The first homemade spice mix I made was taco seasoning, and and I’m so glad I decided to give it a try! Not only did my homemade taco seasoning result in some really delicious tacos, but the mix couldn’t have been easier to throw together. After that positive experience, I started collecting recipes for other homemade spice mixes as I came across them, and today I want to pass them along to you!
You’ll find the recipes for 10 different homemade spice mixes in this post. These spice mixes are just as convenient as their store-bought counterparts, but without any unnecessary fillers or mystery ingredients. (And in my humble opinion, the homemade mixes taste better too!)
Related: 10 Surprising Ingredients You Can Make To Save A Trip To The Store
In addition to the recipes, I’ve also got a few FREE printables that will help you make all 10 spice mixes at once, including:
- Spice mix recipe cards
- Ingredient shopping list
- Jar labels
You’ll find the download boxes for those files near the bottom of the post. But for now, let’s start by taking a look at those 10 tasty spice mix recipes! :-)
10 Flavorful Homemade Spice Mixes (And How To Make Them)
1. Taco Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 2 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp pepper
To Use:
Use approximately 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix for each pound of ground meat (or to taste). Add a little water if you like a more “saucy” taco mix.
Related: 21 Essential Spices & Herbs You Need To Have In Your Kitchen Cupboard
2. Ranch Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp pepper
To Use:
To make ranch dressing, whisk together 1/3 cup of mayonnaise, 1/4 cup of milk, and 1 tablespoon of the ranch mix. (Use more or less of each ingredient to get the flavor and consistency you want.) Season with salt, to taste.
3. Onion Soup Mix
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup dried minced onion
- 1/3 cup beef bouillon granules
- 1/4 cup onion powder
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp celery seed
To Use:
More Ideas You'll Love
To make onion dip, stir 4 tablespoons of onion soup mix into 16 oz of sour cream. This seasoning mix also tastes great on potatoes! Simply quarter some red potatoes, season them well with the onion soup mix, and bake until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
4. Chili Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 4 Tbsp chili powder
- 4 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
To Use:
Add 2 tablespoons of chili seasoning to one pot of chili. If you don’t have a favorite chili recipe, try browning 1 onion and 1 lb. ground beef. Then add 2 cans of beans, 2 cans of diced tomatoes, and the 2 tablespoons of chili seasoning. Simmer for at least 10 minutes, and serve warm.
5. Sloppy Joe Mix
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 4 Tbsp minced onion
- 4 Tbsp paprika
- 4 tsp ground cumin
- 4 tsp garlic powder
- 4 tsp salt
- 4 tsp pepper
To Use:
To make Sloppy Joes, start by browning 1 lb. of ground beef. Stir in a can of tomato sauce, 1/2 can of water, 1 tablespoon of mustard, and 2.5 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Add 1/2 cup of the Sloppy Joe spice mix and simmer 10 minutes. Serve warm on hamburger buns.
6. Brown Gravy Mix
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup beef bouillon granules
- 3 Tbsp onion powder
- 3 Tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp pepper
- 1 Tbsp dried parsley
To Use:
To make brown gravy, whisk 3 tablespoons of the gravy mix into 1 cup of cold water. Place on your stovetop over medium heat until thickened, and serve.
More Ideas You'll Love
7. Country Gravy Mix
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp dried sage
- 1/4 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 Tbsp chicken bouillon granules
- 1/2 tsp salt
To Use:
To make country gravy, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the country gravy mix to the pan, and whisk constantly until the mixture forms a ball (about 1 minute). Add 2 cups of milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes, or until thickened.
8. Soup Or Sauce (S.O.S.) Mix
Ingredients:
- 2 cups powdered non-fat dry milk
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup chicken bouillon granules
- 2 Tbsp minced onion
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
To Use:
Combine 1/3 cup of the S.O.S. Mix with 1 1/4 cups of water. Whisk thoroughly. Heat on your stovetop over medium heat until thickened. (For more information on S.O.S. Mix and how to use it in place of Cream of Something soups in your recipes, check out the original post below.)
