Are you working on a tight grocery budget? Do you prefer to know every ingredient you’re cooking with?
Well, I fit into both categories. I like to know exactly what I’m putting in my food, and I work on a tight budget.
I’ve learned over the years, nothing will bust your budget faster than going down the spice aisle. Plus, there are many hidden ingredients in some of the spices we use regularly.
But you can fix both of these problems by making your own spices. Shop for some of the ingredients in bulk to make it even less expensive.
Would you like some recipes to get you started? I’m bringing them to you in one convenient location. You can browse the recipes and make whatever strikes your fancy.
Here are homemade seasonings your health and budget will love:
1. Gingerbread Spice Mix
Do you enjoy baking gingerbread? Would you like to make everything from scratch? You’re a prime candidate for making your own Gingerbread Spice Mix.
This recipe requires only a few basic spices. You combine cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, ground cloves, and pepper for the perfect spicy yet sweet combo.
2. Mexican Chocolate Spice Mix
Do you enjoy chocolatey Mexican cuisine? Well, you’ll love this spice. It’s perfect for adding to your Chocolate Desserts.
It requires only cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and ground ginger, exactly what you need to keep your desserts sweet and spicy.
3. Homemade Pumpkin Spice Mix
When you make a pumpkin pie, including the right spices in the right amount can be the difference between a fail or success.
With this recipe for homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice, your pies will turn out beautifully. You only need a few spices such as ginger, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon.
4. Fish Seasoning
How you season fish can be the difference between a delicious meal and a great deal of time wasted. Therefore, you must try this homemade seasoning.
It contains celery salt, black pepper, coriander, thyme, pink salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. With these familiar and tasty spices, your meal is sure to a success.
5. Sausage Spices
We make our own sausage every year. It’s one of our favorite ways to utilize the pork we raise ourselves.
However, it’s important to know how to season your sausage correctly. This recipe for sausage seasoning should help you to have an enjoyable homemade sausage experience.
6. Au Jus Mix
I cringe when I walk down the spice aisle at the grocery store because buying prepackaged mixes or spices can be expensive.
Therefore, it’s important to know how to make your own spice mixes to save the extra money. Au jus mix is a common item in most kitchens. You can now make it yourself.
7. Cuban Seasoning
Latin foods are known for having a decent amount of kick. If you’d like to spice up a basic meal, consider adding some spice to it.
But don’t buy the prepackaged spices. Instead, use this recipe to make your own. It has traditional favorites such as oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, whole peppercorns and much more.
8. Homemade Garlic Powder
Garlic powder is a spice you’d find in most homes. Were you aware you could make it yourself? Thanks to this recipe, you can.
But you’ll be amazed at how easy the process is. Dehydrate fresh garlic, grind it, and you have garlic powder with little expense and little fuss.
9. Vegetable Bouillon
Bouillon cubes are a common ingredient when making soups and sauces. Why not save a little money by making it yourself?
You’ll be anxious to get started when you see how easy the process is. It requires a few basic ingredients such as garlic powder, dried parsley, mustard powder, turmeric, and a few more.
10. Stir Fry Spice Mix
Stir fries are a wonderful way to make sure you eat your veggies on a regular basis. You can also put together a ton of different varieties to keep from getting bored with it.
But including a good spice can undoubtedly set the meal apart. This Stir-fry Spice includes many familiar spices such as garlic powder, ginger, salt, and pepper.
11. Homemade Cream of Chicken Substitute
I use cream of chicken for many different dishes, but I’ve become leery of using it after reports surfaced about the different harmful chemicals found in the cans of cream of chicken soup.
Therefore, I’m fascinated with Homemade Seasoning which can be used in the place of cream of chicken. If you’re trying to be more aware of what you’re putting in your body, you may prefer this over store-bought cream of chicken soup.
12. Guacamole Seasoning
Raise your hand if you’re a fan of guacamole? I’m raising both of mine. I love guacamole on chips, tacos, and anything else I can get away with putting it on.
However, if the guacamole isn’t seasoned right, it doesn’t fly with me. Which is why you need to check out this impressive Seasoning Mix you can make right in your kitchen.
13. Homemade Onion Powder
I use onion powder in about anything I can. My favorite use for onion powder is in my fresh green beans.
I add a dash of onion powder and some bouillon cubes, and they taste amazing. Yet, I doubt I’ll ever purchase Onion Powder again after realizing how easily I can make it at home.
