Southwest Spice Blend

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The Tex-Mex seasoning is bursting with spicy, earthy, and tangy flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. It is a perfect complement to the classic dishes like nachos, tacos, and scrambled eggs, as well as unexpected treats like sweet potato fries. You can also add it to salad dressings or dips, sprinkle it on vegetables, mix it into simmering beans, or even jazz up your Bernaise sauce. With its versatility and deliciousness, your palate is sure to be delighted!

Why You’ll Love This Spicy Seasoning

So Bold and Spicy!

Southwest Spice Blend has a bold and spicy flavor that will add a kick to any dish. It contains a mix of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and other spices that are commonly used in Southwest cuisine.

So Versatile!

This seasoning can be used in a variety of dishes, from chicken and beef to beans and vegetables. It can be sprinkled on top of salads or mixed into dressings, or used as a rub for grilling or roasting.

So Easy!

Southwest Spice Blend is simple to use and requires no special cooking skills. Just sprinkle it on your dish, mix it in, or use it as a rub.

So Healthy!

Many of the spices in Southwest Spice Blend have health benefits. For example, cumin has been shown to improve digestion, and chili powder contains capsaicin, which can help reduce inflammation.

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What is This Tasty Spice Blend?

It’s a super tasty seasoning mix that’s commonly used in Southwestern cuisine to add a delicious and spicy kick to dishes like tacos, chili, and enchiladas. The mix is made up of a variety of yummy spices like chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and sometimes onion powder and/or salt. You can find it easily at your local grocery store, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can make your own blend at home using your favorite spices. The best part is that Southwest Spice Blend is a super versatile seasoning that you can use to add flavor and spice to all kinds of dishes, from meats and veggies to soups and stews. Go ahead and give it a try, your taste buds will thank you!

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Why You’ll Love This Seasoning How to Use this Versatile Blend

As a Rub

Rub the spice blend onto meats like chicken, beef, or pork before grilling, baking, or roasting for a flavorful and aromatic crust. 

In Marinades

Add Southwest Spice Blend to your marinade mix to infuse the meat with bold and spicy flavors. Let the meat marinate for a few hours or overnight before cooking. 

In Soups and Stews

Add Southwest Spice Blend to soups and stews like chili, vegetable soups, or lentil stews for a rich and hearty flavor. 

On Vegetables

Sprinkle the seasoning onto roasted vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, or cauliflower for a spicy twist. 

In Dips and Dressings

Mix Southwest Spice Blend into your favorite dips or dressings for a zesty flavor. Try it with ranch dip or creamy avocado dressing. 

On Snacks

Sprinkle the seasoning on popcorn, roasted nuts, or chips for a flavorful snack.

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Notes On Ingredients & Substitutions

Ancho Chile Powder

Ancho Chile Powder has a mild heat and a slightly sweet smoky flavor, and adds a rich, earthy flavor to your dishes. Take the time to find a high-quality powder that meets your taste and quality standards (think color, aroma, and taste). My favorite…..Simply Organic Ancho Chili Powder because it is more readily accessible and you can find Simply Organic in many local grocers. 

Smoked Paprika

Smoked Paprika is a flavorful spice made from ground, dried, and smoked peppers, with a unique smoky flavor, slight sweetness, mild heat, deep red color, and versatility. My favorite….again, Simply Organic does it well and is available at most grocery stores.

Turmeric

Turmeric brings a super earthy and bitter flavor to balance out the other intense flavors. Go-to favorite? Surprise! Simply Organic. Or, make your own freshly ground turmeric for an incredible earthy flavor profile.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a spicy chili pepper that has a slightly sweet and earthy taste with a hint of bitterness. It adds heat and depth of flavor to dishes and pairs well with other spices like cumin and garlic.

Cumin Seed

Cumin seed is a spice with a warm, earthy, slightly bitter taste and nutty undertones. Toast it before grinding use to enhance its flavor.

Black Peppercorn

Black peppercorn is known for its heat with a bit of pine flavor. Toasting peppercorns prior to crushing or grinding them enhances the aroma and flavor of the pepper, bringing out the full potential of the essential oils in the peppercorns. This results in a more complex, smoky, and spicy taste.

Oregano

Oregano is known for its peppery bite and a sweet, almost minty aroma. Especially delicious with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Onion Powder

Onion powder, well, tastes like onion … and a bit of garlic. It should have a sharp, yet sweet smell. This enhances the depth of flavor to the spice mix.

Garlic Powder

Garlic Powder has a milder and sweeter taste than fresh garlic. This also is superb at enhancing the depth of flavor to the spice blend.

Sea Salt

Sea salt is a crunchier and sharper flavor than table salt.

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How to Make This Incredible Spice Blend

Step 1 — Toast the Cumin Seeds

Toast the cumin seeds and black peppercorns in a sauté pan over low heat for 8 to 10 minutes until they start to turn brown and have a toasted appearance. After toasting, turn off the heat and let the seeds and peppercorns cool for a couple of minutes.

Step 2 — Grind ’em Up

Transfer the toasted cumin seeds and peppercorns to a spice grinder and thoroughly grind. Transfer to the airtight container.

Step 3 — Mix It Up

Add the remaining ingredients —  Ancho Chile Powder, Smoked Paprika, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Turmeric, Cayenne Pepper, Cumin Seed, Black Peppercorn, Oregano, Kosher Salt  — to the airtight container. Shake to mix up or stir thoroughly.

Step 4 — Flavor Away & Store

Add a dash — or a fistful (shhhh) —  to your favorite dishes and sit back and enjoy. These delicious flavors will remain just that for up to 6 months as long as it is in an airtight container in a dark and cool place.

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Variations

Smoky Southwest Spice Blend

Add smoked paprika to the blend to give it a rich, smoky flavor. 

Spicy Southwest Spice Blend

Increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add some red pepper flakes to make the blend hotter. 

Sweet Southwest Spice Blend

Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the blend to give it a slightly sweet and warming flavor. 

Citrus Southwest Spice Blend

Add some lime or lemon zest to the blend to give it a bright, citrusy flavor. 

Herbal Southwest Spice Blend

Add some dried oregano or thyme to the blend to give it a fresh, herbal flavor. 

Garlic Southwest Spice Blend

Add some garlic powder or minced garlic to the blend to give it a savory, garlicky flavor. 

Honey Chipotle Southwest Spice Blend

Combine the classic blend with some honey and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a sweet and spicy twist.

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How To Store

A cool, dark and dry place with good ventilation is ideal for storing spices and seasonings — like a dark cabinet or the refrigerator. Keeping them in airtight containers helps to preserve their freshness and flavor for a longer period of time.

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How Long Can I Keep a Spice Blend

Ground spices typically don’t last past six months. The best freshness test for ground spices is to give them a whiff — if they smell like nothing, then it’s time to say goodbye. Whole spices, on the other hand, can be fine for up to five years.

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Frequently Asked Questions