Use a homemade Chili Seasoning blend in your next batch of chili and be prepared to witness the amazement of all who taste it.
Chili chefs and chili connoisseurs (the kinds you meet at chili cook-offs) all swear by one thing – it’s using homemade chili seasoning.
I learned this at my last chili cook-off when I spied a chef a few booths down
who was sporting three blue ribbons on his chef apron, and I sidled up to him
with a notebook and said, “I’m here to learn more about cooking than to win this
thing so I’m not your competition. Please, tell me why my chili tastes good
but not otherworldly kind of good like the bowl you let me try just now? And may
I please have a big one. I’ll pay you.” And his first and, now that I think on
it, only question to me was, “You do use homemade chili seasoning, right?”
And when I told him, quite humbly, “No,” he made a face at me that let me know I was getting ready to get the kind of lecture a CERTIFIED CHEF should not be getting… Then he said, “Well, I don’t like to give advice or secrets away but homemade chili seasoning that you tweak until it’s just right makes all the difference with chili. It’s like fast food crab versus one pulled and cracked right on the beach at the Pacific Ocean and dipped in a seashell full of melted butter.”
So, with slightly bruised ego and a handy new tip in hand, I gave
him a little curtsy and thanked him for his time. I was going to add a slightly
flippant “Yes, Chef!” but I refrained. He’d been kind enough to show me the
error of my ways, after all.
Now I use homemade chili and taco seasoning in all my chili and Mexican food creations. It’s such a quick and easy thing to do to cook healthier, more flavorful, more nutritious food.
Why You and Your Family Will Relish Homemade Chili Spice for All Things Chili
I learned something very valuable from that gentleman that day – and it has made my chili so delicious lately that the chili orders don’t stop coming. “Oh Rhonda,
that chili you made for us the other day is so good, please do that
again.” And “Rhonda, please, use that chili you just made us for our next hot dog casserole.”
So, I’ve stored whole, huge, spice bottles of this homemade chili seasoning in dispensers I found that resemble those huge Parmesan cheese sprinklers Pizza Hut uses.
So, instead of grabbing this or that blend that might be full of all kinds of artificial additives, try adding your own chili seasoning to that pot or taco meat. I bet you have every single spice needed already inside your cabinet from just basic cookery requirements. After all, chili seasoning is nothing more than a bit of chili powder sifted or mixed well with a few other spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano, in addition to your basic salt and pepper.
Try it. It makes chili taste so good you’ll wonder why you ever trusted
anyone else but your own smart, talented self!
How to Make Ahead and Store
For maximum flavor, store homemade chili seasoning, especially if you use homemade chili powder, in a tightly sealed mason jar. For peak flavor, use spices that are fresh to make it, and keep it at most 1 month.
Serving Suggestions
You can sprinkle this spice blend just about anywhere and everywhere you want a dash of sweet, salty, spicy, zesty flavoring! Try some atop a baked potato or French fries for your own chili cheese fry creations. Add another tablespoon of cumin, some red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper to taste and you’ve basically got a bespoke Taco Seasoning blend. Other ideas would be to use this seasoning within this 15-Minute Chili (it’s going viral), Chili Dog Casserole, or this Keto Chili, which is to DIE for, especially with this homemade chili seasoning.
Chili Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, ground oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Stir the mixture until all ingredients are well blended.
- Transfer the seasoning blend to an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place to maintain freshness.
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