This homemade fajita seasoning recipe is a fiesta favorite, a robust chili-forward mix rounded out with cumin, garlic and onion powders, and punctuated with an acidic hit thanks to crystallized lime. Try it on chicken, shrimp, pork, beef and more!
When I think of fajitas, I can’t help but hear the sizzle of a screaming hot cast iron pan heaped with tender-crisp slices of peppers and onions and juicy pieces of chicken. This homemade fajita seasoning was created with that image in mind; it’s a robust chili-forward fajita mix rounded out with cumin, garlic and onion powders, and punctuated with an acidic hit thanks to crystallized lime.
We'll get to the crystallized lime in a second and no, you don't need to purchase it to make this fajita seasoning - just leave it out and use fresh-squeezed lime juice alongside the seasoning when making fajitas.
The fajitas of my youth were made possible courtesy of Ortega fajita seasoning, which contains the following ingredients: Maltodextrin, Salt, Spices, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Caramel Color, Dried Red Bell Pepper, Citric Acid, Garlic Powder, Natural Smoke Flavor, Natural Flavors.
Makers of fajita seasoning often add a souring agent such as citric acid or tomato powder to the mix in an attempt to capture the true essence of fajitas (you can see citric acid in the ingredient list for Ortega fajita seasoning). To replicate the acidic flavor in store-purchased fajita seasoning packets, I use crystallized lime in this recipe. However, you can achieve a similar flavor profile by leaving the crystallized lime out and adding fresh-squeezed lime juice in addition to the seasoning when making fajitas.
This homemade fajita seasoning recipe is fantastic on Grilled Chicken Thighs and used to revive leftover pulled pork to make Pulled Pork Tacos.
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Reasons to Love this Homemade Fajita Seasoning
- Fresh flavor. Don't get me wrong, store-purchased packets of fajita seasoning have their place when pushing the easy button is a must, but you'll get the freshest flavor by making your own homemade fajita seasoning mix.
- The versatility. I reach for this when making chicken fajitas (click to get the recipe!). This recipe is so perfect paired with chicken, but it's also great on pork, shrimp, and beef.
- Great Way to Use Up Seasonings. Spices do lose their potency over time. So making homemade seasonings is a great way to use up your spices before they lose their potency.
- Budget-friendly. If you're looking for a simple way to reduce your grocery budget, making homemade seasoning blends using spices you already have in your cabinet is a great way to do so.
How to Make Homemade Fajita Seasoning - Ingredients
- chili powder
- paprika
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- ground cumin
- crystallized lime* (I used True Lime Crystallized Lime)
- salt
- cayenne pepper (optional)
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below - keep scrolling!
Makes ⅓ cup seasoning which is approximately 5.3333333 tablespoons.
*You can also leave out the 1 teaspoon of crystallized lime and substitute in 2 tablespoons of fresh-squeezed lime juice when cooking (according to this handy substitution table on True Lime’s website).
Substitutions
Crystallized lime - I had True Lime Crystallized Lime shipped to me. If you’d rather use a crystallized lime substitute, use 2 tablespoons of fresh-squeezed lime juice when cooking instead (according to this handy substitution table on True Lime’s website).
Homemade Fajita Seasoning Recipe Variations
- Smoky - Swap regular paprika for smoked paprika to lend some smokiness to any dish.
- Spicy - The cayenne pepper in this homemade fajita seasoning recipe is optional. But if you want to add more zestiness, keep adding cayenne pepper until you are happy with the heat level.
- Herby - Add 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, crushing the leaves by rubbing them between your fingers before adding. Breaking down the oregano flakes will make them more uniform in size compared to the rest of the spices used.
How to Make Homemade Fajita Seasoning -Directions
Add all ingredients to a small container like in a little 4-ounce Mason jar, then put a lid on it and give it a good shake. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months.
Storage
Store homemade fajita seasoning in a lidded container like a Mason jar in a cool dark place, like a cabinet or drawer. For best results, use within 3 months.
This recipe makes enough to season 4-5 pounds of meat, so don't hesitate to double the recipe if you use it frequently.
Top Tip
Use the freshest spices you can get your hands on for the best results. If you’re staring at a 3-year-old spice shaker of chili powder and wondering if you should use it, don’t. Go get some fresher stuff! Ground spices deteriorate in flavor and potency over time.
Recipe FAQs
You may notice some clumping over time brought to you courtesy of humidity. If you see this happening, simply give the seasoning a good shake to break up any clumps. Or pulse the seasoning in a spice grinder to loosen it back up. Store seasoning away from cooking surfaces and dishwashers as they produce humidity.
Fajita seasoning and taco seasoning are two distinct types of seasoning, but they are more similar than they are different, sharing many ingredients including chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and paprika. Just compare this fajita seasoning recipe against this taco seasoning recipe. Fajita seasoning is intended to enhance grilled flavors, and leans acidic. Taco seasoning is bolder, more savory, able to stand out against any protein.
I tend to lean fajita seasoning when cooking chicken, pork, and shrimp because those proteins don’t require super aggressive seasoning against their milder flavor profile. I lean taco seasoning when cooking beef of most any kind especially ground beef as well as game meats like venison because as assertive meats they require bold seasoning. You can of course use the seasonings interchangeably; I’m no stranger to sprinkling taco seasoning on chicken.
Homemade fajita seasoning is best used within the first 6 months for maximum freshness.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this homemade fajita seasoning? Try these:
If you tried this Homemade Fajita Seasoning recipe (or any other recipe on Midwexican), please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below!
Homemade Fajita Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon crystallized lime* True Lime crystallized lime
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2-3 dashes cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small container like in a little 4-ounce Mason jar, then put a lid on it and give it a good shake.
- Store in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months.
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