DIY Fajita Seasoning Blend

If you haven’t made homemade spice mixes before, it’s time to start! Just like making homemade sauces, DIY seasoning blends are easy to make, plus they amp up the flavor and save you money in the kitchen.

Even better? You know exactly what ingredients are in it, with no added preservatives or artificial flavors. It’s also naturally gluten-free for those who need it to be, as many store-bought varieties can contain gluten.

And this fajita spice blend? It’s taking fajita recipes and making dreams come true. It’s mildly spicy, yet you can make it more or less so by changing the amount of a few of the spices.

Taco Seasoning vs. Fajita Seasoning

While you can easily use taco seasoning and fajita seasoning interchangeably, since they’re each made up of very similar ingredients, there are a few differences that are usually noted.

Fajita seasoning typically has more cumin than taco seasoning and is, overall less spicy. My taco seasoning recipe is pretty mild, but again, this can all be adjusted to your preferences when you make it at home.

Fajita seasoning is also a little smoky, thanks to smoked paprika.

What is Fajita Seasoning?

Fajitas are a Tex-Mex dish of tacos made from thinly sliced grilled meats, peppers, and onions. It’s usually served on a sizzling hot skillet with tortillas to make into tacos. And of course all the fixings.

Fajita seasoning provides flavor to the meat and veggies. This spice mix includes:

• Cumin: one of my favorite flavors in Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisines! It’s earthy, slightly smoky, and incredibly aromatic.
• Chili Powder: this is where the slightest hint of heat comes in! A blend of dried chiles, not a specific kind of chili, which makes it very different from cayenne pepper.
• Dried Oregano: a pungently floral aroma, this dried herb is used in a variety of cuisines. It adds a wonderful bright warmth to the taco seasoning. Use Mexican Oregano for an even louder version of this herb.
• Smoked Paprika: the smoked variety is hotter than its sweet counterpart, so feel free to substitute it with regular paprika to temper the heat, but the smokiness is what works great with fajitas.
• Garlic & Onion Powder: they feel like a given as they provided a balance of flavor to so many savory recipes.
• Kosher Salt: feel free to omit if you’d like to season your fajita veggies separately.
• Black Pepper: a little for flavor. Try white pepper for a little funk.

For best results, make sure the dried spices and herbs you are using are fresh for the most flavorful seasoning mix!

How to Make Fajita Seasoning

It’s super easy to make fajita seasoning! Simply get yourself a small bowl or a jar and combine the ingredients together. I like to add it to a jar and shake it up – it’s so easy to make this way and is immediately ready for storage.

Ways to Use DIY Seasoning

Obviously, the best way to use this seasoning mix is to make fajitas. Try our black bean fajitas or our easy vegetarian skillet fajitas! For meat eaters, it’s easy to use with thinly sliced beef or chicken. Try it with shrimp, too!

This fajita seasoning is also a great base for making homemade fajita sauce for marinade or a flavor booster.

Use it in place of taco seasoning in jackfruit tacos, or your favorite taco filling – meat, tofu, or beans. Add it to burrito fillings or your hearty nacho toppings.

Storage Tips

Store the blend in an airtight container at room temperature. Spices will last for up to 6 months, really longer, but they will lose their potency and flavor over time.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!