I try to make my own seasoning blends whenever I get the chance. I don’t like becoming dependent on a product that could disappear from store shelves. However, I keep some premade seasoning blends in my kitchen at all times. Here are my top five seasoning blends!
Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
First on the list is Lawry’s Seasoned Salt. This blend is the most versatile on the list. It pairs excellently with other spices, but also can hold its own as a solo mix.
Lawry’s is one of my key ingredients when it comes to BBQ. I love to start my BBQ chicken with a combination of paprika and seasoned salt. I usually finish the chicken with the next spice on the list.
Lawry’s is amazing on French fries and tater tots. Give it a try in place of regular salt, you won’t regret it!
Ingredients in this seasoned salt include paprika, turmeric, garlic, onion, and, of course, salt. Lawry’s can be found in most supermarkets, and also on Amazon.
Weber’s Kick’n Chicken
Weber’s Kick’n Chicken is my go-to seasoning blend for BBQ chicken. Whether it’s legs, breasts, or thighs, they all become kick’n chicken on my watch. I like to start my BBQ chicken with a paprika and season salt coat first, then top it off with the Kick’n Chicken seasoning.
One tip for taking your BBQ chicken to the next level is to mix some of the Kick’n Chicken seasoning into the BBQ sauce as well as the chicken. This will ensure that the delicious seasoning blend permeates the entire dish.
Ingredients in the Kick’n Chicken seasoning include onion, garlic, red pepper, paprika, and orange peel. The blend can be used on pork and even fish in addition to chicken. Click the image below to purchase on Amazon!
Old Bay
Old Bay seasoning is the premier spice blend when it comes to seafood. Whether you are eating a seafood boil or fried fish, there is likely some Old Bay in the mix. I always keep it on hand.
Part of the reason for its popularity is that it brings flavor without being overpowering. When making my breading for fried fish, I usually pair Old Bay with a Cajun seasoning because I like a little more of a kick. You could alternatively just add some red pepper to the Old Bay for a bit more spice.
Ingredients in the Old Bay seasoning include paprika, celery salt, red pepper, and black pepper. Click here to give it a try!
Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
Tony Chachere’s is one of the more popular spice brands in the South. While they have several offerings, its their creole seasoning that I always keep on hand. We cook a lot of Cajun/creole-style food, and Tony Chachere’s is a fixture in many of our recipes.
Ingredients in Tony Chachere’s include garlic powder, chili powder, red and black pepper, and, of course, salt. This slot in my list could have gone to a cajun seasoning blend as well, but I don’t have one that I have used as long as I have Tony’s. Our current favorite is Slap Yo Mama.
This creole seasoning blend is useful in many dishes, including gumbo, red beans and rice, fried or blackened seafood, and shrimp creole.
Mrs. Dash
Last but not least, we have Mrs. Dash. This brand features a variety of seasoning blends, but I usually keep the original blend in my kitchen. We used this mix a lot in my very first restaurant job, and I’ve continued using it ever since.
I love adding Mrs. Dash to my chicken stock. It’s also great on roast chicken. I prefer Kick’n Chicken on my BBQ chicken, but if that’s not your cup of tea, then Mrs. Dash is a great alternative. It gives a zesty kick to any chicken dish.
Ingredients in Mrs. Dash include orange peel, tomato, celery seed, dried onion, and parsley. If you enjoy the original blend, give some of the other varieties a try as well!
Beyond The Top 5 Seasoning Blends
As I stated earlier, I prefer to make my blends when possible. To do so, you need to build up a nice collection of spices. If you are looking to start your own collection, check out my article on the 5 spices every kitchen needs.
