Chili Seasoning Mix Recipe: A Healthy Alternative for Chili Recipes

Keep warm this winter with a cozy pot of homemade chili. Whether you’re making traditional chili or trying a vegetarian recipe, this easy chili seasoning mix is a must for your spice cabinet! This best chili spice mix recipe is a healthy alternative to store bought mixes containing an overabundance of salt, MSG and other unwanted ingredients. Read on to discover my favorite, healthy recipe for making your own seasoning mix, along with some of my favorite vegetarian chili recipes.

Easy Chili Spice Mix

Chili is a traditional winter favorite. It not only makes a hearty meal, but it’s perfect for those cold winter days. While I’ve recently gone pescatarian for purely selfish reasons — I plan to live forever! and it’s heart healthy — I am still able to enjoy chili through my collection of favorite vegetarian chili recipes.

Of course, chili is also pretty easy to wing. I love throwing in meaty veggies and grains for texture. Things like quinoa, farro, squash and lentils are some of my favorite additions to a vegetarian chili. They’re also great in a traditional chili recipe. However, the one must for that perfect pot of chili is a great, chili seasoning mix recipe!

I make my healthy chili seasoning mix using certified organic spices from Mountain Rose Herbs. So I know that I’m always starting with quality ingredients for my homemade chili spice blend. This allows me to avoid MSG as well as overly salty, pre-made chili spice mixes that come filled with preservatives and cheap ingredients. I’ve found that making my own spice mix at home is super quick and easy. And, because I choose each of the ingredients that go into my recipe for the perfect spice blend, it’s also much healthier.

Of course, my recipe for this seasoning mix is great for more than just a warm pot of chili! Discover why you should make your own spice blends ASAP and grab some great ideas for other uses below.

Why Should I Make My Own Chili Seasoning Mix?

Making your own chili seasoning mix is a great way to control the flavors in your chili and make it unique to your tastes. Here are some of the top reasons to make your own spice mix for your favorite recipes:

• Customize your flavors: By making your own seasoning mix, you can tailor the flavors to suit your tastes. Add more of the ingredients you like and less of the ingredients you don’t like. So, if you don’t like a lot of spice, you can use less pepper or cayenne.
• Healthy: Making your own spice blends is a great way to reduce your sodium intake and use more natural ingredients — as well as avoid those you don’t want, like MSG.
• Cost-effective: By making your own seasoning mix, you can save money by using spices you already have in your pantry. Or you can save even more by purchasing fresh, organic spices in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs. I’ve found that buying in bulk and creating my own spice blends is immensely cheaper than buying individual, pre-mixed jars of spices off the shelf.
• Fresher: Making your own chili seasoning blend will ensure that you are using the freshest spices available. This means better flavor when creating your favorite recipes.
• Fun: Making your own seasoning mixes can be a fun and creative project that you can do with your family or friends. Plus, they’re great for gifts. I like to tuck mine inside gift baskets when giving food gifts.

What Do Chili Spices Add to Recipes?

Ways to Use Homemade Chili Seasoning

Chili spice mix is a great way to add flavor to dishes beyond chili! Following are other ways to use this seasoning blend to create flavorful and satisfying dishes for you and your family.

• Use this spice blend to make chili con carne.
• You can sprinkle it onto roasted vegetables, tofu, and tempeh for a spicy kick.
• You can also use it to make tacos, burritos, and fajitas. Or simply sprinkle it over your favorite taco fillings.
• Use it to make Mexican-style rice and beans, as well as to liven up soups, stews, and casseroles.
• Finally, it can be used as an authentic, dry rub for grilled or roasted meats and fish.

I hope you enjoy experimenting with this versatile and delicious spice mix! 

Healthy Chili Seasoning Mix Recipe

Yield: About 1/4 Cup

Ingredients:

These are the ingredients you’ll need to create your own, healthy seasoning blends for cooking:

• 1.5 Tablespoons cumin seed powder
• 1 Tablespoon cayenne powder
• ½ Tablespoon Ancho chili powder, red roasted chili powder or smoked paprika powder
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground black peppercorn
• 1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt, optional
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano leaf

How to Make Chili Seasoning from Scratch

I highly recommend ordering the quality, organic spices for this chili seasoning mix recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs, unless you are able to easily source organic spices locally. This recipe for my chili spice blend can be doubled or tripled depending on your needs. It’s also a great substitute for the Mexican seasoning blend I used to make my organic spice blend Valentine’s Day gifts for him.

Here’s how to make it:

1. Measure out the spices called for in the recipe using measuring spoons.
2. Then combine the ingredients inside a small, glass bowl or zipper bag.
3. Mix well or shake to combine. You’ll want to mix the contents until all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated throughout the spice mix.
4. Finally, give your spice blend a quick taste test. Then, adjust the seasoning to taste, if desired.

How to Store Your Chili Seasoning Mix

Store this healthy chili seasoning mix in an airtight container in a cool, dark location. You can find a great selection of spice jars and bottles perfect for this purpose here.

Shelf Life

For best results, use your chili spice mix within a month, while it’s still at its peak freshness. After this time, the ground spices you used in your recipe will start to lose some of their natural flavor and aroma. While not as potent as when first made, your seasoning mix is still good after the one month mark.

Ground spices typically have a shelf life of 2-3 years, while seasoning blends have a shelf life of 1-2 years.

Yield: About 1/4 Cup

Chili Seasoning Mix Recipe

Print

A healthy chili seasoning mix recipe. By making your own chili spice mix, you can create a healthier alternative to store bought chili seasoning mixes. This chili spice mix recipe is free of MSG & other unwanted ingredients as well as excess salt.

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1.5 Tablespoons cumin seed powder
• 1 Tablespoon cayenne powder
• ½ Tablespoon Ancho chili powder, red roasted chili powder or smoked paprika powder
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground black peppercorn
• 1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt, optional
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano leaf

Instructions

1. Measure out the spices using measuring spoons, omitting the salt if desired for lower sodium.
2. Combine in a zipper bag and shake well to combine.
3. Store your chili seasoning mix in an airtight container between uses, in a cool, dark location.

Notes

Best when used within one month for maximum freshness. However, the shelf life of this chili spice mix is 1-2 years.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 7Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 111mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Homemade Chili Recipes

Looking for homemade chili recipes for this amazing, healthy chili seasoning mix? Give my friend’s white chicken chili recipe a try! A healthier alternative to traditional chili made with ground beef, this white chicken chili is made with a blend of various beans, fried chicken breasts and seasonings, and is perfect for those who prefer the heat of their chili somewhere between mild and medium. (You can discover some of my other food recipes here.)

Vegetarian Chili Recipes

Alternately, to make your chili even healthier, skip the meat all together. And try one of these vegetarian chili recipes instead. They’re a great way to try out your new chili mix recipe!

• Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili Recipe with Rice
• Can’t Believe It’s Vegetarian Chili
• Easy Vegetarian Chili Recipe
• Quinoa Vegetarian Chili Recipe
• Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili with Avocado
• Smoky Butternut Squash and Three Bean Chili
• 1-Pot Red Lentil Chili Recipe

For more vegetarian winter dinner ideas, be sure to visit my Food Recipes Pinterest board. You can also find and follow me on facebook, twitter and instagram. Or subscribe to my newsletter.