Copycat Tajin Seasoning Recipe
Skip the store-bought seasoning blend and add Mexican spice to all your recipes with this simple copycat mix! Tart lime crystals are combined with two different kinds of pepper to create perfectly balanced seasoning. And once you try this Tajin seasoning recipe, you'll want to add it to everything - from add more flavor to your chicken to spicing up your fruit!
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What Do I Need to Make This Tajin Seasoning Recipe?
Make your own spicy chili-lime seasoning at home with just a handful of ingredients. To mix up this flavorful marinade or rub you'll need these ingredients:
- True Lime Crystals or dried lime zest
- Salt
- Smoked paprika
- Guajillo powder
- White granulated sugar
How Do I Make This Tajin Seasoning Recipe?
Adding flavor to your meals without using storebought spice blends isn't difficult! That's because you can easily make your own spices - like Tajin seasoning -- at home in minutes! To make your own chili lime spice blend, just follow these two simple steps:
Step One: Mix the Spices
Combine the dried lime crystals, salt, paprika, guajillo powder, and sugar in a small mixing bowl. Whisk together the ingredients until they're well combined and no clumps remain.
Step Two: Store the Spice Blend
Transfer the mixture to an airtight container or jar and store in the pantry for up to five weeks.
What is Tajin Seasoning?
Tajin (pronounced ta-heen) is a popular Mexican spice blend featuring a classic chili lime flavor. The spice mix is made up of three main flavor profiles - chili, lime, and salt. That means it features a kick of spice that's perfectly balanced by the tartness of the citrus.
Tajin Seasoning Recipe Tips
Now that you see how simple is to make your own Tajin seasoning at home, you'll never purchase a bottle from the store again! And with these helpful tips and tricks, you can blend up your own flavorful Mexican spices in minutes.
- Use dried lime zest instead of True Lime Crystals. If you can't find any True Lime crystals in your store, you can also use dried lime zest. The lime flavor may be a bit stronger with the lime zest, so you may need to adjust the measurements to suit your tastes.
- Make it with fresh lime zest. You can add some freshness to your homemade seasoning by zesting a fresh lime to add to the mix. Just keep in mind that fresh lime zest will add moisture to your spices, which may cause them to clump. If you're using fresh lime zest, it's best to use your spice mix right away.
- Swap out chipotle powder for guajillo powder. Can't find guajillo powder? Don't worry! You can use the same amount of chipotle powder in your spice blend. The swap may change the flavor profile slightly, so adjust the amount of spice you use according to your own tastes.
- Make sure to use table salt when blending your ingredients. While sea salt is a great way to add a subtle salt flavor to your food, it won't work well in this recipe. Coarse salt won't blend as well as finely ground table salt, which may cause the ingredients to separate as you mix them together.
- Add a moisture pack to keep the mixture fresh. Adding a flavor pack to your jar will help keep all the spices at their peak freshness, allowing you to store your homemade spice mix for a longer period of time. The pack will also help reduce moisture in the container, keeping the spices from clumping up as they're stored.
- Make sure your container is air-tight. Another easy way to keep your spice mix fresh is to make sure your storage container is completely airtight. If any air or moisture gets into the container, the spices will begin to harden and clump.
How to Use Tajin Seasoning
Once you have your homemade Tajin mixed up and ready to go, you're going to want to use it on everything! Luckily, this versatile spice mix tastes amazing on a variety of foods! Try sprinkling your chili lime seasoning on these foods to add some Mexican flavor to any meal or snack:
- Give your raw fruit a spicy kick, like pineapple, watermelon, or mango
- Enjoy a sweet and spicy snack with dehydrated fruit pieces, like strawberries, pineapple, or mango
- Sprinkle it on guacamole or salsa for added flavor
- Rim the glass of your margarita or bloody Mary for some spice in each sip
- Sprinkle the spice mix over popcorn or potato chips to take your snack break to the next level
- As a rub or marinade on your grilled meats, like chicken, steak, shrimp or pork
- Spice up your chicken wings by using Tajin as a rub before grilling or frying
- Top your tacos and nachos with chili lime flavor
- Add some spice to vegetables, like corn or zucchini
- Give your baked sweet potatoes a spicy kick
Copycat Tajin Seasoning Recipe
Equipment
- Whisk
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons True Lime Crystals or dried lime zest
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 Tablespoon Guajillo Powder
- ½ Tablespoon White Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and whisk until all lumps are gone and everything is fully combined.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool dry area for up to 5 weeks.
Notes
• You can swap out the True Lime crystals for dried lime zest in the same amount. The lime taste will be a bit stronger and the size of the ingredient a bit bulkier, but this is all preference based. The True Lime crystals are 100% lime and are a finer consistency, allowing them to mix into the spice blend better.
• Use a regular table salt and not the coarse kind as the coarse salt doesn’t mix into the seasoning as well and tries to separate itself.
• Do not leave the spice uncovered for even a few hours or it will harden up.
• I used these spice jars to store mine and they worked great, not to mention they’re the perfect size for this recipe.
• I know this doesn’t look exactly like the stuff from the store, but I promise it tastes just like it, but even better, in my opinion.
• Chipotle powder can replace guajillo powder, although it will slightly change the flavor profile. It’s the closest option and a great substitute.