14. Homemade Burrito Spice Mix
We eat a great deal of Mexican cuisine in my house. My kids are picky eaters, but when it comes to Mexican dishes, they gobble them up.
But Mexican food has a great deal to do with the seasoning. If you’re looking for a way to add fantastic flavor to your burritos, try this spice mix.
15. Homemade Pot Roast Mix
There’s nothing easier than throwing a pot roast in the crock pot in the morning to enjoy it by supper time.
But it’s all about the seasonings. Instead of purchasing the packet of seasonings at the store, make this mixture at home. It’s easy to do and should be more cost-effective in many cases.
16. Easy Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs
Bread crumbs are an essential ingredient in my kitchen. They’re great for breading vegetables, chicken, or even to toss in a meatloaf.
But they’re more than a coating. They can also be used to season the items you bread. Which is why it’s great to know how to make your own Italian Bread Crumbs. They’re great to use for added flavor in a pinch.
17. Homemade Chicken Gravy
I know how to make gravy from scratch, but in all honesty, I reach for the packets of gravy mix at the store because it’s incredibly convenient.
Well, I no longer have to feel guilty about spending unnecessary money for convenience because this recipe shows you how to make your own Powdered Chicken Gravy from scratch
18. Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix
Dry onion soup mix is another seasoning which is versatile. I use it in my meatloaf for added flavor, to season my pot roast, and a variety of other meats.
Instead of purchasing the pouches of it from your local supermarket, consider making it yourself. It’s easy to do and could save you a trip into town.
19. Homemade Mild Curry Powder
Curry is a staple in many homes, but if you try to purchase the spices, it can become costly in a hurry. This is why I’m thankful someone shared how to make your own mild curry powder.
If you have cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, mustard powder, and cayenne pepper, you have what it takes to make your own Curry Powder.
20. DIY Mrs. Dash Seasoning Salt
When you stroll down the aisle at your local supermarket and see the label of Mrs. Dash, doesn’t your mouth instantly begin to water?
The Mrs. Dash Seasoning Salt is great for meats, fries, and anything in between. If you love seasoning salt, you’ll be happy to know you can make it at home and have tasty fries any time you like.
21. Apple Pie Spice
My family is filled with ‘apple people.’ They enjoy all things apple. Our children love apple pie, fried apples, and especially apple butter.
Because I make a ton of apple recipes, apple pie spice is a necessary part of my spice cabinet. I’m glad someone shared this recipe because when I run low, I can use other common spices I keep on hand to make my own apple pie spice.
22. Old Bay Style Seasoning
This another spice which I regularly keep on hand. Old Bay seasoning is great for coating corn on the cob, other veggies, fries, seafood, and enjoyable for seafood boils.
But wouldn’t you like to know how to make a spice similar to it for yourself? Well, this recipe will show you how to make your own Old Bay Style Seasoning for you to enjoy any time you want.
23. Gyros Spice Mix
You’re in the middle of making delicious homemade gyros when suddenly you realize you’re short on ingredients. Now what?
Well, you don’t panic and reach for this recipe. It shows you exactly how to make your own delicious gyros spice mix. When you’re chowing down on your homemade grub, you’ll be glad you reached for this recipe.
24. Buffalo Seasoning
My husband loves spicy food. The spicier, the better. He doesn’t leave the table, on nights I make spicy food, happy until he has the hiccups.
Which is why I love this Buffalo Seasoning. It’s a great way to add spice to your food in a straightforward fashion. It also requires less clean up than hot sauce.
25. Yummy Vegetable Seasoning Mix
Are you trying to eat more vegetables, but you get bored after the first few days? Here’s a tip: eating more veggies is all about flavor.
If the vegetables taste good, it won’t matter how many days in a row you’ve eaten them. Therefore, you must try this Vegetable Seasoning Mix. It’s a simple way to add lots of flavors.
26. Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Do you enjoy Cajun style food? Are you into a mix of flavors which turn out one heck of a meal? You need to tune into this recipe.
This Cajun Seasoning Recipe consists of garlic powder, thyme, salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and more. It’ll bring a great deal of flavor to the party.
27. Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning Mix
If you’re working on a budget, you know at times you have to compromise on flavor because you can’t afford all the ingredients.
Well, skimp no more when it comes to spaghetti sauce. Buy the cheap sauce and add this mixture of spices to have a delicious meal with little extra cost.
28. Italian Sausage Seasoning
Making sausage is a fun and exciting process. I enjoy making my own because I like to see how something I’ve bought for years comes together.
