Can we all agree that Mexican chorizo sausage is the best sausage? It's a little smoky, a little spicy, packed with flavor, and generally works for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This homemade Chorizo Seasoning is all of those things, but in a very easy non-perishable spice blend that can live in your pantry for months!
Recipe: $3.63 | Per Serving: $0.33 | Yield: ~11 Tablespoons
I discovered the beauty of making homemade sausage seasoning blends when I lived in Japan, where sausage is basically just a hot dog, and I was craving some Italian Sausage. A few years later I attended a sausage-making workshop in Baltimore and was so excited to come up with this chorizo sausage seasoning recipe!
The best thing about making your own sausage seasoning is that you can use it for a lot more than just sausage. Chorizo-spiced cauliflower rice? Chorizo-spiced roasted veggies? Chorizo-spiced tofu scramble? Yep, yep, and yep!
Why You Will Love This Chorizo Seasoning Recipe
I am not really in the business of telling you NOT to eat something that you love (yes, even as a functional clinical nutritionist). But if you're open to making a version of certain things at home, you'll get so many benefits. Here are some reasons to love this homemade chorizo seasoning:
- Adjustable sodium content. You can control how much salt you add, making it much more versatile.
- No curing or additives. Various organizations keep telling us that cured and processed meats are carcinogens, so whether you agree or not, you can rest easy knowing that your homemade sausage is simply a souped-up version of ground meat without possibly questionable additives.
- VERSATILITY! Let me tell you, I love using this on my scrambled eggs. It's delicious, and flavorful, and makes you think you've got a little sausage on your plate. This can also be added to a variety of vegetables, beans, tofu and tempeh, and nearly any meal that needs a boost of flavor.
- Non-perishable! This dried sausage seasoning may not be the traditional way of making chorizo, but it will last for months in your cabinet so you can easily have that chorizo flavor anytime you want it.
If you love this homemade seasoning blend, you've got to try this Italian sausage seasoning or homemade breakfast sausage next!
Ingredients
We're using mostly common pantry spices with a few specific Mexican chorizo spices for a more chorizo-style flavor. Remember that chorizo sausage is typically a heavily seasoned ground sausage, so we're really amping up the flavor!
- Smoked paprika: This adds the characteristic smokiness and bright red color.
- Ancho pepper powder: Dried poblano peppers are called ancho chilies after they're dried! It packs a bit more heat than regular chili powder, but you can use whatever dried chilies you have.
- Cumin: This spice adds a pungent earthiness and sweetness to the sausage spice blend. Feel free to use a little more or a little less as you'd prefer.
- Cayenne pepper: For a spicy kick!
- Garlic powder: you can definitely skip the garlic powder here if you need to, but it definitely contributes to the rich flavor, so use if if you can!
- Salt and pepper: Black pepper is optional, but recommended, while salt is essential! Salt is what makes the other ingredients sing. Feel free to use more or less to your preference.
Variations
- Low FODMAP: Make this spice blend suitable for a low FODMAP diet by skipping the garlic! I do that all the time.
- Spicy or Mild: As written, this version has a hint of heat, but might be too spicy for kiddos. Increase the amount of cayenne a bit at a time to make a spicy chorizo seasoning, or omit it for an even milder version.
- Low-sodium: Use the amount you prefer to lower the sodium or leave it out completely to make it sodium-free if you'd prefer to just salt during the cooking process instead.
How to Make Chorizo Seasoning
Here's how to make this homemade seasoning. It takes just a few minutes! Adjust the amounts of any of the seasonings to customize the chorizo spice blend to your tastes.
- Step 1: Combine. Measure out and add all the spices to a small bowl. You can make it with or without salt.
- Step 2: Mix. Stir everything together with a whisk until well-blended.
- Step 3: Use or Store. Use the seasoning in a dish immediately or store it and use it later on.
How to Make Ground Chorizo Sausage
- Step 1: Place your ground pork in a bowl.
- Step 2: Add 1-2 Tablespoons of chorizo seasoning per pound of ground pork.
- Step 3: Mix the seasonings into the meat. Shape it into patties or cook it to make chorizo crumbles in a skillet.
How to Use Homemade Sausage Seasoning
- Gift It! If I were a person who gave out food presents this chorizo seasoning would 100% be on the gift list! Place some in a jar and tie it with a ribbon. You can even give them a recipe card with your favorite recipe using it.
- Enjoy it in Vegetarian Dishes: Add it to some ground tempeh, tofu crumbles, or in a tofu scramble for a punch of flavor!
- Use it as a Chorizo Taco Seasoning: Mix some in with your favorite ground meat to make ground chorizo perfect for tacos. It's also great stuffed into burritos, quesadillas, and much more.
- Flavor Veggies & Beans: Add some chorizo spices to your vegetables before roasting in the oven. I love using it on roasted chickpeas. So good! I especially love it in this Zucchini, Chorizo, and Black Bean Breakfast Skillet!
Expert Tips
- Store: Place your seasoning blend in a jar or container with a tight lid. Store it in a cool dark place for up to six months. The time it lasts may depend on the freshness of the spices you use to make it.
- Use Fresh Spices: Spices don't last forever. Most store-bought or homemade spices are good for about six months. While they don't go bad after this time they do start to lose some of the flavor and pungency. Making homemade spice blends is a great way to use up individual spices that you might use up in that time frame.
- It's Ok to Skip the Salt: I often do this and then add salt during cooking.
More Sausage Recipes
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This recipe was originally published in July of 2021, but has been updated for clarity. The recipe remains the same!
Chorizo Sausage Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 Tablespoons salt optional - can wait to add until cooking time
- 1 Tablespoon ground ancho pepper or can sub with more cayenne
- 1 Tablespoon ground cayenne
- 4 teaspoons garlic powder
- 4 teaspoons ground cumin
- 4 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small glass container or spice jar and stir well too combine. Optional: I often leave the salt out and add it during cooking instead.
- Use this to season a wide variety of foods!
- To Make Chorizo: In a large bowl, combine 2 Tablespoons Chorizo Seasoning with 1 pound ground pork. Cook in a skillet as ground sausage or form into patties and fry each side until cooked through.
Notes
Nutrition
Going to try this!!! Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Daniel! Great!! Let us know how it goes. :)
Thank you! I'm so glad you like it!