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By Andrea Janssen

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Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix

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This homemade chili seasoning mix takes only five minutes and nine spices, no packages, no fillers. Cumin, paprika and oregano are the main flavors, a spoonful of cocoa and a pinch of cinnamon round out the edges, two ingredients you'd never guess are in there. Nothing you need a specialty store for. Season your chili exactly the way you like it!

Overhead view of homemade chili con carne seasoning in a bowl with a full spoon, garlic cloves, and dried chili peppers.
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Why make this?

I was not a fan of chili con carne when I was growing up. We sometimes eat it, but to me, it was mostly flavorless beans with a little meat. It needed more seasoning and a large pot of bland beans didn't make me happy.

Now I have a solution: my own seasoning mix. Cumin, paprika, coriander and oregano give the chili its flavor. The cocoa and cinnamon a great addition and a small surprise. Yo don't taste either one separately, yet they make the flavor of this spice mix rounder.

And mixing everything only takes a few minutes. Yet this seasoning is what changed the chili I remember from childhood into the chili con carne I enjoy now.

What You'll Need

Chili seasoning ingredients on a plate: cumin, paprika, coriander, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, chili flakes, cocoa, and cinnamon.
  • Paprika: Use mild paprika. Smoked paprika gives the mix a very different, smoky flavor.
  • Garlic powder and onion powder: These mix evenly with the other spices, their flavor spreads through the whole mix.
  • Red pepper flakes: Use ½ teaspoon for a milder chili or 1 teaspoon if you like more heat.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder: This gives the seasoning more depth without making it sweet.
  • Cinnamon: A ¼ teaspoon is enough. More cinnamon can quickly overpower the other spices.

What to Use It in

I made this seasoning mix for my Slow Cooker Chili with Ground Beef and Beans. Add all 4 tablespoons to the chili for the amount of seasoning used in that recipe.

📖 Recipe

VIDEO

RECIPE CARD

Overhead view of a bowl filled with reddish-brown chili con carne seasoning and a spoonful of the spice mix.
Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix
Andréa
Nine warm spices whisked together in one bowl - cumin and paprika for backbone, a spoonful of cocoa and a whisper of cinnamon to round out the edges, red pepper flakes for heat you control. No cooking, no simmering - just stir, and it's ready to go straight into your next pot of chili.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Basic Recipes
Cuisine Mexican - Tex Mex, South America
Servings 1 portion
Calories 72 kcal

Recipe Help

Two easy tools to make cooking even easier. Cooking mode keeps the screen on. The easy-step recipe displays the recipe step by step, including the ingredients needed. And you can adjust servings easily

Step-by-Step Directions

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon paprika powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon chili flakes, or 1 teaspoon for a hotter seasoning mix
  • 1 teaspoon Dutch unprocessed cocoa
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  • Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. You can then add the whole mixture to your chili at once.
    1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon paprika powder, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon chili flakes, 1 teaspoon Dutch unprocessed cocoa, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Notes

1. Which paprika powder should you use? Use mild paprika for a warm, spiced flavor. Want a lightly smoky chili? Replace ½ tablespoon of the mild paprika with smoked paprika. Do not use only smoked paprika, because it can quickly overpower the mix.
2. How hot is this seasoning mix? Use ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes when cooking for a family with children. The chili will have flavor without becoming too hot. Want more heat? Use 1 teaspoon.
3. Why add cocoa and cinnamon? It makes the seasoning taste rounder without adding bitterness. It gives the chili a warm, full flavor. Do not add more cinnamon, because it can quickly take over.
4. Can you use fresh onion and garlic? Use garlic powder and onion powder in this dry mix. Fresh garlic and onion cannot be mixed into the seasoning if you want to store it. You can cook them separately when making the chili.
5. How much seasoning mix should you use? This recipe makes about 4 tablespoons. Use the entire amount for one large pot of chili con carne made with 1 pound ground beef, 28 ounces beans, and 28 ounces diced tomatoes. The mix contains no salt, so always taste the chili before serving.
6. How should you store the seasoning mix? Store it in a clean, dry jar with a tight-fitting lid. Keep the jar in a cool, dark place. For the strongest flavor, use the mix within 3 months. It may still be good after that, but the flavor will slowly become less pronounced.

Nutrition

Calories: 72kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 36mgFiber: 6gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 3918IUVitamin C: 2mgIron: 7mg
Keyword chili seasoning without a packet, homemade chili seasoning mix, spice mix for chili con carne
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