Related: Soup Or Sauce (S.O.S.) Mix – A Great Cream Soup Substitute!
9. Italian Dressing Mix
Ingredients:
- 1 1⁄2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 2 Tbsp dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp dried parsley
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1⁄4 tsp dried thyme
- 1⁄2 tsp celery flakes
To Use:
To make Italian salad dressing, add 2 tablespoons of the Italian dressing mix to 1/4 cup of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of water, and 1/2 – 2/3 cup of olive oil.
10. Au Jus Mix
Ingredients:
- 4 Tbsp beef bouillon granules
- 4 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 4 Tbsp cornstarch
To Use:
To prepare the au jus, mix 4 1/2 teaspoons of the au jus mix with 2 cups of water. Heat in a medium-sized saucepan for about 15 minutes, or until heated and slightly thickened.
For easy reference, I’ve included downloadable recipe cards for each of the 10 spice mix recipes listed above. Download the file using the link below, then just print the cards and cut them out!
Spice Mix Recipe Cards
Use the button below to download free printable recipe cards for each of the 10 spice mixes.
Shopping For Ingredients
These spice mixes have a lot of ingredients in common, so I recommend just making them all at the same time. It may sound daunting, but you can throw them together in less than an hour! I’ve made things even easier on you by putting together a printable shopping list of all the ingredients you’ll need.
I should mention that some of the amounts on the shopping list are exact, while others are rounded up slightly. I only rounded up if I felt it made the list easier to read and understand. Download the shopping list using the link below.
Spice Mix Shopping List
Use the button below to download a printable shopping list with all the ingredients you need to make your homemade spice mixes.
Storing Your Homemade Spice Mixes
We stored our homemade spice mixes in mason jars, because we have a lot of those around here! In case you were curious what size jar fit best for each mix, we put together a handy list for you:
Taco Seasoning – 4 oz jar
Ranch Seasoning – 4 oz jar
Onion Soup Mix – 12 oz jar
Chili Seasoning – 8 oz jar
Sloppy Joe Mix – pint jar
Brown Gravy Mix – quart jar
Country Gravy Mix – pint jar
Soup Or Sauce (S.O.S.) Mix – quart jar
Italian Dressing Mix – 8 oz jar
Au Jus Mix – 8 oz jar
Our photographer Kaitlyn designed the labels you see in the photos, and we’ve made those available for you to download as well. We printed them out onto 2″ round Avery labels, which happen to fit perfectly onto regular-mouth jar lids. Download the jar labels using the link below.
Spice Mix Jar Labels
Use the button below to download a set of printable jar labels for each of the 10 spice mixes. (They fit perfectly on regular mouth jar lids!)
Do you have any favorite homemade spice mixes?
The two biggest reasons I make my own mixes – not just spice mixes but also baking mixes: 1) I know what is in the mix; 2) much less expensive in the long run.
When I run across a recipe that sounds good to me and I make it, I note the proportions of spices, herbs, salt and pepper used in the recipe. Then I tweak it to my taste and make packets or a jar of the mixture if it is something I plan on making often. Then it is ready when I want it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What size tomato can do you use for sloppy joe mix recipe? Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a 15 ounce can of tomato sauce. Enjoy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When I hit save at the top of the page, where do I find my saved posts?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Lesa, just make sure you’re logged in and then on the top right, click on “My Account” > in the dropdown menu, click “My Favorites”. Hope this helps!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are great, but where is seasoned salt? Or Old Bay? And some of the slightly more complex mixtures?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas! I will try ALL of these! :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Amazing .. i really like your ideas .. let me share this famous Arabian spices mix with you too .. it is amazing to add for meat and chicken especially in grilling ricipes , we call it ( seven spices mix ) it is very good to give you Arabic taste ..
ingredients :
tb of cinnamon
tb of cumin
tb of cardamom
tb black pepper
tb of Syzygium aromatic
tb of dried Coriander seeds
1/2tb of nutmeg .
just put all on a tray in oven to get the smell ( not more 5 min) and then grind .
it is now ready to use or pack ..
i hope you like it ,, i will be happy to see you on my website http://www.mmlakaty.com/
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love these ideas!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You might add a recipe for Spaghetti spice mix…rosemary, bay leaf, thyme, oregano, garlic, salt,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.pepper, etc….