Well, you can make your own Italian sausage too because this recipe will help you to season it perfectly.
29. Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning
This seasoning sounds amazing. It’s a perfect mixture to sprinkle on a rotisserie chicken to have maximum flavor.
The recipe consists of salt, smoke paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, black pepper, white pepper, and cayenne pepper.
30. Lemon Pepper Seasoning Mix
When you go out to eat, it’s common to hear of lemon pepper fish or chicken. Wouldn’t you like to be able to make your own at home?
Well, now you can with this recipe for Lemon Pepper Seasoning which has no added sugar or additives. It’s a healthy alternative to a classic condiment.
31. Homemade Pizza Seasoning Mix
My first job in high school was working in a pizza parlor. I learned a great deal about customer service and how to make awesome pizza.
One of the main things I learned was pizza is all about seasoning. You need the right seasoning for the sauce and to finish off the pizza before baking. Try this seasoning the next time you make a scratch-made pizza and see if you taste the difference.
32. DIY Taco Seasoning
My middle son loves tacos. He would eat them morning, noon, and night if I’d make them. Which is why it has become important for me to learn how to make my own taco seasoning.
When you purchase taco seasoning, it can make a cheap meal a little more costly. This recipe shows you an inexpensive method of making your own Taco Seasoning. Enjoy!
33. Meatloaf Seasoning
My kids are as different as they can be. One is obsessed with tacos, and my youngest (who is the pickiest of them all) loves meatloaf.
According to him, nobody can make meatloaf like mom. In reality, everyone can because it’s all about mixing two kinds of meat and adding the right seasonings. Here’s a great recipe for meatloaf seasoning. Hopefully, your family will love it as much as mine does.
34. DIY Shake and Bake
When I was growing up, I lived on Shake and Bake. My mom grew up in a home where they fried everything. As she became an adult, she swore off fried foods.
Which is why I adored Shake and Bake because it was the closest thing to fried food I knew. You can make your own Shake and Bake with this recipe. It’s a delicious alternative to frying foods.
35. Garlic Bread Seasoning
The same pizza parlor I worked at as a teenager, was also famous for their breadsticks. Again, the secret was in the seasonings.
Well, if you’re craving garlic bread, consider this Spice Recipe to add to the top of your breadsticks covered in garlic butter. You may fall in love.
36. Rice Seasoning Mix
I loved the packets of rice with the seasonings inside when I was a little girl. My mom used them as a side dish, and I looked forward to dinner those nights.
If you’re like me and enjoy seasoned rice, you’ll be glad to know you no longer have to buy the pouches at the store. Use this recipe for Rice Seasoning instead.
37. Homemade Ranch Seasoning
I love ranch dressing, but if I’m honest, I’m not a huge ranch seasoning type gal. But this doesn’t mean my husband and kids aren’t.
If you’re like them and enjoy ranch seasoning on your fries, chicken, pork chops, or anything else you can get it on, be sure to check out this tutorial which teaches you how to make homemade ranch seasoning.
38. Homemade Italian Seasoning
Italian seasoning is one of the most common condiments found in most people’s spice cabinet. It goes well with anything.
You can use it in spaghetti sauce, on garlic bread, or in soups. If you’re interested in knowing how to make it yourself, check out this tutorial.
39. Homemade Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix
I’m a total foodie, if you haven’t gathered by this point. One of my favorite sandwiches is a sloppy joe. I love the meat, seasonings, and how it all comes together on a warm bun.
But I don’t like purchasing the mix to make sloppy joes. They’re expensive and don’t taste like the homemade seasonings I’ve grown to love. If you’d like a reliable recipe for Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix, give this one a try.
40. The Best Burger Seasoning
I have another food confession. My favorite meat is beef, and my favorite style of beef is ground. If I’m going to eat ground beef, I love nothing more than a fried hamburger.
But what sets fried hamburgers apart? Seasoning, of course! This Seasoning is known as the best hamburger seasoning. Try it and see if your opinion is the same.
41. Homemade Chili Seasoning
Chili is a staple in my home during the winter months. It’s a tasty way to warm up. But how good the chili is, depends on the seasoning mix.
Which is why I prefer to make my own instead of paying for the different varieties from the store. If you’re looking for a great Chili Seasoning Recipe, give this one a shot.
If you weren’t aware you could make your own seasonings or how many you could make from scratch yourself, you can’t say the same thing tomorrow.
Hopefully, you’ll find many delicious recipes in this post to spice up your meal times and keep everyone coming back for seconds.
