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Chili Seasoning Recipe

4.38
/5
5 mins
107 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 04/16/2019Updated: 06/14/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This chili seasoning recipe is a perfect blend to have in your cupboard for when you want to make a quick pot of chili. There are a couple surprises that set this spice mix apart!

This chili seasoning recipe is a perfect blend to have in your cupboard for when you want to make a quick pot of chili. There are a couple surprises that set this spice mix apart!

Spices in chili seasoning in a white bowl with a blue towel in the background.

You guys. It’s snowing in Michigan right now. I’m not talking a few little flurries snowing. I’m talking scrape off the car, shovel the driveway, salt the porch, put up the Christmas tree snowing. I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life, and yet snow in April never ceases to annoy me a little bit.

Our plants were all starting to pop up, and now they’re covered with snow. 

I debated not writing this post, because frankly, I just don’t really feel like doing much of anything at all. I just want to curl up under a blanket and watch movies. The kids are grumpy, I’m a little grumpy (okay, fine, a lot grumpy), and we’re all just over it. 

Spices in a white bowl with a blue towel in the background.

Alright I’ll be honest, I wrote those first few paragraphs and then decided to push this back a day. Sunday was a long day, my kids were so grumpy, and by the time they went to bed, I was completely spent. I could have done it, of course, but I decided to give myself a break and relax a little before bed instead of working late. 

So, instead of writing, I laid in my bed, ate popcorn, and watched Schitt’s Creek. I’ve heard everyone raving about it recently, and I have to admit, it is pretty funny.

I am excited to share this chili seasoning with you, though. It’s a recipe that a couple of readers have requested over the years, so I’m excited to finally share it.

There are a couple of surprising ingredients in this chili seasoning. You have two choices: 

  1. Trust me, and make it as it is written.
  2. Leave them out and have a more basic chili seasoning. It will still be absolutely delicious and taste 100% like chili, but people probably won’t be asking you for the recipe. They won’t be saying, “Oh my gosh, this is the best chili I have ever had, is that cinnamon I taste?”

Either way, your call. This is a no-judgement zone.

Overhead view of spices in a bowl.

What you need

So much good stuff in this spice mix! Here’s the rundown: 

  • Chili Powder, and lots of it.
  • Ground Cumin
  • Paprika (use smoked paprika for a great smokey flavor!)
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Cocoa Powder (TRUST ME)
  • Red Pepper Flakes
  • Cayenne
  • Cinnamon (TRUST ME AGAIN)

The cinnamon and cocoa powder might sound strange at first glance, but they add a great depth of flavor that sets this apart from typical store-bought seasoning mixes.

Overhead view of spices in a white bowl.

You’ll also notice a few omissions that are often found in store-bought spice mixes. 

Where is the salt?

I leave the salt out of my spice mix for a couple of reasons. The first being that I like to add the salt (and pepper, but that’s next) when I’m sautéing my vegetables and cooking my meat. I also want you guys to be able to control the amount of salt you put into your chili. Add a little while you sauté your vegetables and meat…and then when it is all said and done, give it a taste and add more as needed. 

Where is the ground black pepper?

Again, I like to add this while I sauté my vegetables and meat. I find it’s the best time to layer in this flavor. I don’t go heavy on the black pepper when I’m using this spice mix, though, because it already has red pepper flakes and cayenne. I also often add diced jalapeño to my chili (my favorite chili recipe is coming to you this week!) so I don’t find that a lot of black pepper is needed. 

Where is the thickener?

Many store-bought seasoning mixes contain some sort of thickener. I like to add masa at the end, but some people like a thinner chili, or they might just use less liquid to begin with. Again, I want you to be able to control this aspect of your chili, which is why I didn’t include it in the seasoning mix. 

Obsessed with spice mixes?

I have a lot of choices on my site, and I’ve made a list of all my favorite homemade spice mixes. But here are some of my favorites:

  • Taco Seasoning – My #1 go-to, always.
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix – Good for so many things, not just pie. This pumpkin spice candied walnuts are to die for! 
  • Fajita Seasoning – I use this one all the time, especially in sheet pan chicken fajitas.
  • Mild Curry Powder – I love this one! It’s great in this copycat Panera squash soup or pumpkin curry soup. 
  • Beef Stew Seasoning Mix – Great in Instant Pot Beef Stew!

We adore chili with cornbread. Try this healthy cornbread, cornbread muffins with herbs and cheddar, or these bakery-style corn muffins from Peas & Crayons. 

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Overhead view of spices in a white bowl.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Chili Seasoning Recipe

4.38 from 340 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Print Rate Recipe
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This chili seasoning recipe is a perfect blend to have on hand when you want to make chili. There are a couple surprises that set this spice mix apart!

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (use smoked paprika, if desired)
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl or jar. Store in a small airtight container.
  • After cooking meat and vegetables for chili, stir in spice mix and toast for 1-2 minutes before adding liquid ingredients to chili.

Notes

  • I use this entire spice mix with 3 pounds of meat in a beanless chili. Since each chili recipe is different, it's hard to say exactly how much to use. Start with half if you're unsure, and you can always add more.
  • Nutrition information is for the entire batch (1/3 cup).

Nutrition Information

Calories: 108kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 422mg, Potassium: 660mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 7853IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 151mg, Iron: 9mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
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  1. Adele says

    April 26, 2022 at 4:06 am

    Sooo….in your pepper flakes /chili powder, what type chili pepper did you use? On the hot side or the sweet side taste-wise?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      May 8, 2022 at 9:58 pm

      Probably on the sweeter side. I use Mccormick :)

      Reply
  2. Jim Corbin says

    February 11, 2022 at 4:43 pm

    5 stars
    I made this yesterday. It’s a great chili recipe. Rachel is right…. the Cocoa powder, and Cinnamon definitely make it an extremely good Chili.
    Jim Corbin

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      February 13, 2022 at 8:43 am

      So happy to hear you liked it!

      Reply
  3. Melissa Mc says

    January 23, 2022 at 1:11 pm

    The cocoa and cinnamon remind me of Cincinnati Style Chili! We are trying this recipe out now! Will come back with results…sounds great!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 23, 2022 at 9:35 pm

      I hope you love it!

      Reply
  4. Sam says

    January 3, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    I’m curious about the use of chili powder since it contains most these ingredients already. Is there a certain type of chili powder that you recommend? I’m not a real big fan of cumin so that is really my concern. The chili powder that I have already has cumin in it.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 4, 2022 at 10:19 am

      I most often use Mccormick. You could leave the additional cumin out if you’d like!

      Reply
      • Sam says

        January 4, 2022 at 11:59 am

        Years ago McCormick made a cocoa chili blend. It made the best chili especially when used with black beans. I am definitely going to give this recipe a try.

        Reply
        • Rachel Gurk says

          January 11, 2022 at 6:18 am

          I hope you love it!

          Reply
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