About how many total lbs of meat would be used for the sloppy joe recipe? I ask because i totally screwed up, added sll the paprika and brown sugar to a pound of meat- just started working off of a saved screen shot not the website. Trying to figure out how to salvage it, not for tonight but in the future if i freeze this over spiced lb, open to ideas ;)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The full recipe would season 4 pounds of ground beef :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for these awesome recipes!!
I’m having a hard time getting the links for the recipes and jar labels to work. Help! We’re making some of these at a craft night for my church and I would love for them to look as polished as your examples do :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Kimberly, I actually downloaded the label and then opened it in PowerPoint, where I could add a text box over the top of the label :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What would have to be added to use the onion soup mix in place of a can of onion Soup? Beef broth, water, other seasonings?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Mix 1/4 cup of mix with 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Boil for 5-10 minutes (until onion rehydrates), and enjoy! All the seasonings and beef broth are already in the mix :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am wondering why or if you have any recipes for meat rubs
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t have a post on dry rubs yet, I’ll have to get started on one! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I make lots of spice blends and they make great Christmas gifts for the neighbors! I always include the recipes. They are a big hit! My family members love them, too!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Finally! The ingredients for these spices are ones that I actually have on hand! Thank you! Many times when I see a picture of something I’d like to make, the ingredients are not ones that I would even consider to keep in my cupboard. I’m excited to try some of these!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love this post. My hobby is cooking, although after 50 plus years, you’d think I’d be getting good at it by now… Although I do make a great pizza! Most of these spice mixes will come in very handy to me. Thank you for posting!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hey Jillee, I absolutely love your posts every day — yours is the one I look for in my email first thing. It would sure make it easier if you would make a “print” button for posts like this one, though. I have to copy and paste into Word in order to print the recipes and instructions.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There are actually multiple print buttons on this page. :-) At the bottom of every single post, there’s a green button that says “printer friendly.” In addition to that, this post has “download” buttons (inside the red boxes) for the shopping list, the directions and for the labels!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is a great post, thanks! BTW where did you get the labels on your sugar canisters and other jars?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I made them! http://jillee.co/2tZh5Pr
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much for sharing these recipes. They are great and I plan to make most of them and always gift some. Thank you again. And thanks for making the downloads so easy!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much Jillee! The recipes are very helpful and the labels are beautiful. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for sharing these, I can’t wait to try them!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for sharing these spice recipes!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You really outdid yourself this time. I appreciate how easy it was to download all you provided. Also, I want to thank you for your homemade miracle cleaner with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. My hubby was doing a project and needed to clean some old bells that looked weathered. I thought of your cleaner so we decided to try it on the bells. They look like new! Thanks Jilliee
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am glad I found this site, you have great consistently interesting content. I loved this and plan on using several of these. Maybe passing some out for Christmas gifts
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is fantastic, can’t thank you enough!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee. Thank you for this list, some of them I don’t already have. And thank you for the printables!!! If you use Avery Post card, you won’t have to cut out the recipe cards. Also, Amazon has several options for regular mouth canning jars to use them for shakers. I plan to get the ones that are just for spices with a lid to keep out moisture. They also have decorative seals that look really cute, like snowflakes, etc. You should check them out, especially if you are using the mason jars to keep your spice blends in.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for these recipes. I’m going to try several of them.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Really love this stuff. These are every day mixes I used to buy. Will try these instead. Thanks for the post.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you have a recipe for seasoning salt?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Lois. I have a great one. I tweaked this from several good seasoning salt recipes I found. You can use as is, or modify by removing any of the following. ( I just LOVE SPICES!!, so I use lots in this) You can even leave out the salt if you like as the seaweed adds saltiness (dulse and kelp.) Many of the ingredients are healthy for heart, weight, and blood sugar levels, too! It makes a LOT! You can, of course, reduce the amounts to make a smaller batch, but I use so much of it that I make a large container full. Oh, it is spicy, so if you don’t want spicy, just leave out the cayenne and chipotle.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.• 1/4 cup Onion Powder
• 1/4 cup Garlic Powder
• 1/4 cup Black Pepper (ground)
• 3 tablespoons Paprika
• 2 tablespoons dried Parsley Leaf
• ½ cup Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt
*½ TSP DILL
*1 TBSP DRY MUSTARD
*1 TBSP CAYENNE PEPPER
*1 TBSP OREGANO
*1 TBSP CHIPOTLE POWDER
*1 TBSP TURMERIC
*1 TBSP DULSE
*1 TBSP KELP
*1 TBSP GROUND CELERY SEED
*1 TBSP CILANTRO
*1 TBSP CORIANDER
To make: Mix well by shaking in a jar or in a food processor. Store in an airtight container.
