Coupon Cravings

Easy Recipes & Money Saving Hacks

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You don't need an extravagant grocery budget to eat well. What we need is a good spice cabinet. While a pot of dried beans may seem uninviting; by using the right spice you can make it irresistible. Even a cheap cut of chicken can be dressed up to make it taste fancy and expensive.

These 25 old-fashioned recipes are a collection of spice blends that some people I know make by memory. Some don’t even use packets from the store, whether they don’t want mystery ingredients; just good old-fashioned pantry spices, measured, mixed, and blended. They generally cost just a few cents per batch, and keep for months in a jar. Prepare a few on a Sunday afternoon, and you will simplify your weeknight cooking immensely!

1. All-Purpose House Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp onion powder, 2 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp kosher salt, 2 tbsp black pepper.
  • Directions: Mix well and store airtight.
  • Note: This is the one I put on everything. Eggs, potatoes, roasted vegetables, ground beef — it just works.

2. Old-Fashioned Poultry Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 1 tbsp dried sage, 1 tbsp dried thyme, 1 tbsp dried marjoram, 2 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp nutmeg.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Use it anywhere the store-bought poultry seasoning would go — chicken, turkey, stuffing, gravy.

3. Homemade Chili Powder

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  • Directions: Stir together and store airtight.
  • Note: Way better than the stuff in the little jar. Chili and taco meat are the obvious uses.

4. DIY Taco Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: One batch equals roughly four of those little store packets. Use 2 tbsp per pound of meat.

5. Old Bay–Style Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp celery salt, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp dry mustard, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp cayenne, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, pinch cinnamon, pinch allspice, pinch cloves, pinch mace.
  • Directions: Mix well and store airtight.
  • Note: Shrimp, crab, fried potatoes — anything that would normally call for the real Old Bay.

6. Homemade Italian Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp basil, 2 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp thyme, 1 tbsp rosemary, 1 tbsp marjoram, 1 tsp parsley, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Go-to for pasta sauce and meatballs. Also good sprinkled on focaccia before baking.

7. Old-Fashioned Onion Soup Mix

  • Ingredients: 1 cup dried minced onion, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp parsley flakes, 2 tsp beef bouillon powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp black pepper.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: 3 tbsp = one packet. Dips, slow cooker roasts, casseroles — anywhere the Lipton packet would go.

8. Homemade Ranch Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 3 tbsp dried parsley, 1 tbsp dried dill, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Mix with sour cream for dip, or sprinkle dry on potatoes and chicken before roasting.

9. Classic Dry BBQ Rub

  • Ingredients: 3 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp mustard powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Ribs and pork shoulder mostly, but it’s good on chicken thighs too.

10. Homemade Cajun Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp thyme, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp white pepper.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Spicy but not overkill. Really good on chicken and rice.

11. Apple Pie Spice

  • Ingredients: 4 tbsp cinnamon, 2 tsp nutmeg, 1 1/2 tsp allspice, 1/8 tsp cloves.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Sub it anywhere a recipe calls for “cinnamon and spices.” Apple pie and oatmeal are the obvious ones.

12. Pumpkin Pie Spice

  • Ingredients: 3 tbsp cinnamon, 2 tsp ginger, 2 tsp nutmeg, 1 1/2 tsp allspice, 1 1/2 tsp cloves.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Pumpkin pie obviously, but also great stirred into muffin batter or oatmeal in the fall.

13. Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp lemon zest powder or finely dried lemon peel, 2 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Really good on fish. Also works on chicken when you want something lighter than a heavy rub.

14. Old-Fashioned Pickling Spice

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp mustard seed, 1 tbsp coriander seed, 1 tbsp dill seed, 1 tbsp whole allspice, 1 tbsp peppercorns, 1 tsp cloves, 1 tsp ginger, 1 cinnamon stick broken small, 2 bay leaves torn.
  • Directions: Combine and store airtight.
  • Note: Use a tablespoon or two per quart in any brine. Cucumbers, green beans, eggs — whatever you’re pickling.

15. Homemade Fajita Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Chicken fajitas are the main use. Also good on peppers and onions when you roast them on their own.

16. Classic Steak Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp coarse black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp coriander, 1/2 tsp mustard powder.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Press it into steaks 30 minutes before cooking. Works on burgers too.

17. Old-Fashioned Curry Powder

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp ground coriander, 1 tbsp turmeric, 1 tbsp cumin, 2 tsp ginger, 1 tsp mustard powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Milder than most store-bought blends. Good starting point for curries or stirred into rice while it cooks.

18. Homemade Sloppy Joe Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp mustard powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Add the whole batch to a pound of ground beef along with tomato paste and a splash of Worcestershire.

19. Old-Fashioned Celery Salt

  • Ingredients: 3 tbsp celery seed, 2 tbsp kosher salt.
  • Directions: Grind celery seed finely, then mix with salt and store airtight.
  • Note: Potato salad and deviled eggs taste flat without it. Also good on a Bloody Mary rim.

20. Homemade Gingerbread Spice

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp ginger, 1 tsp cloves, 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp nutmeg.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Gingerbread cookies and quick breads, obviously. Also good in granola if you make your own.

21. Homemade Southwest Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp cumin, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Slightly different profile than taco seasoning — less sharp, more smoky. Good on chicken, beans, and roasted vegetables.

22. Old-Fashioned Popcorn Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 tbsp grated parmesan powder or fine cheese powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  • Directions: Mix and sprinkle over hot buttered popcorn. For a simpler old-school version, just use salt, paprika, and garlic powder.
  • Note: Sprinkle over popcorn right when it comes off the heat so it sticks.

23. Homemade Meatloaf Seasoning

  • Ingredients: 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp sage, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp mustard powder.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Mix into two pounds of ground beef along with an egg and breadcrumbs. Also good in burgers if you want more flavor without a rub.

24. Homemade Mulling Spice

  • Ingredients: 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 tbsp whole cloves, 1 tbsp allspice berries, 1 tbsp whole cardamom pods, 1 tsp dried orange peel, 1 tsp dried lemon peel, 1 nutmeg, cracked.
  • Directions: Combine and store airtight.
  • Note: Tie a few tablespoons in cheesecloth and simmer in cider for 20 minutes. Makes the whole house smell like fall.

25. Homemade All-Purpose Meat Rub

  • Ingredients: 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp mustard powder, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp cayenne.
  • Directions: Mix and store airtight.
  • Note: Works on beef, pork, and chicken. If you only make one rub, make this one.

You can make all 25 mixtures in less than ten minutes, and they can be kept in sealed jars for months. To begin, make one "house seasoning" and select one or two cuisine-specific blends that correspond to your actual cooking style. The difference between an inexpensive and dull meal and one that is enjoyable is almost always seasonings, and now you have the recipes to back that up.

Pin this post to find it easily when it's time to refill the spice cabinet.