4 Homemade Seasoning Blends to Make Ahead for Fall

Fall is the perfect time to stock your pantry with homemade seasoning blends. As the days get cooler and we’re cooking more cozy soups, hearty dinners, baked goods, and comfort foods, having a few homemade spice blends ready to grab can make cooking so much easier.

Making your own seasonings at home is simple, budget-friendly, and gives you control over the ingredients. Instead of reaching for a store-bought packet every time you make chili, tacos, ranch dip, or a pumpkin spice latte, you can keep your own homemade blends on hand and ready to use.

These four easy homemade seasoning blends are some of the most useful ones to have in your fall pantry. They can be mixed up in larger batches, stored in jars or airtight containers, and used throughout the season whenever you need a quick boost of flavor.

What You’ll Learn in This Post

• How to make four easy homemade seasoning blends for fall
• How to make taco seasoning from scratch
• How to make homemade pumpkin spice
• How to make your own chili seasoning
• How to make homemade ranch seasoning
• Ideas for using each seasoning blend in everyday meals and fall recipes
• How to store homemade spice blends so they stay fresh
• Why making seasoning blends in bulk can save time and money

If you enjoy making staples from scratch, you will love these other recipes on the blog: Simple Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread, Easy Sourdough Discard Tortillas Recipe, How To Make Butter From Raw Milk, and for something a little different but equally as enjoyable try making your own cold brew coffee concentrate for a great start to your mornings (or my afternoon pick-me-up).

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Homemade taco seasoning is one of those pantry staples you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again. It’s perfect for more than just taco night and can be used to season ground beef, chicken, beans, roasted vegetables, casseroles, taco soup, burrito bowls, and more!

Making taco seasoning from scratch also means you can adjust the blend to suit your family’s taste. Add a little more chili powder for extra flavor, increase the cumin for a warmer, earthy taste, or adjust the amount of heat depending on how spicy you like your food.

I love making a larger batch of homemade taco seasoning and keeping it in the pantry so I don’t have to measure several individual spices every time I’m preparing dinner.

Ways to use homemade taco seasoning:

• Ground beef or chicken tacos
• Taco soup
• Burrito bowls
• Chicken enchiladas
• Seasoned black beans
• Mexican-inspired casseroles
• Roasted potatoes and vegetables

Making a homemade seasoning blend like this is a simple way to keep your pantry stocked with flavorful ingredients for easy weeknight meals.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice

Nothing says fall quite like pumpkin spice. This classic blend of warm spices is easy to make at home and is perfect for adding cozy autumn flavor to both sweet and savory recipes.

Homemade pumpkin spice typically combines cinnamon with warming spices such as ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Once you have a jar mixed up, you can use it throughout the season in everything from baked goods to warm drinks.

And despite its name, pumpkin spice doesn’t actually have to be reserved for pumpkin recipes. Try sprinkling it into oatmeal, stirring it into coffee, adding it to pancakes, or using it to flavor homemade whipped cream.

Ways to use homemade pumpkin spice:

• Pumpkin bread
• Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins
• Sourdough baked goods
• Coffee and lattes
• Oatmeal
• Pancakes and waffles
• Apple desserts
• Homemade whipped cream
• Fall-inspired desserts

A small jar of homemade pumpkin pie spice can go a surprisingly long way during the fall baking season.

Homemade Chili Seasoning

Cooler weather means it’s officially chili season in my kitchen. Having homemade chili seasoning already mixed and ready to go makes it easy to put together a comforting pot of chili whenever the craving strikes.

Homemade chili seasoning is another pantry staple that can easily be made in bulk. Rather than buying individual packets of chili seasoning, mix up your own blend and keep it in an airtight jar.

You can use this homemade spice blend for traditional beef chili, chicken chili, white chicken chili, taco soup, and other hearty fall recipes. It’s also an easy way to add flavor to beans, roasted vegetables, and skillet meals.

Ways to use homemade chili seasoning:

• Homemade beef chili
• Chicken chili
• White chicken chili
• Taco soup
• Chili mac
• Seasoned beans
• Stuffed peppers
• Mexican-inspired casseroles

Since chili is such a staple during the colder months, keeping a homemade chili seasoning blend in your pantry is an easy way to make cozy meals a little simpler.

Homemade Ranch Seasoning

Homemade ranch seasoning is one of the most versatile seasoning blends you can make. While ranch dressing and ranch dip are obvious uses, this savory blend can be used in so many other ways.

A homemade ranch seasoning mix is especially handy to have on hand for quick snacks, appetizers, roasted vegetables, potatoes, and chicken. You can also mix it with sour cream or Greek yogurt for an easy homemade ranch dip.

Making your own ranch seasoning also allows you to keep a jar in your pantry rather than purchasing individual packets whenever a recipe calls for ranch seasoning.

Ways to use homemade ranch seasoning:

• Homemade ranch dip- or this chicken bacon ranch dip!
• Ranch dressing
• Roasted potatoes
• Roasted vegetables
• Chicken
• Popcorn
• Crackers
• Homemade snack mixes
• Casseroles

This is one of those homemade pantry staples that can quickly become an everyday favorite. I know it is in our household!

How to Store Homemade Seasoning Blends

The best way to store homemade spice blends is in airtight containers kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture.

Small glass jars work especially well for homemade seasonings. Label each jar with the name of the seasoning and the date it was made so you can easily keep track of what you have in your pantry.

If you’re making these seasoning blends in bulk, consider keeping a smaller jar near your cooking area and storing the extra seasoning in a larger airtight container. This can help limit how often the main container is opened and exposed to air and moisture.

For the best flavor, use dried herbs and spices that are still fresh and aromatic when you make your blends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to make your own seasoning blends?

Making your own seasoning blends can be more economical than purchasing individual seasoning packets, particularly when you already keep common spices in your pantry. Buying spices in larger containers and mixing your own blends can also reduce the cost per serving.

How long do homemade seasoning blends last?

Homemade seasoning blends can last for months when stored properly in airtight containers in a cool, dry pantry. However, spices gradually lose their flavor and aroma over time, so homemade blends are best when made with fresh spices and used while they are still fragrant.

Can I make homemade seasoning blends in bulk?

Yes! Making seasoning blends in bulk is one of the easiest ways to save time. Simply multiply the recipe and store the finished seasoning in an airtight jar or container. This is especially useful for blends you use frequently, such as taco seasoning and chili seasoning.

Do homemade seasoning blends need to be refrigerated?

Generally, dry homemade seasoning blends do not need to be refrigerated. Store them in airtight containers in a cool, dry pantry away from heat, sunlight, and moisture.

Can I customize homemade seasoning blends?

Absolutely. One of the best things about making your own spice blends is that you can adjust the ingredients to your preferences. You can make blends milder, spicier, more savory, or more aromatic depending on how you like to cook.

Stock Your Pantry for Fall

A well-stocked pantry can make fall cooking feel so much easier. Taking a little time now to mix up a few homemade seasoning blends means you’ll have flavorful pantry staples ready whenever you’re cooking dinner, baking something cozy, or preparing a weekend meal.

Taco seasoning, pumpkin spice, chili seasoning, and ranch seasoning are four simple blends to start with, but once you get comfortable making your own seasonings, you may find yourself wanting to replace more of those store-bought packets with homemade versions. I know for me, I feel so much joy when I look into my pantry and see labeled jars full of homemade spices!

Making your own spice blends is a small step toward a more homemade kitchen, and it’s one of those simple preparations that can save both time and money throughout the busy fall season.

XO,
Bri