Homemade Chili Powder Recipe (Easy + No Special Ingredients)

Homemade chili powder is easy to make, and the freshness can't be beat, but not all blends are created equal. My family taste-tested a lot of blends in our kitchen, and this recipe came out on top. So that's why I'm calling it the BEST Homemade Chili Powder.

It’s rich, aromatic, and easy to make using affordable pantry spices—no specialty chiles needed.

Not all homemade chili powder recipes require dried chiles and extra steps. This version is made with simple pantry spices you likely already have—and it tastes fresher and more customizable than store-bought blends.

Why This Is the Best Chili Powder

I get it. People say that their recipe is the best all the time. I've done it myself. But in this case, we did a bunch of taste testing of homemade chili powders, and this blend was actually the best out of all of the ones we tested.

I've made chili powder for a long time, but I decided to experiment with a bunch of recipes so I could recommend the best one for my family and for you as well.

Our testing was quite a sight to see. We tested chili powder:

• straight
• on popcorn
• on salad
• on beef
• and on pasta.

There were little bowls of chili powder-tasting dishes all over the kitchen, so it was messy, but totally worth it. Because we now have a winner, and not only does it taste great, but it's inexpensive to make, and you likely have all the ingredients needed in your pantry.

Fun Fact

Chili powder is very similar to other seasoning blends, like taco seasoning and quesadilla seasoning, but these blends have obvious differences.

Chili powder is typically made of chilis, while taco seasoning and quesadilla seasoning often have chili powder as one of their ingredients. They are interchangeable to a point, but each has its special flavor.

Why Make Your Own Seasoning Blends

There are loads of reasons to make your own spice mixes.

• Save Money — It's a lot cheaper to make your own seasoning blends; you're basically paying “the other guy” to do the measuring and blending.
• Adaptable for Taste — You can play around with the ingredients to find a mixture that you like best.
• Adaptable for Special Diets — You can adapt to special diets easily.  (Some spice mixes have gluten, dairy, or other ingredients in them that folks with those allergies need to avoid.
• Avoid Toxins — Many spice blends have chemical nasties in them (like silicon dioxide) to make them free-flowing.  Personally, I'd rather break up a few lumps in my spices than eat silicon dioxide, thank you very much.
• Enjoyment — It's simply fun to experiment in the kitchen!

How to Use this Homemade Chili Powder

• Chili — Of course, use it in chili. Pretty clever, huh? Use about 1-2 tablespoons for each pound of meat or chicken.
• Sides — Sprinkle it on rice and beans, or even on veggies.
• Salads — Sprinkle on salads with a drizzle of olive oil and salt for a makeshift salad dressing.
• Eggs — Sprinkle on eggs.
• Pepper Substitute — As a substitute for pepper in a recipe. Just add a bit more chili powder than the amount of pepper that's called for.
• Desserts — Yes, it's true.  Try some on chocolate ice cream, in brownies, on chocolate bark, etc.
• On Fruit — Sprinkling chili powder on fruit is really a thing. Try it and you'll see!

Recipe Notes

• I recommend toasting cumin seeds first and then adding the ground seeds to this recipe. This makes the recipe extra special!
• You can substitute ancho pepper for the paprika if you'd like. I love ancho peppers, but I made this recipe with paprika to keep the cost down since that's oh so important, especially these days.

Other Homemade Seasoning Blends

Here are some more homemade seasonings that I think you'll like as well.

• The “Best” Cinnamon Sugar – Made Healthier – we tested a bunch and we were surprised about the one that won!
• Mild Curry Powder – just enough heat, but you can turn it up or down as you like.
• Vegetable Broth Powder – makes everything taste better, including popcorn!
• Celery Salt
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Quesadilla Seasoning – great for so many more things than just quesadillas

Homemade Chili Powder Recipe (Easy Pantry Spice Blend)

This easy homemade chili powder is made with simple pantry spices and comes together in minutes. It’s fresher, more flavorful, and more affordable than store-bought blends—and you can easily adjust the heat to your taste.

4.64 from 30 votes

Print Pin Rate

Servings: 4

Calories: 21kcal

Author: Adrienne

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit or increase to taste)

Instructions

• Place all ingredients in a bowl.
• Blend thoroughly.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Paprika is a pepper and should be refrigerated for maximum shelf life and potency.

Notes

• Use 1-2 tablespoons of chili powder per pound of meat, or to taste.
• Toasting the cumin seeds first before grinding will make this chili powder extra special!

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 21kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1854IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg | Net Carbs: 2g

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and preparation methods. Optional ingredients are not included. Net carbs are typically calculated by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols (such as erythritol) from total carbohydrates. This information should not be relied upon for medical or nutritional purposes.

The images in this post were updated in 2020. Following is one of the earlier images for your reference.

Do you make your own seasonings? Which ones?

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