Make your own DIY version of a Mexican Spice Blend! This versatile and delicious mix of herbs and spices will elevate all your Mexican dishes to new heights. This spice blend combines earthy, smoky and spicy tones and gives you that authentic flavour to quickly and easily season your tacos, fajitas and enchiladas! Sprinkle a tablespoon of this mix in your chilli or use it to season your meats. This homemade Mexican seasoning blend is a must-have in your kitchen.
What you need to make this Mexican Spice Blend
Creating your Mexican spice blend couldn’t be easier. Chances are you’ve already got most of the necessary herbs and spices in your kitchen cabinet. Here’s what you need:
- Ground Cumin: Cumin adds a warm and earthy flavour. This spice is absolutely essential for authentic Mexican flavours.
- Dried Oregano: Oregano provides a herbaceous note that complements the smokiness of the paprika. If you can find Mexican oregano, that’s what you want to use! Otherwise, regular oregano will work just fine.
- Paprika Powder: Paprika adds mild sweetness and gives a vibrant red colour to the blend.
- Smoked Paprika (hot or sweet): This is one of the magic ingredients that will take your spice blend to the next level! Smoked paprika adds depth of flavour with a hint of smokiness. Use sweet smoked paprika if you don’t want the blend too spicy. Use hot if you love some fire. You can also add a bit of both.
- Ground Allspice: Allspice is another secret ingredient you probably haven’t seen in other spice blends, but it’s used a lot in Mexican cooking! Allspice adds complexity, warmth and sweetness. Allspice tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
- Chilli Flakes or Cayenne Pepper: Adds extra heat for those who love spicier blends.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic blends all the flavours together and adds extra savouriness with a hint of sweetness.
- Onion Powder: Onion powder is another powerhouse that adds a sweet and savoury flavour that makes the blend more complex.
- Ground Black Pepper (optional): Provides a subtle bite and complexity to the mix.
- Salt (optional): Enhances the flavours of all the other spices.
Note on Salt and Pepper:
Salt and pepper can be added optionally. I don’t add them to my spice mix, but I always add a sprinkle of both to every dish during cooking. By adding salt separately you're in complete control of the amount of salt you want to use in your dishes.
Why you should make your own Mexican seasoning blend
Making your own Mexican spice blend gives you complete control of the flavour profile and the ingredients. Many store-bought blends are loaded up with salt, preservatives and chemicals like anti-caking agents and flavour enhancers. I like my spice blends clean with only natural ingredients, so I make them myself and now you can too!
Maybe you don’t like the flavour of a specific herb or spice, then you can leave it out. If you have a low tolerance for spice, leave out the chilli flakes and cayenne and create your own mild blend that still packs loads of flavour. It could be you’re allergic to a specific herb, leave it out or swap it for something else! The beauty of creating your own blends is that you are completely in charge.
I always add these spices to any Mexican style dish, which means I have to get out, open and close 8 jars! That can get a bit tedious, so after a while I decided to mix them all together in one jar and have my own ready-made mix. I keep it right next to my other favourite homemade blend: Try my Complete Seasoning Mix for anything from meats to stews or even roast veggies! Here’s a little tip, the flavours of both these seasoning blends are a match made in heaven. If you want to increase the umami without extra heat then sprinkle on some of the Complete Seasoning Mix and you’re good to go!
Use this spice blend to make Mexican Shredded Chicken! This one-pot recipe is bursting with flavours and perfect for meal prepping.
How to Prepare This Easy Mexican Spice Mix
Preparing this Mexican Spice Mix is so simple it feels silly to write down instructions. Here’s all you need to do:
- Get out all the necessary spices.
- Add all the spices to a bowl.
- Mix the spices together.
- Transfer your newly made blend to an airtight container.
- Use your blend whenever your creating a delicious Mexican dish.
How to use your Homemade Mexican Seasoning
This flavourful spice blend is super versatile. Use it to season your protein of choice before grilling or stewing. Add a spoonful to your chilli to give it that quintessential flavour profile. Use it to add flavour to soups, stews and burrito fillings. Start by adding a tablespoon at a time and add extra if needed. Here are some more ideas for you:
- Mexican Shredded Chicken: Season your chicken with this spice blend before grilling and shredding. It’ll turn into the perfect filling for tacos, burritos and enchiladas! You can do the same with any other protein of your choice. Use it to season beef, pork, shrimps or even veggie options like mushrooms or tofu.
- Tacos: Use the blend to season ground beef, chicken or pork for tacos.
- Fajitas: Marinate sliced steak or chicken with the blend before grilling with bell peppers and onions.
- Burritos & Enchiladas: Add loads of flavour to the main filling of your favourite burrito or enchilada.
- Grilled Vegetables: Sprinkle the blend on vegetables before grilling or roasting to get that smoky and spicy flavour.
- Chilli: This blend is perfect for a homemade chilli. Add it to your pot of beans, tomatoes and ground beef (or other protein of choice). Don’t forget to sprinkle on a handful of cheddar before you tuck in!
Tips & Alternatives for the Best Mexican Spice Blend
- Combine with: This Homemade Complete Seasoning Mix. Both these spice blends are inspired by Mexican and Caribbean dishes so the flavour profiles go together beautifully. Sprinkle on some of the Complete Seasoning Mix if you think your dish needs some extra depth of flavour or extra umami without adding extra heat.
- Ratios: This recipe will make enough to fill a small container and can be used for several recipes. Simply scale the recipe up to make a bigger batch.
- Experiment: This is my classic flavour combo for all my Mexican inspired dishes. Feel free to experiment and make it your own. Try different combinations, add extra spices and create your own unique seasoning mix!
- Granules, powders or whole dried spices: I like my seasoning mix to be all powder, this way it’s all similar in size when I add it to a dish. If you have some of the ingredients in a different form, like granules or whole dried spices then simply grind them to powder in a pestle and mortar.
- Storage Tip: This DIY spice mix will last as long as the individual dried spices that are used. You can keep it for at least 6 months. After that, the flavour intensity might deteriorate. Store it in an airtight container to maximise its shelf life. I used an old empty glass spice container.
Looking for more Mexican Recipes?
Here are some more ideas for a perfect Taco Tuesday:
- Make this Mexican Shredded Chicken for your next taco bar. This one-pot recipe is bursting with vibrant flavours and can be made ahead of time!
- Serve this Fresh and Creamy Guacamole as a side. It’s the perfect dip for a salty tortilla chip or an easy side dish to a Mexican feast.
- This fresh and vibrant Pico de Gallo recipe is the perfect topping to serve with all your favourite Mexican dishes!
- Make your own homemade Complete Seasoning Mix to spice up your dishes without any MSG or additives.
- Try these epic Shredded Chicken Tacos for a quick, flavourful and healthy dinner!
