Top 10 Seasoning Recipes

Make your own seasoning blends quickly and easily

Written by
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
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Derrick Riches
Updated 09/14/20

It seems like so many recipes call for some special seasoning. Many of these are readily available in the spice section of your grocery store (if you remembered to pick them up) and others are just general flavors. These recipes are the most popular seasoning recipes that you can use to fill in the gaps in all those recipes that call for something you don't have on hand. So mix up your own seasonings and get the flavor and the ingredients you want.

  • 01 of 10

    Cajun Seasoning

    Cajun seasoning

    The Spruce 

    Cajun cooking has developed a reputation for being all about heat. The truth is Cajun flavors are more savory than hot. This spice blend can be adjusted for heat by increasing (or decreasing) the amount of cayenne pepper.

  • 02 of 10

    Montreal Steak Seasoning

    Montreal Steak Seasoning
    Montreal Steak Seasoning. Melanie Acevedo/Getty Images

    How Montreal became the king of spice blends is anyone's guess, but spice maker McCormick has been selling these blends for years. There are probably hundred of recipes for this seasoning, but they are all based on the same idea. Heat and flavor without all the floral herbs of many old world blends.

  • 03 of 10

    Everything Bagel Seasoning

    Hard-boiled eggs with everything bagel seasoning.
    Diana Rattray

    One of the most iconic flavor profiles ever, this seasoning blend has everything you love about an everything bagel—without the bagel. Sprinkle it on scrambled eggs, roast chicken, braised leeks, even a good slice of sourdough with butter. With just six ingredients, this is one recipe that does heavy lifting.

  • 04 of 10

    Cajun Turkey Seasoning

    Cajun turkey seasoning recipe

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    This is a great basic Turkey rub with enough heat to make it interesting. You can use this rub on all poultry, no matter how you prepare it.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Lemon Pepper

    Lemon Pepper Seasoning Recipe

    Lemon pepper is a popular ingredient in many recipes. It is perfect on chicken, a burger or pasta. Problem is, if you happen to live in a place where you can't find it, or you just want to make up your own batch (because it's better than what you buy in the store). This is a great way to start making the kinds of seasonings you want, specifically formulated for your tastes.

  • 06 of 10

    Mexican Seasoning

    Mexican Seasoning
    Mexican Seasoning. Lew Robertson/Getty Images

    Mexican seasonings can be as simple as chili powder or large collections of spices and herbs. To me is just doesn't have that Mexican flavor if it doesn't have cumin. The best way to get cumin powder is to toast cumin seeds and grind them to a fine dust. If you are not as ambitious you can use dried cumin instead.

  • 07 of 10

    Creole Seasoning

    Creole Seasoning
    Creole Seasoning. Marianna Massey/Getty Images

    Tradition suggests that the basis for Creole flavor is the three peppers, black, white and red. This spice blend mixes black pepper, white pepper and cayenne with herbs to make a great flavor.

  • 08 of 10

    Garam Masala

    Garam Masala
    Garam Masala. Yogi Studio/Getty Images

    There are probably hundreds of recipes for Garam Masala, the traditional seasoning blend of Northern India. This is one of the more simple recipes and is great for adding an Indian flavor to anything you want to cook. For more information read about Garam Masala

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Seasoned Salt

    Homemade salt

    The Spruce

     This is a knockoff of the popular Lawry's Seasoned Salt. Adding this combination of salt, sugar and spices to recipes that call for seasoned salt is a great, natural way to enhance flavors. 

  • 10 of 10

    Old Bay Seasoning

    Old-Bay.jpg
    Old Bay Seasoning. Photo by Artondra Hall [flickr]

    Old Bay seasoning is a traditional favorite of Maryland and sold world wide. This approximation of that old recipe is a perfect seasoning for fish and seafood.