Homemade Fajita Seasoning

Since I’ve discovered how easy (and much better) it is to make my own fajita seasoning, it’s the only thing I use to season my fajitas and tacos! Not only does it only take 5 minutes to make, it’s also cheaper and healthier since it contains no additives.

My fajita seasoning is a very simple seasoning that only requires 7 spices to make. The flavors are what you would expect to taste when biting into a tasty fajita or taco – smoky, zesty, and a little spicy. It can be used to season any type of protein, from chicken to tofu, and vegetables as well, such as onions and bell peppers. I also like to sprinkle a little over rice as a flavor booster, or mix it into a bowl of pinto beans.

This recipe beats the store bought versions any day! It’s a classic flavor combination that captures the essence of Tex-Mex cuisine. Plus, there are absolutely no additives or preservatives in this fajita seasoning recipe.

Fajitas 101

The term fajita is a bit of slang that originated from the Spanish word faja which loosely translates into ‘belt’ or ‘strip’. And that’s because the first fajitas were made with skirt steak, which is a tough cut of meat that’s typically sliced against the grain into strips to make it easier to chew. These days, however, aside from the original skirt steak fajitas, you’re likely to find everything from chicken to shrimp to tofu and veggies being used as the main elements in an order of fajitas.

It’s common to eat fajitas at restaurants with added condiments like guacamole, salsa, shredded lettuce, sour cream and refried beans. And, while there are probably preparations that err on the more authentic side of things, I’ve always had the impression that there were no hard and fast rules about what you could and couldn’t dress your fajitas with.

Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe.

• Chili powder: This bright red powder is a little sweet and earthy and is often used in dishes such as chili con carne (or my delicious vegetarian chili), or as a dry rub for meats.
• Cumin powder: The nutty and earthy flavors of cumin powder are often used in curries, to enhance the natural sweetness or root vegetables such as squash, pumpkin, and carrot, or to season meats like lamb or beef, like this hunan beef with cumin.
• Garlic powder: Garlic powder is mildly garlicky and very aromatic.
• Onion powder: Onion powder very much tastes like onions. It’s a little spicy and sweet and can sometimes be used to replace an onion.
• Paprika: Paprika is made from a combination of sweet red peppers and hot red peppers. It’s sweet and smoky.
• Cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper is made from hot red peppers and packs quite a bit of heat.
• Salt: Salt is used in this season to enhance and balance all of the flavors from the spices.

How To Make This Fajita Seasoning

There are only two steps needed to make this fajita seasoning:

1. Measure the ingredients.
2. Mix them in a bowl and use it to season your favorite protein and vegetables.

How To Use This Seasoning

The secret to making great fajitas isn’t much of a secret at all – you just need a smoking hot skillet and tons of flavor.

1. Start by cooking your protein and vegetables in hot skillet with a little oil.
2. When your protein has cooked through, turn the heat off and add the fajita seasoning – I use about 1 1/2 tablespoon per pound of protein. Toss everything together and transfer the filling for the fajitas in a bowl.
3. Make your fajitas and enjoy!

While not quite a dry rub, this seasoning mix can also be used that way if you want to pre-treat your chicken or beef. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors penetrate. I also love to use it as a dry rub for tofu!

Frequently Asked Questions

Did you like this recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!

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