Ditch the store packet of seasoning and DIY like a boss: homemade Fajita Seasoning is so easy!
Standing in your kitchen, surrounded by your shiny, stainless steel appliances, you may not feel especially rugged. But if you’re making fajitas at home, you might be making a recipe that goes back nearly a century to the wild frontier. Vaqueros, or cowboys, in northern Mexico, would often cook strips of beef over an open campfire. They would season them with chili pepper, oregano, cumin, and salt, then cook them along with peppers and onions. Tossing the sizzling meat and veggies into a warm tortilla, these early versions of the fajita made the perfect handheld dish for life on the ranch.
Today, fajitas are often the showstopper entrees brought out on sizzling skillets at your local Tex-Mex restaurant. So extra! But worth it. They are relatively low-fat, fresh, and tasty. Fajitas are definitely doable at home, and a fairly economical dish. For fajitas at home, this Fajita Seasoning is going to be your go-to.
Fajita Seasoning is zesty and a little bit spicy, with enough paprika to make it taste different than your average taco seasoning. Most home cooks will already have the ingredients in their pantries, making this a low-maintenance recipe. It’s also healthy, being made without the anti-caking ingredients and preservatives often added to prepackaged fajita seasoning mix to prolong its shelf life. The best part of this Fajita Seasoning is its versatility: not only is it delicious on fajita meat, but toss it on veggies you’re roasting, nachos you’re baking, or even mix it into sour cream to make a yummy dip for veggies or chips.
What is Paprika?
Why chili powder AND paprika in this seasoning? Aren’t they kind of similar? Yes and no. Both are made from ground peppers. And while chili powder typically includes some paprika plus other ingredients, plain paprika is simply ground pimento pepper. So paprika amps up the pepper flavor and adds a warm, earthy flavor to dishes. Most paprika is mild, so if you like a slightly smokier taste, sub out regular paprika with smoked paprika. It definitely ups the flavor game!
FAQs & Tips
How do I store this seasoning?
Fajita seasoning is a perfect make-ahead recipe. Make it ahead and store it in an airtight container for up to 2 months on your pantry shelf. Tip: Date your container so you know when you need to use or discard it! I like to double or triple this recipe so I have plenty on hand.
How much does this recipe make?
This recipe yields approximately 2 1/2 tablespoons of seasoning. Typically, a packet of storebought seasoning contains about that amount, so you can use this recipe to make one batch of fajitas. The recipe is easily doubled or tripled so you have it when you need it.
How do I spice this up?
If made as directed, this Fajita Seasoning is zesty but not necessarily spicy. You can do a couple of things if you want to feel the burn. Adding 1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper is the easiest. You can also swap out regular paprika with Hungarian or Spanish paprika marked ‘spicy’ or ‘Picante’.
Serving Suggestions
Use this Fajita Seasoning on any kind of fajita: steak, chicken, or even vegetarian fajitas taste amazing with it sprinkled on before grilling or cooking them. If you haven’t tried making fajitas at home, start with our Oven-Baked Chicken Fajitas or our Chicken Fajita Quesadillas. This seasoning is versatile, as it tastes great on other dishes too, including roasted veggies and sour cream dip. Make a big batch of Fajita Seasoning and keep it ready to use!
Fajita Seasoning
Ingredients Â
- 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
InstructionsÂ
- In a small bowl, combine chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt, and ground black pepper.
- Stir the mixture until all the spices are well blended.
- Use the seasoning mix immediately, or transfer it to an airtight container for storage.
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