Make It Yourself - Seasoning Mixes

Thanks to all those who shared your seasoning mix recipes!

If you buy your spices in bulk (such as at Martins Farm Market) you can see substantial savings over buying the little seasoning packets at the grocery store! You can also tailor the ingredients to your family's tastes. Plus you can avoid MSG and all the other strange chemicals on the ingredient list that look as if the typist just placed their hands on the keyboard and hit keys at random!

To save time, mix up several batches at once and place in air tight containers or jars. You'll never run out of your favorite seasoning mix again!

Is there any of your favorites that are not listed here? Send them in! I'm still looking for a good rice seasoning mix. I haven't been pleased with the ones I've tested.

Low Sodium Ranch Dressing Mix

Disclaimer: I have only used this in casseroles and have not used it to totally replace using Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix in other recipes. -Teresa

2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. salt-free lemon pepper seasoning
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. dried minced onion
1/2 tsp. dill weed
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. pepper

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing

15 saltine crackers
2 cups dry parsley flakes
1/2 cup instant minced onions
2 tbsp. dry dill weed
1/4 cup onion salt
1/4 cup garlic salt
1/4 cup onion powder
1/4 cup garlic powder

Place crackers through blender in high speed until powder. Add remaining ingredients. Blend until powder. Put into container with tight fitting lid. Store dry mix at room temperature for up to a year.
To mix: Combine 1 tbsp. dry mix , 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk.
You can adjust the dry mix to your taste. I don't put quite that much in. Depends on how strong you like it. - Shirley

Ranch Dressing Mix

11/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
3 Tb. dried minced onion
2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. paprika
3 tsp. parsley

Combine all ingredients in the blender and blend till mixed. Store in air tight container.
To make dressing:
1 Tb. mix
1c. mayo
1c. buttermilk
1Tb. Worcestershire sauce
Mix well and let sit for several hours before use.

Taco Seasoning

1Tb. minced dried onion
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. corn starch
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper or hot paprika
Combine and blend together till "smooth" and well mixed. Use as you would bought taco seasoning. - Regina

Fried Chicken Coating Mix (Shake and Bake)

2c. Flour
1Tb. ginger
2Tb. salt
1Tb. ground mustard
2Tb. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1Tb. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried oregano
1Tb. tarragon

Mix all ingredients well and put in a ziplock bag. To use, dip chicken in a mixture of egg and milk beaten together. Put chicken one piece at a time into bag and shake until well coated. Fry chicken in skillet (with about 1 Tb.of oil) till browned (about 15 min.) Place chicken in a baking pan and put uncovered into oven and bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 min. - Laraine

Taco Seasoning Mix

This is a recipe that our family has used for years.
2 tsp minced onion
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp cornstarch
½ tsp crushed dried red pepper
½ tsp minced garlic
¼ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp cumin

Brown 2 lb ground beef with above seasonings. Add ½ cup water, if desired. Serve.

Basic Barbecue Rub

¼ cup brown sugar
3 T pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp celery seed
¼ cup paprika
4 T coarse salt
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne powder

Mix well. Use 2-3 tsp per pound of meat. Rub on meat several hours or even a day in advance. Or sprinkle on meat for a seasoning. We like this dry rub better then a marinade for grilling steaks!

A few more recipes with which I'm still experimenting. Maybe you'd like to try them as well!


Dry Onion Soup Mix

4 tsp beef bouillon granules
8 tsp dried onion flakes
1 tsp onion powder
¼ tsp seasoned pepper

Mix well. Recipe equals one pack.

Onion Soup Mix – Large Batch

3 cup dried minced onion
1 cup dry beef bouillon (Herb Ox is a brand that contains no MSG.)
1 T garlic powder
1 tsp celery seed
1 T sugar

Blend ingredients in blender. ¼ cup of mix is equal to one pouch.

Chili Mix

1 cup and 2 T flour
¾ cup minced onion
4-6 T chili powder
¼ cup paprika
2 T salt
1 T cumin
1 T minced garlic
1 T sugar

Combine all ingredients. To serve: Brown 1 lb ground beef, stir in ½ cup chili mix, 1 can beans, 1 small chopped bell pepper, 1 can diced tomatoes (undrained) and ¾ cup water. Bring to boil and simmer 30 minutes. (I would use tomato juice instead of tomatoes and water.)

Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 T cinnamon
1 ½ tsp ginger
1 ½ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cloves

Fajita Seasoning

4 T chili powder
2 T cumin
2 T oregano
2 T garlic powder

Mix well. 2-3 T equals a packet from the store.