beginnings as my go-to chicken seasoning, it has since evolved into my go-to seasoning for everything. I put it on potatoes, vegetables, pork, and much more for an easy boost of flavor.
2. Montreal Steak Seasoning
This bold seasoning includes garlic, paprika, and coarsely ground pepper, among other ingredients. Add it to steaks, burgers, and pork to pump up the flavor. One customer review from Amazon suggests using it to season Brussels sprouts, then sautéing them and finishing them off with a dash of lemon juice. Yum!
3. Cavender’s Greek Seasoning
This seasoning blend is supposedly based on an Ancient Greek formula, and contains salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, and other spices. There are a lot of very devoted fans of this seasoning who use it liberally on salads, steamed vegetables, chicken, and more.
This blend does contain MSG, but that should only deter you if you have a sensitivity to it. (Did you know that numerous studies of MSG have debunked the myth that it causes headaches, nausea, and other symptoms in the majority of people?)
4. Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning Blend
The original Mrs. Dash blend is consistently one of the most popular all-purpose seasoning blends. It contains 14 herbs and spices including onion, black pepper, parsley, basil, orange peel, and more.
This blend is also salt-free, which makes it a great choice for those on low-sodium diets, or anyone who wants more control over how much salt they’re using!
5. Trader Joe’s “Everything But The Bagel” Sesame Seasoning Blend
This seasoning blend mimics the flavor of “everything” bagels with ingredients like dried garlic, dried onions, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. But its usefulness isn’t limited only to breakfast foods—fans of this seasoning blend use it on toast, garlic bread, eggs, potatoes, chicken… the list goes on and on!
More Ideas You'll Love
6. Old Bay Seasoning
Old Bay seasoning has been ubiquitous at crab and seafood boils along the east coast since its debut in 1939. The contents of this blend are a closely guarded secret, but the ingredients list on the tin mentions celery salt, red pepper, and paprika. Diehard fans of Old Bay use it on every type of seafood, as well as on popcorn, chicken, biscuits, and vegetables.
What’s your go-to seasoning blend?
May I make a request? I really, REALLY need to use as little salt as possible. However, I love flavoring even if hubby thinks I am overdoing it at times. Do you have ideas that DO NOT include salt? Mrs. Dash is a bit staple in our house but…
Thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use Cavender’s Greek Seasoning all the time! They also make a no-salt version.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks, never heard of it, but I will try to find it.
Cavender’s comes in a small yellow cardboard or plastic spice container. It’s usually below the spice racks of the organized spices. HTH!
keep in mind that Cavenders greek seasoning has msg and sugar. Be sure to check your labels on all spice blends………………………
Mrs Dash is great, and they make a whole line of different flavors – all salt free! They have a steak seasoning, a southwest chipotle, lemon pepper… Cavender’s Greek Seasoning also makes a salt free version. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Cool, all I have found is the regular and the garlic. Thanks, good to know.
I highly recommend reading the book, “The Salt Fix: Why the Experts Got It All Wrong–and How Eating More Might Save Your Life” by James DiNicolantonio
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The author of this book is a pharmacist.
Costco has a wonderful salt-free seasoning called Kirkland Organic No-Salt Seasoning. Wonderful on all meats but I especially like it on pork and chicken.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love Badia Complete Seasoning.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasoning. Love it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I mix 1 part pepper to 2 parts sea salt, always have it in small bowl with spoon right next to my cooktop.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another topic I have a question on. What non aluminum pots and pans do you recommend? Also non stick.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love my Analon cookware.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have this one and absolutely love it! https://amzn.to/2R1MWZK
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love my Lagostina brand pot set.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We in upstate New York, have a local company that makes Buck’s seasoning. It’s wonderful on a variety of foods.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Cumin and Caraway (Kummel). Delicious in a bland minestrone type soup… and lots of other things.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Or Zaatar, a Lebanese spice mix with mediteranean herbs; roasted sesame and Sumac (the kind that grows in your garden – slightly sour seeds, good for lemonade too)
Gomasio; sea salt with roasted sesame seeds.
YUMMIE!!!!
My favorite “go to” chicken spice is Chinese Five Spice. Nothing can touch it as far as I’m concerned!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorites are homemade Cajun and Creole spice blends that I put in pretty shaker jars and put in Christmas baskets. I love them on chicken, especially!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When i first read the title of how to make everything you eat taste better, i have to admit the first thing that came to mind was “Get someone else to cook it”.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Lol, you just did what I was thinking, Leslie! Unfortunately, I don’t always have someone else around to do the cooking. Old Bay is a favorite in my house for seafood. Mrs Dash has also been a go to since we are trying to cut down on our sodium intake. We also find that a little dash of hot sauce livens up soups and stews. I will look out for the other seasoning blends next time I am at the market.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s so funny, Leslie!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is a fabulous tip! ;-)
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