Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe

Great chili doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with the right seasoning. After years of experimenting, this is the blend that consistently produces bold, balanced, crowd-pleasing chili. It’s flavorful without being overpowering, and completely adaptable. Keep it mild and family-friendly, or turn up the heat if you like a little fire in your bowl.

Chili is one of my favorite things to eat. I am pro traditional chili, like my Three Bean Chili, but also love those fun twists and crazy additions to find at chili cookoffs. And it’s just so versatile. It’s kind of like toss what you have on hand inside, toss in a tried and true chili seasoning, and you’re off to the races!

DIY Chili Seasoning

For years, making chili never really involved a recipe for me. I would toss a little of this, a little of that into the pot and keep tasting until it felt right.

I grew up watching my mom tear open a McCormick chili seasoning packet, and when I first started cooking, I did the same. Then one day, I didn’t have a packet in the pantry, so I decided to wing it. I started experimenting with my own blend of spices, adjusting here and there, and this is the mix I’ve been using ever since.

How Do You Like Your Chili?

People are very specific about how they like their chili. Spicy or mild? Meat or no meat? Beans or no beans? There are so many options.

My go-to is my Three Bean Chili Recipe, pictured above, and this homemade chili seasoning is the base of that recipe. The beauty of making your own spice blend is that you can easily adjust the heat level. If you prefer it mild, go easy on the cayenne and red pepper flakes. If you love a little kick like I do, don’t be shy.

What Spices Go in Chili?

Classic chili seasoning typically includes chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and cumin.

While chili powder is the backbone of most blends, it isn’t a complete seasoning on its own. The supporting spices are what give chili depth and that bold, rich flavor.

Some cooks even add unexpected ingredients like chocolate, cinnamon, cornmeal, beer, cola, or wine as their “secret ingredient.” That’s the fun of chili. There is always room to make it your own.

Ingredients in This Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix

My blend keeps things simple and balanced. Find the complete measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

• chili powder
• paprika
• red pepper flakes
• seasoned pepper
• salt
• cayenne pepper

I skip garlic powder and onion powder because I always use fresh garlic and onion when browning my ground beef. That fresh flavor adds a heartiness that I really love. If you don’t have fresh on hand, add 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder and 2 Tablespoons of onion powder to the dry mix. 

Many recipes contain cumin, but I don’t use it in mine. I have experimented with it, but for me, too much cumin quickly leans toward a taco seasoning flavor. If you enjoy cumin in your chili, add it lightly at first. You can always add more.

How to Make & Store Homemade Chili Seasoning

Mix everything, and you have the perfect amount for one batch of my Three Bean Chili, which serves about 12 people. If you like to meal prep or make big batches, I’ve included a quadruple batch option in the printable recipe card notes.

Store your homemade chili seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. It will be ready and waiting the next time a pot of chili is calling your name.

Love It? Pin It!

The next time you’re ready to make a cozy pot of chili, skip the store-bought packet and reach for this homemade chili seasoning instead. Don’t forget to pin this recipe for homemade chili seasoning to your favorite Pinterest recipe board to find it easily!  

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Favorite Chili Recipes 

• White Chicken Chili 
• Cincinnati Chili (Skyline Copycat)
• Chili Cheese Bean Dip
• Homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe
• Buffalo Chicken Chili (pictured above)
• Oktoberfest Chili
• Five Bean Chicken Chili

More Homemade Seasoning Blends to Love 

• The BEST Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
• My Homemade Apple Pie Spice
• Make your own Bisquick Mix
• Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
• Everything Bagel Spice from Scratch
• French Fry Seasoning
• Homemade Poultry Seasoning

The next time a pot of chili is on the menu, skip the packet and reach for this homemade chili seasoning instead. It’s simple, dependable, and full of the kind of bold flavor that turns a regular weeknight dinner into something everyone talks about. Keep it mild, turn up the heat, make it your own — that’s the beauty of it.

Once you make this recipe for chili seasoning, you’ll never buy the packet again!

 

This recipe was originally posted on October 20, 2020. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on February 26, 2026.