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!
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.
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:
- Trust me, and make it as it is written.
- 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.
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.
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 or cornbread muffins with herbs and cheddar,.
Chili Seasoning Recipe
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.
- Makes about ⅓ cup.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
Wow! A food blogger from Michigan! Hello Rachel – just found your site and am trying this mix tonight because I don’t have any of the “packets” … I’ll let you know what we think! I am in the UP! thank you:-)
Hi Tess! I hope you loved the seasoning! Always fun to hear from another Michigander!
Made this tonight and it was a hit.My husband couldn’t put his finger on what the spices where.I didn’t taste a distinctive chocolate or cinnamon flavor but it added a richness.I was a little worried because while it was in the slow cooker all I could smell was the cinnamon.By the time dinner came it was awesome!!!
Will be adding this into my meal rotation ☺️
This makes me so happy! I’m glad you guys liked it! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Delicious and so easy to make. Love this recipe. It’s the best chili I’ve ever had.
So glad to hear you liked this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
I have been searching the internet for years for a spice blend to replace the McCormick Cocoa Chile Blend that I used to love so much. This recipe is about as close as I have found. Most people scoff at the idea of cocoa in chili until they try it. My only change is to use a little less cumin because chili powder already contains it and my family doesn’t care for the taste of the extra cumin.
Hooray! I’m so glad you found this recipe and you like it!
Never buying premade chili spice pack ever again, this is way better! “Everything’s better with chocolate”
Yes! Everything IS better with chocolate! :) I’m so glad you liked this recipe!
So I trusted you… And I’m never ever going back! Cocoa took the bitterness out and added depth and a sort of softness, for lack of better words. The cinnamon enhanced the other spices beautifully. Brilliant! Many thanks!
I love it! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
This a great twist on a traditional spice recipe. I made it with smokey paprika which I really liked. And yes, the cocoa and cinnamon ingredients made me think twice, but it really does work.
So glad you liked this spice mix!
Decided to try your recipe tonight but somehow forgot to add the cocoa and cinnamon….the chili came out delicious, so I tried a little cup and put a pinch of cocoa and cinnamon in it and it was good…. Different…but very good… So I added some to the pot and my husband really liked it…. he said it had a hint of something different but it was a “GOOD” different…
Thanks for a great recipe….the proportions of each spice are spot on~1
I love that! I’m so glad you guys liked it! They’re definitely subtle additions that make people wonder what makes your chili so amazing. ;) Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
So, I have some chili leftover from another recipe I swear by and make constantly. I remembered that I have this spice mix bookmarked and decided to sprinkle some cinnamon into my portion after I nuked it in my microwave. I have only one word: WOW. It’s so different, but I love it a lot! Now I know this entire spice mix will be perfect for the next pot of chili I make. <3
Ahhh that makes me so excited and happy! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment – can’t wait to hear what you think of the full seasoning!
I have used cinnamon and cocoa in my chili, too. Cocoa gives it a bit of a mole` flavor.
It does! It just really makes it taste so much richer and more flavorful.