Seasoned salt is one of those seasoning blends that can be used on just about anything. I usually keep a pint or even a quart jar of this homemade seasoning blend in my spice cabinet. It can easily be used in soups and stews, chicken or beef dishes, and even adds a special touch to eggs and breakfasts.
It’s aptly named because it’s literally a mixture of salt (I use Himalayan salt) and spices. It takes about a minute to prepare (two minutes if you let a toddler help you). Plus, it shortens the time it takes to season recipes since it combines many common spices.
My story with seasoned salt
It’s hard for me to write this now, but in college, Lawry’s seasoning salt was the only seasoning I had on hand. I used it to make my ramen noodles more flavorful (shame, if that’s even possible) when I cooked them in the microwave (double shame). There are a lot of ingredients in the supermarket version that I now try to avoid!
Instead of mineral-rich sea salt, these blends are made with table salt. You’ll also find GMO corn starch and anti-caking agents like tricalcium phosphate. And while some seasoned salt blends boast of not containing added MSG on their labels, they’re actually hiding a secret. Flip it over to read the fine print, and you’ll see that the product contains naturally occurring MSG from the mysterious “spices.”
Thankfully, my taste buds and food choices have matured quite a bit. I now use an improved version of store-bought seasoning salt and a wide variety of much healthier recipes.
How to make seasoned salt
This salt uses natural flavors from healthy spices—no strange, mysterious ingredients required! It has a similar flavor profile to taco seasoning, but without the cumin. I love the universal flavor that goes with a wide variety of dishes, though you can customize it to your liking.
Instead of regular paprika, try smoked paprika for a more bacon-like flavor. Some recipes also call for turmeric, which adds a nice yellow color and anti-inflammatory benefits. And if you like it spicy, add a little cayenne pepper to the mix.
This recipe is as simple as mixing the spices and stirring them together. It is ideal for making with small children, since mixing and stirring are their culinary specialties.
Homemade seasoned salt
Today I’m sharing my homemade version of seasoned salt as a reminder of my poor food choices in college and to celebrate my love of real food today. After all, as Erma Bombeck said,
“Once you have a spice in your house, you have it forever. Women never throw away spices. The Egyptians were buried with their spices. I know which one I will take with me when I leave.”
Homemade seasoned salt recipe
Homemade seasoned salt combines spices and salt for a versatile, easy-to-use spice that pairs well with almost any dish.
Nutritional data
Homemade seasoned salt recipe
Amount per serving (0.5 teaspoons)
Calories 9
Calories from fat 2
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.2 g0%
Saturated fat 0.04 g0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0.03 g
Sodium 719 mg31%
Potassium 49 mg1%
Carbohydrates 2 grams1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 0.1 g0%
Protein 0.4 g1%
Vitamin A 305 IU6%
Vitamin C 1 mg1%
Calcium 12 mg1%
Iron 0.4 mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Adjust the quantities in this recipe up or down to make a larger or smaller amount.
Ways to use seasoned salt
Looking for more ways to use your homemade seasoned salt? It adds great flavor to a variety of meat, vegetable, and grain dishes. Here are some ideas of foods you can use it on!
You can also check out all of my homemade spice blends here, like ranch dressing mix and cajun seasoning.
What are your favorite ways to use seasoned salt? Leave a comment and let us know!