(I get my spices and lots of other stuff from Mountain Rose Herbs. If you order 5 # or more at a time, you get a discount, and since I use so much it is worth it to me.)
Hope you like it!
Mix 2 tablespoons salt, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika, 1⁄4 teaspoon turmeric, 1⁄4 teaspoon onion powder, 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1⁄4 teaspoon cornstarch. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you, I have shared this on one of my facebook groups for my cooking readers. They will love this for sure.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for posting these mixes. I was telling my mom about your homemade spice mixes. They look good.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Have you tried the gravy mixes using a gluten free blend of some kind? Just wondering ! Thank you
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I haven’t yet, but I’m sure they’d be wonderful! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.love it! thanks for the ideas!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you! I have made a few of these and now can’t wait to make more. Your list also reminds me of what herbs I need to add to my garden.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use Aunt Jane’s Krazy mixed-up salt a lot and now I’m going to try and dissect it!
This is why I read your blog vs recent ones that have been promoting a product.
Thanks again
Well, you just solved my Christmas gift dilemma! I so appreciate the jar toppers and recipe cards!! I’ve been following you for years and this one is definitely in the top 5!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks so much Jillee.
Thanks Heidi! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Perfect! I love making my own whenever possible, and always make my own BBQ rubs, and I will be doing this as well. I’ve already printed the recipe cards onto durable cardstock, printed the grocery list, and downloaded the labels. Love doing this kind of thing. Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.HI Jillee, curious to know about several of your chosen ingredients if you are trying to stay away from sugar, etc.? The salt that you pictured contains sugar and an additive. Why not real salt? The bouillon contains ” natural flavors” which is the new way that msg is allowed to be listed. Ever wonder why we never see msg listed any more? It became extremely unpopular so they found a way around it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Feel free to buy whichever salt and bouillon you prefer! The recipes will still turn out perfectly. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ranch recipe that calls for basil before?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s delicious, but feel free to replace it with chives or extra parsley. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks so much for posting these much healthier spice mixes. I can use them all! I have been making the taco seasoning and chili seasoning myself for a few years now. But these other ones are great to have also. Can’t wait to try them. I agree that they would make great gifts as well!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are awesome! I seem to always have to run out and buy one or all of these!
Thanks, for making this really easy to do!
You have the best ideas!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do not like the “fillers” and “mystery ingredients” in packaged spice mixes either. I have been making my own taco and chili seasonings for quite sometime now. They do taste better than store bought! I am happy to now have additional homemade mix recipes as well as great labels. My friends and family enjoy receiving these homemade spice mixes as gifts. Thank you Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much Jillee! So happy to have these seasoning mixes. Love all of your posts.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yum! (-: Love it! ;-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These look great! Every one is a keeper. I’ve been looking for something just like this. As usual, thank you, Jillee!
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