This fajita seasoning recipe is bold, smoky, and ready in minutes using simple pantry spices. It’s cheaper than store-bought packets, fully customizable, and perfect for chicken, steak, shrimp, or veggie fajitas. Once you make your own, you may never buy a seasoning packet again.
I love easy recipes and a good seasoning mix, especially when I can save money and make it healthier as a DIY mix. This spice blend is amazing on pork fajitas, chicken fajitas, shrimp fajitas or steak fajitas.
Why I love making my own homemade fajita seasoning
- Not only will making your own seasoning take your Tex Mex recipe game to the next level, but there are more reasons to love it!
- You could stroll the aisles of your local grocery store and pluck a packet of fajita seasoning mix off the shelves.
- But let’s be honest. We know that making your own spice blends is going to be lower in sodium, free of any fillers, and can be adjusted and tweaked to fit your family’s taste.
- And, it costs less than store bought seasoning - you're using spices you probably already have!
Here's some fajita side dish inspiration!
Ingredients
I’d be willing to bet you have all of the basic spices in your pantry cabinet already, so let’s get mixing!
- chili powder - adds some smokiness and heat. If you have chipotle chili powder, you can use that.
- smoked paprika - regular paprika works too
- onion powder and garlic powder - obviously these are flavored like, well….onion and garlic. In their powdered form they’ll stay fresh in your sealed jar.
- cumin - ground cumin actually has a little of a bitter quality in addition to being earthy
- cayenne pepper - you can omit this if you have an aversion to spice
- dried oregano - has a bold and earthy flavor
- kosher salt - the great thing about making homemade spice mix is that you can modify the amount of salt based on your preference
How Much Fajita Seasoning Per Pound of Meat?
Use 2 Tablespoons of fajita seasoning per 1 pound of meat for bold flavor.
- 1 pound chicken = 2 Tablespoons
- 1 pound steak = 2 Tablespoons
- 1 pound shrimp = 1½ Tablespoons
- 3–4 cups sliced vegetables = 1 Tablespoon
For best results, toss the seasoning with:
- 1–2 Tablespoons oil
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice
This helps the spices coat evenly and prevents burning.
Fajita Seasoning vs Taco Seasoning
Fajita seasoning and taco seasoning use many of the same spices, but they’re not identical. Think sisters, not twins. 👯♀️
Fajita Seasoning
- Designed for sliced meat + vegetables
- Smokier flavor
- No thickening agents
- Slightly cumin-forward
Taco Seasoning
- Designed for ground meat like ground beef, ground pork or ground turkey
- Often contains more chili powder
- Store-bought versions may include cornstarch for thickening
- Slightly saucier finish
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They can be used interchangeably in a pinch, but the final texture will be a little different.
If you're making something like my Walking Taco Casserole, taco seasoning is ideal for that classic flavor. But this fajita seasoning works beautifully in a swap if that’s what you have on hand.
You can also use it in place of taco seasoning in my Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe or in Crockpot Taco Meat for a smokier twist.
Can You Use Fajita Seasoning as a Marinade?
Yes and I do this often! To turn this seasoning into a quick marinade, mix 2 tablespoons fajita seasoning with 2 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Toss with meat and marinate for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
How to Make Fajita Seasoning
Grab a small bowl and measure all the spices into it. Use a spoon to blend everything together.
Place into a glass spice jar or airtight container, unless you’re using it right away.
How to Store Homemade Fajita Seasoning
Store seasoning in an airtight container or jar in a cool, dry pantry for up to 6 months. For best flavor, keep it away from heat and sunlight. If your spices smell faint or dull, it’s time to replace them.
What’s the oldest spice in your pantry right now? You might be surprised how long some of them hang around!
Variations
- For a mild version, simply omit cayenne.
- If you'd like a smoky version add chipotle powder to the mix.
- Want low sodium fajita seasoning? Reduce the amount of salt.
- Like it spicy? Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Need it sugar free? You're in luck -it already is!
FAQ
Stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry, it will stay fresh for up to 6 months. For best flavor, use within 3 months.
You can halve the recipe to make a smaller batch.
Yes. You can use fajita seasoning in place of taco seasoning in most recipes. The flavor will be slightly smokier and less saucy since fajita seasoning doesn’t usually contain thickening agents like cornstarch. It works especially well in ground beef, chicken, or turkey taco recipes.
This blend is mildly spicy. For more heat, add extra cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes. For a milder version, reduce or omit the cayenne.
No. This homemade fajita seasoning is naturally sugar-free.
It can! It works beautifully as a substitute for taco seasoning, though the flavor will be slightly smokier and less saucy.
Most fajita seasoning blends include chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and sometimes cayenne.
Serving suggestions
Tip: Add fajita seasoning to sour cream to make delicious, easy dip for vegetables or tortilla chips.
Recipes That Use Fajita Seasoning
When you make this homemade fajita seasoning recipe, leave a comment or review. I’d love to hear from you!
Recipe
Best Fajita Seasoning
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Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1½ Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Prepare the fajita seasoning by combining all ingredients in a small bowl and stirring until thoroughly blended.
Store any excess in an airtight container or glass jar for later use.
Notes
Nutrition
This Farm Girl Cooks is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. Calories and other nutritional values vary depending on which brands were used.
Michelle says
Great flavors! Thank you!