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Learn how to make Homemade Seasoning Blends—a total of 10 blends! I include how to make a Ranch Dressing Mix, as well as how to make an Onion Soup Mix. Plus, my personal “House Seasoning” Blend that is not to be missed!
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The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
Two All-Time Favorites
When it comes to Homemade Seasonings, the two most requested blends are Ranch Dressing Mix and Onion Soup Mix. Pre-made versions are available at most grocery stores, but unfortunately, they often contain ingredients that are unwanted in our Traditional Foods Kitchens!
Make Your Own Ranch Dressing
Now you can make these mixes—and lots more right in your own kitchen! And using these mixes in your everyday recipes couldn’t be easier. You can whip up a delicious Ranch Dressing by adding some of your homemade mix to a 1/2 cup of mayonnaise mixed with a 1/4 cup of buttermilk. No buttermilk? No problem. Just thin a bit of sour cream or yogurt with milk or water, and you’re all set.
Make Your Own Onion Dip
Want to make that delicious sought after party favorite onion dip? Just take a 1/2 cup of mayonnaise mixed with a 1/4 cup of sour cream and add in some of your homemade Onion Soup Mix, and you’re all done. Everyone will be asking you for the recipe!
And speaking of the Onion Soup Mix, be sure to watch the How to Make Homemade Season Blends video where I share a little tip on how to boost, not only the flavor of your mix, but the nutrition too!
More Seasoning Blends!
We’re not going to stop at those two seasoning blends. Here’s the list of seasonings that I show you how to make in my video (with timestamps):
- Barbecue Spice Rub (21:29)
- Herbs de Provence (14:20)
- House Seasoning (23:06)
- Italian Seasoning (8:57)
- Lemon Pepper (25:47)
- Onion Soup Mix (27:39)
- Pumpkin Pie Spice and Apple Pie Spice (19:21)
- Ranch Dressing Mix (16:35)
- Steak Seasoning (24:32)
- Taco Mix Seasoning (3:54)
Every one of these is going to add that extra special dash of flavor to every dish you prepare.
New to Herbs de Provence?
If Herbs de Provence is a seasoning mix you’re not familiar with, you’re not alone. Pretty much everyone has Italian Seasoning in their spice rack, but they may not have this French cousin. Herbs de Provence is a wonderful mixture of thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, tarragon, and more. It’s perfect when making any chicken dish. And this seasoning mix is especially delicious when applied right on chicken skin. The taste—with that little bit of tarragon overtone—is hard to resist!
What About That House Seasoning?
As promised, I also share with you my personal House Seasoning Blend, which I started putting together years ago. It’s morphed a bit since those early years, and now it’s just about perfect, and I’m sharing the recipe with you.
In my video and recipe, I show you how to make a small amount so you can try it out. In my kitchen, I make a big batch, and I keep it by my stove to often sprinkle into everything I cook. And by all means, tweak this recipe blend any way you want to make it your own “house” seasoning!
Ideas For Using These Homemade Seasonings
In addition to some of the ideas I’ve shared in this recipe post for how to use these seasoning mixes, be sure to check out the How to Make Homemade Seasoning Blends video where I provide you with lots more ideas and inspirations!
Let’s Talk Shelf Life
Generally speaking, any of these Seasoning Blends will stay fresh approximately one year. However, I have found that their shelf life can be extended in a number of ways that I cover in detail in the video. One way that I’ll share here is that if you find your Seasoning Blend has gone past its one-year shelf life, you can toss it in a dry frying pan over low heat to revive its flavor.
Extending Shelf Life with a FoodSaver
My favorite way to extend the shelf life of any seasoning blend and most anything I store in a jar is to use a handy little gadget made by FoodSaver. (I show you how to use the device in my How to Make Homemade Seasoning Blends video.) The FoodSaver extracts all the air out of a jar to keep the jar’s contents protected from the presence of oxygen that would contribute to the aging process of food.
Like the Fat Separator device that I use when making bone broth, this little handheld FoodSaver device (newest version) is a game-changer for extending the shelf life of foods stored in jars.
Stocking the Traditional Foods Pantry
Now that you’ve created Homemade Seasoning Blends for your Traditional Foods Pantry, watch these other pantry videos too! I share how to make 10 Homemade Flavored Extracts, including “Perpetual” Vanilla Extract.
Plus, learn how to make your own Cultured Butter in which real buttermilk is a by-product that’s perfect for making that Ranch Dressing!! Oh…and you’ll need some sour cream for that Onion Dip. Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered too with an easy homemade 2-ingredient Sour Cream. And just to round things out, I’ll even show you how to make Homemade Mayonnaise that comes together in 1 minute with an immersion blender! (We are Modern Pioneers, after all! 😉 )
- How to Make Homemade Extracts – Flavored Extracts – Baking Basics
Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
And if you’re looking for a printed book full of my traditional foods recipes and that shows you how to create a traditional foods kitchen, be sure to preorder your copy of my new book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook.
Order YOUR COPY Now!
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
Kitchen Academy Videos
Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos, live streams, and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.
Kitchen Pioneer Videos
Discussing the Secrets to Perfect Green Herbal Oils
Let’s talk about the popularity of flavored herbal oils.
Are You Salt Sensitive or Salt Resistant? Get the Latest Salt Intake Research
Learn how your body may react to salt intake differently from others.
What Is the Best Time to Eat Dinner?
Find out if eating dinner early or late is best for you. You might be surprised!
Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest
- Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
- Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy (Optional Paid) - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook (Optional Paid) - Get a printed book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
Homemade Seasoning Blends
Equipment
- Small jars with tight-fitting lids
Ingredients
Taco Mix
- 1 tbsp Chili powder I like to use ancho chili powder.
