Homemade Fajita Seasoning, just like the McCormick spice mix packet! Make steak or chicken fajitas, quesadillas, or any Mexican food calling for this fajita seasoning mix! You will love this fajita recipe over anything fajitas!
A fajita seasoning recipe is more pungent in lime flavor and cumin than Homemade Taco Seasoning. However, you can season many different taco dishes with fajita spices not only fajita recipes!
What Is a Fajita?
Fajitas (meaning little strips in Spanish) is a Mexican dish made with sliced chicken, charred bell pepper strips and onions, and cheese served in a warm tortilla and often times sour cream. This simple combination gets all its flavors from the fajita seasoning which is so easy to make!
Fajita Seasoning:
What is in Fajita seasoning? This recipe for fajita seasoning is perfectly seasoned with salt, and aromatic spices like cumin, chili powder, and coriander which are the perfect flavors to enhance any kind of Mexican food! Generally, a grocery store packet of fajita seasoning mix consists of lime juice powder that can be easily substituted with fresh lime juice when cooking chicken or beef.
We love a good chicken fajita recipe, which was why I was determined to make my own favorite Mccormick fajitas seasoning. It’s just got the perfect tang and kick of cumin like no other spice mix! Furthermore, I went through packets of fajita seasoning to make it right and you can believe I dipped my finger in each batch to try the spices! The results? We started to get confused about which one was which, so you can be sure this is yet another successful copycat recipe we cannot wait to share!
Where To Buy Citric Acid?
One of the fajitas ingredients is citric acid. I buy my citric acid from this Cheese Making Supply store, for when I need to make DIY cheese. It’s inexpensive and gives that zing and zesty flavor in fajita seasoning along with lime juice. The best substitute for citric acid, is lemon juice, use 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for every 1 tsp of citric acid. You will only need a little, and citric acid stores for a very long time in the freezer without solidifying.
Fajita Seasoning Ingredients:
Diy fajita seasoning is so easy to make! All you have to do is toss the spices together for a quick meal and it takes under 5 minutes to prepare before adding it to veggies, meat, steak, or chicken.
This flavorful seasoning makes about 1/4 cup of seasoning mix which is equivalent to the store-bought fajita packets. All these fajita seasonings are so aromatic and fragrant perfect for homemade fajitas! Here are the fajita ingredients;
- Salt- I used ground sea salt that I blend using a coffee grinder.
- Spices- a combination of paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and ginger are used for the perfect blend of seasonings. I did add citric acid and cornstarch to improve the quality and replicate the packet.
- Lime Juice- is used to enhance the seasoning and replace the lime powder called for in the seasoning mix.
Enhance the flavoring: 1/2 tsp of dried oregano can be added for an aromatic flavor. Since chili powder sometimes consists of this savory spice, I left it out.
How To Make Fajita Seasoning:
This is one of the quickest recipes to make because all that has to be done to make a fajita mix recipe is simply to combine everything!
- Combine all the dried spices and seasonings in a small mixing bowl. You can use a spoon or whisk to stir everything together. That’s it you now have a homemade seasoning mix that you can use or store for later.
How Long Does Fajita Seasoning Last?
The ingredients of a fajita mix are mostly spices and dried seasonings. Ground spices can last anywhere from 2-3 years as long as it’s stored in a cool and dark cupboard away from the sunlight. To maximize the shelf-life of spices keep them tightly closed in a freezer bag or air-tight container. I like to repurpose certain spice containers to refill with my DIY spices and mixes. Make sure your container is dry and always keep the spices from getting in touch with anything wet.
Best Fajita Seasoning Storing Tips:
Make a fajita spice mix and follow these easy tips for how to store seasoning like a pro!
- Repurpose empty spice containers with homemade fajita seasoning.
- Triple or quadruple the recipe for fajitas anytime. So, save your bulk spice containers or buy a spice storing container!
- Always store spices in a dry cool area for maximum freshness.
- Keep seasoning shakers away from steam, direct moisture, or heat for the seasonings not to clump together.
- One (1.12 oz) fajita seasoning packet is equivalent to 4 tablespoons of homemade fajita seasoning.
Creative Ways To Serve Fajita Seasoning:
Steak fajitas or a chicken fajitas recipe isn’t the only way to eat this flavorful seasoning in foods. Although a classic chicken fajita is served in a tortilla wrap you can easily enjoy this spice as your taco seasoning for beef or use this as the rub to a pork carnitas recipe (Mexican pulled pork)! Here are ways to use up this seasoning mix in a low-carb (keto) way or in a tasty fajitas recipe!
- Fajita bowl (low-carb and gluten-free)! Serve like chicken fajitas but over a bed of lettuce or rice.
- Sprinkle this fajita mixture over taco soup or Chili.
- Add into Alfredo Sauce for Mexican pasta!
- Omit the meat and load this with more veggies to make a vegetarian dish! Fajita veggies can be topped over salads or whole grains.
- Add 1 pound of deveined shrimp to make shrimp fajitas.
- Make Sheet-pan fajitas using 4 salmon fillets instead of frying chicken. Add the lime juice and some water to the pan for juicy fish.
Although making fajitas with your own seasonings is super easy you can easily find the mix packets in most grocery stores located in the seasoning aisle. Walmart, Amazon, or local grocery stores are all places you can shop to buy fajita seasoning. The two spice mixes have similar seasonings in common however, taco seasoning is mainly made of chili powder. Whereas, fajita seasoning has more cumin and sour citric flavors. Both mixes are mild in flavor unless labeled hot. Fajitas de Pollo simply means chicken fajitas in Spanish. FAQ
Where To Buy Fajita Seasoning?
Difference between Taco and Fajita Seasoning?
What Does Fajitas De Pollo Mean?
Seasoning Tips:
- Wondering how to make fajitas with this seasoning mix? Simply add all of the seasoning mixtures to the chicken or beef when frying in a pan with a little oil. This seasoning is enough to season 2 pounds of poultry or meat.
- Use this as fajita marinade and mix it into the chicken before cooking.
- Fajita seasoning can be used on meat, seafood, veggies, or poultry. Cook in the oven, skillet, or grill.
- This seasoning for fajitas is mild.
- Any leftover seasoning can be stored in a spice container or sandwich bag.
- If you’re looking for Restaurant fajitas, this seasoning recipe is compatible.
- Another favorite fajita seasoning recipe is a crescent dough pizza with fajita chicken, ranch, and sour cream sauce, then all your favorite fajita toppings!
- To make sizzling fajitas pre-heat your cast iron pan in a 500°F oven. Place hot fajita filling into the skillet and drizzle the edges with oil to create a sizzling effect.
- This fajita spice is perfect for steak, Mexican fajitas, or a fajita quesadilla!
More Mexican-Inspired recipes To Try:
Whether you want Mexican fajitas or a big bowl of chili we have Tex Mex recipes for you! After you learn how to make a seasoning for fajitas you can make Mexican recipes and so much more not only seasoning for chicken fajitas.
How To Make Fajita Seasoning:
Fajita Seasoning Recipe
Equipment
- 1 small mixing bowl
- 1 Wire Whisk
- 1 spice container (if storing)
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 Tbsp cumin
- 1 Tbsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/8 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp ginger
Instructions
Directions:
In a small bowl combine all of the fajita seasoning ingredients, using a whisk. Transfer homemade seasoning into a spice container and store it in a dark cool place.
Notes
- To Substitute: citric acid use 2 Tbsp of lemon juice for 1 tsp of dry citric acid when cooking fajitas.
