Chorizo sausage is well-known for its potent flavor. With this chorizo seasoning, you'll get all the flavor of delicious chorizo and can put it on anything you want.
Chorizo seasonings are made from a variety of ingredients used most often in hispanic and latin foods. The flavor of chorizo comes primarily from a mix of ground chiles and ground herbs. Like chili pepper, garlic, paprika, oregano, and salt. Many recipes include coriander and vinegar as well.
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These chorizo spices can be added to almost any item to boost flavor. Try using this spice blend instead of Mexican seasonings. Use on your favorite ground meat, add to your favorite soups and dips for a little kick, or even to bring a little more life into breakfast burritos.
This is my favorite way to add spiced chorizo flavor to recipes. Feel free to play with it too. Add more of what you like and less of what you don't to personalize it to your taste and diet.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Garlic powder - If you're planning to use your seasoning as soon as you make it, you can swap garlic powder for fresh garlic. To do so, use ½ tsp ground cloves garlic instead of the two tablespoons of powder.
Chili powder - If you like your food with more heat, you can swap regular chili powder with ancho chili powder. Regular chili powders are made from a combination of peppers. Ancho chili powder focuses on just the one variety of ancho chiles, resulting in a spicier flavor.
Smoked paprika - If you can't find smoked paprika, you can use all regular paprika.
Sweet paprika - Typically labeled just as "paprika" in your local store.
Salt - You can use kosher salt, if preferred, though do not swap for sea salt unless you can grind the flakes into smaller pieces with a mortar and pestle.
Oregano - Ground oregano works best in this recipe. If you only have oregano leaves, double the amount to four teaspoons.
Cumin - Ground cumin is what we're after here too, versus cumin seeds.
Black pepper - Freshly ground pepper will provide the best flavor.
Ways to Make it Your Own
The best thing about homemade chorizo spice blends is that there is an unlimited number of combinations. This isn't store-bought chorizo sausage seasoning, so don't be afraid to customize the recipe to your liking.
If you want even more heat, try adding a tsp cayenne pepper. You can add as much as you want, just do so a tsp at a time until you get to the spiciness level you're after.
Planning to use this blend in Mexican recipes? Try adding ½ tsp cinnamon. Looking for a blend to use in hearty soups? Try adding one teaspoon coriander to add a greater depth of flavor.
If you have dried ancho chiles you bought at a farmers market sitting in your cabinet just waiting to be used (I can't be the only one), try rehydrating them in vinegar and puree into a paste. Apple cider vinegar and red wine vinegar are your best bets. Just remember that when using fresh ingredients, your spice blend should be enjoyed the same day.
Play with everything until it's just right for you!
How to Use Chorizo Spices
Remember that chorizo is most popular in Latin and Mexican recipes. Chorizo sausage is also traditionally made with ground pork, so those are great flavors to start with.
Try adding this chorizo seasoning to ground pork for breakfast burritos. Or use to flavor ground beef when you're making tacos or nachos. Planning to make enchiladas? Season chicken breasts generously before grilling or baking.
You can even swap out the cumin for this chorizo seasoning in my cast iron chicken with chimichurri recipe. Feeling extra brave? Try making your own chorizo sausages.
This flavorful chorizo seasoning can be used in so many dishes, it's likely to become a staple in your kitchen.
FAQ
Chorizo is a Spanish or Mexican sausage that is cured or fully cooked and spicy. Regular sausage is typically uncured or uncooked and spiced with different seasonings.
While the full-range of spices can vary, chorizo is made from pork and typically spiced with a combination of chiles and herbs.
Anything hispanic or latin. Think chiles, sour cream, cheese, beef, pork, chicken, cilantro, onions, tortillas, and more!
Brown cured ground pork on your stove in a little bit of water versus oil. Once it's browned, add the chorizo seasoning and splash of apple cider vinegar. Cook until the moisture has evaporated. You can serve as-is, or buy sausage casings to stuff. To stuff, let the meat cool and rinse the casings before using. You can use a funnel, wooden spoon, or your thumb to stuff the casing. Make sure to leave room to tie it off!
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Recipe
Chorizo Seasoning Spice Mix
Equipment
- Small bowl with airtight lid
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Combine together and store for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
NOTES
Nutrition
If you make this recipe, be sure to tag @thatzestlife in your photo! I would love to see what you made!
Biana
This spice mix looks amazing! Perfect for some grilled chicken marinade as well.
Beth
I can’t wait to have this on hand! My teens are going to love this! So excited!
Allyssa
Love trying new ingredients! Thanks a lot for this bright idea! will surely try it!
Julia
What a great idea making your own chorizo spice mix!
Jen
You totally saved me! It's nice to be able to make your own especially since I had all the seasonings in my pantry already. Thank you!
Megan
That’s the best part about making your own! You never have to make a special trip to the store to get a packet.
Brianne
Was looking for a new twist on tacos. This did the trick. I added it to my ground beef instead of the usual packet of taco seasoning and it was delicious! I will keep this on hand to use a lot in the future. Thank you!
Jeffrey Johnson
What is the ratio of seasoning to meat? .5x for one lb of pork?
Megan
My preference is 2 tablespoons per pound of ground meat!
Mike
This isn't chorizo seasoning. This is more like a taco seasoning...
Megan
Technically, chorizo is a spiced pork sausage, and so this is intended to help you create that flavor on your own! Taco seasoning is specifically intended for tacos, while chorizo is the spiced meat itself. They're definitely similar and have different variations.