- 1 tbsp Onion powder
- 1 tbsp Ground cumin
- 1 tbsp Ground coriander
- 1 tbsp Garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Paprika, sweet or smoked
- 1/4 tsp Ground cayenne pepper, optional You can add more depending on the level of spice that you want.
Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 cup Dried oregano
- 2 tbsp Dried marjoram You can substitute 1 tablespoon oregano in addition to the 1/4 cup above.
- 2 tbsp Dried thyme
- 2 tbsp Dried basil
- 1 tbsp Dried rosemary
- 1 tbsp Rubbed sage
- 1 tbsp Crushed fennel, optional Add if making to use in a sausage dish.
Herbs de Provence
- 1 tbsp Dried thyme
- 1 tbsp Dried marjoram
- 1 tbsp Dried rosemary
- 1 tbsp Dried basil
- 1 tbsp Rubbed sage
- 1 tbsp Dried parsley
- 1 tbsp Dried tarragon
- 1 tbsp Dried lavender flowers, optional
Ranch Dressing Mix
- 2 tbsp Dried parsley
- 2 tsp Garlic powder
- 2 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Dried dill
- 1 tsp Dried chives
- 1 tsp Fine ground sea salt
- 1 tsp Freshly coarse ground black pepper
- 2 tsp Dried minced onion, optional
Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Ground allspice You can substitute nutmeg.
- 1/4 tsp Ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp Ground cloves
Apple Pie Spice
- 1 tbsp Ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp Ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp Ground cloves
- 1 tsp Ground nutmeg, optional
Barbecue Spice Rub
- 1/2 cup Dried cane juice (Sucanat) or Light Brown Sugar You can substitute maple sugar.
- 2 tbsp Paprika, sweet or smoked
- 1 tbsp Freshly coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp Fine ground sea salt
- 1 tbsp Chili powder
- 1 tbsp Garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Dry mustard powder
Mary's Nest House Seasoning
- 2 tbsp Paprika, sweet or smoked
- 2 tbsp Fine ground sea salt
- 1 tbsp Freshly coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Dried oregano
- 1 tsp Dried thyme
- 1 tsp Dried parsley
Steak Seasoning
- 2 tbsp Freshly coarse ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp Fine ground sea salt
- 1 tbsp Garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Onion powder
- 1 tbsp Crushed red pepper flakes, optional You can start with a smaller amount.
- 1 tbsp Ground coriander, optional
Lemon Pepper
- 2 rounded tbsp Dried grated lemon peel
- 2 tbsp Freshly coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp Fine ground sea salt
Onion Soup Mix
- 3 tbsp Dried minced onion
- 2 tbsp Beef bouillon powder You can substitute 3-4 crushed beef bouillon cubes.
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Fine ground sea salt Omit if using bouillon cubes.
- 1/4 tsp Freshly coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
- For each seasoning blend, mix all the ingredients in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Be sure to leave sufficient headspace so you can shake the jar to mix the ingredients well before using. When using all seasoning blends, start with 1 teaspoon and work up to the amount that provides the flavor that you like.
- To make a salad dressing using the Ranch Dressing Mix, mix 1/2 cup of mayonnaise with a 1/4 cup of buttermilk. (You can substitute sour cream or yogurt thinned with milk or water to the consistency of buttermilk.) Add 1 teaspoon of the dressing mix, working up to 1 tablespoon until you reach your desired flavor.
- To make a dip using the Onion Soup Mix, mix 1/2 cup of mayonnaise with a 1/4 cup of sour cream. (You can also use Greek yogurt or regular yogurt in place of the sour cream.) Add 1 teaspoon of the dressing mix, working up to 1 tablespoon until you reach your desired flavor.
- See the Recipe Notes below for additional information.
Video
Notes
Shop for items used in this blog post or video
Favorite Seasoning Blend Making Supplies
- Handheld FoodSaver (older version)
- Handheld FoodSaver (newer version)
- 8-ounce jars with canning lids
- 6-ounce jars with canning lids
- 4-ounce jars with canning lids
- FoodSaver lids
- Regular storage lids
- Wide mouth storage lids
- Dried lavender flowers
- Ancho chili powder
- Dried Marjoram
Recommended Reading
Order YOUR COPY Now!
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide
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Get up to 15% off for stocking your Traditional Foods Pantry and equipping your Modern Pioneer Kitchen, including discounts from US Wellness Meats, Farmhouse Teas, Lehman's, Masontops, Cultures for Health, Survival Garden Seeds, Redmond Real Salt, Plan to Eat, and More!
Disclaimer:I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.
I made up some of your seasoning recipes and one of them, the House Seasoning I put on some chicken wings that I cooked in the Air Fryer last night. I normally add some kind of sauce to the chicken when it’s about done, but I decided to try it with just the seasoning. My husband LOVED them!! He said the seasoning was so good we could put it on other things and he started naming off food he’d like the seasoning on. So, Mary, your House Seasoning is a hit at my house!! Guess I will be using it on most everything I cook now. 🙂
Hi Rose,
Thanks for sharing your wonderful news and kind words! You and your husband warm my heart.
I’m so glad we’re on this traditional foods journey together! 🙂
Love and God bless,
Mary
I have a question. With your onion soup mix, do you know how much to use to equal a packet from the store? The ones from the store have sugar in them so I’m thinking it shouldn’t be equal weight/measurement as your recipe.
That’s a great question. I am so sorry but I do not have an exact amount. I’ve never had the packaged one. Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️