Blackened Seasoning Recipe

Homemade blackening seasoning is a quick and easy to make. Do you ever go to a restaurant and have Blackened Chicken Alfredo or maybe blackened salmon and you wonder how they make it? How do they get it to look so good and taste amazing?

The secret is in the blackening spices and that is what I’m going to show you how to make it today. Making your own blackened spices is a lot easier than you might think, so let’s get started. If you love making homemade spice blends, try Kickin Chicken Seasoning Recipe and Homemade Steak Seasoning.

What is Blackened Seasoning? 

Blackened is actually a term that describes a cooking process versus a seasoning.  The cooking process is when chicken or fish is soaked in butter or oil and then dipped in seasonings.

Then it’s cooked in a cast iron skillet on extremely high heat.  The combination of the seasoning and the cooking process make the chicken or fish look black so that is how this homemade seasoning blend was named.

Why We Love This Seasoning Blend

My favorite thing about seasoning mixes is that they are just a seasoning blend with spices that are probably staples in your pantry.  The blend of the spices include dried oregano, paprika, kosher salt, and parsley makes a delicious spice mix. We even like to add in a 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper for a hint of spice.

Once I realized that it was made of ingredients that I already had, I knew there was no reason why I wouldn’t be able to make my own. 

Ingredients

• Paprika or Smoked Paprika – See Best Paprika Substitute if you are out
• Onion Powder – If you are out, see Best Onion Powder Substitutes. Adding teaspoon onion powder gives this blend amazing flavor.
• Black Pepper and Cayenne Pepper – Gives the seasoning a hint of spice. Reduce the amount of cayenne pepper if you prefer it to not be very spicy.

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

Other Seasoning to Mix in

If you prefer, you can add in different seasoning or fresh herbs for added flavor. If we are changing the spices or adding in different spices we start with about ½ tsp and add more to taste.

• Dried Thyme
• Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• Creole Seasoning
• Dried Basil
• White Pepper
• Cumin

How to Make Blackened Seasoning Recipe

Ok, now that you have everything you need, let’s get started with how to make this blackened seasoning mix.

• Step 1 – First, stir all the ingredients in an airtight container. I like to use these small mason jars (or you can use these glass spices jars that even have the shakers on them) for my homemade seasonings.

• Step 2 – Then mix together in a small bowl and save.  I store this seasoning mix in an airtight container and store in a cool dry place.

How Do You Blacken Food?

Now that you have the needed seasoning, let’s learn how to blacken food so that you can enjoy it.

• To blackened food, first heat a skillet to a medium high temperature.  We recommend using a cast iron skillet when blackening food.
• Then dip the chicken or fish in melted butter or your favorite cooking oil.  I have used olive oil before and it works great. 
• Then dip the chicken or fish in the blackened seasoning and flip it to make sure that both sides are completely covered in the seasoning.
• Next place the chicken or fish directly in the cast iron skillet and cook each side for approximately 3 minutes until the chicken or fish is cooked through.  The time may vary based on the size and type of food that you are cooking.
• Also, be prepared for a lot of smoke and steam in the home since this process requires you to cook on high heat.

Expert Tips

• Don’t use a non stick pan – use a high heat pan like a cast iron skillet (I love this cast iron griddle). Extreme heat needed for good blackening will destroy your non stick pan.
• Make sure you have ventilation – it will get smokey. Blackening works great on your grill especially with the cast iron griddle that I love.  This way you can keep in the smoke out of your home.
• Coat your meat (chicken or fish) with non stick spray or oil before you rub the spice blend on it.  It makes the seasoning stick better to get that beautiful crust.
• Flipping meat – You want the the seasoning to get a beautiful crust, so you only want to flip it once. You will think it is going to burn, but it is just getting black.
• Cooking – On high heat thicker fish will take about 3 minutes on each side, thinner fish (like tilapia) will take about 2 minutes on each side and chicken (filleted) will take about 4-5 minutes on each side. Set a timer so you have beautifully blackened fish or chicken.

How to Use Blackened Seasoning

Try this Blackened Seasoning on many homemade dishes for deep flavors.

• Season Meat – Use 2 tablespoons of this blackened seasoning on your steak, pork chops or pork tenderloin.
• Chicken – You can also use this seasoning on your fried chicken, boneless chicken thighs, or Best Blackened Chicken Seasoning Recipe.
• Fish – This seasoning is also great on your favorite cooked fish such as Blackened Salmon Recipe and The Best Blackened Fish Seasoning Recipe – Tilapia. We have even used it to make Blackened Shrimp Tacos or rice bowls and Blackened Mahi Mahi.
• Vegetables – You can use this blackening seasoning blend to give any veggies amazing flavor such as potatoes or broccoli before grilling or putting in the oven to roast.

Frequently Asked Questions