Homemade Chorizo Seasoning Spice Mix

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. 

Jump to:

• Ingredients & Substitutions
• Ways to Make it Your Own
• How to Use Chorizo Spices
• FAQ
• Recipe
• Reviews

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.

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