Adobo Seasoning
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Say hello to your new go-to spice blend, this homemade Adobo Seasoning is packed with bold, zesty flavors and is easy to make in just 5 minutes! Made with a perfect blend of garlic, oregano, cumin, and other pantry staples, this all-purpose seasoning adds instant flavor to chicken, beef, veggies, and more.
Skip the store-bought version and make your own at home for a more flavorful twist on this classic Latin American and Mexican seasoning blend.
Why you’ll love this seasoning mix
As someone who loves cooking with big, bold flavors, I’m constantly inspired by the spice aisle at the grocery store. A while back, I picked up a container of Goya adobo seasoning and started using it in the kitchen. While it added a salty, garlic kick to recipes, I knew that I could make something even better at home!
After creating over 30 homemade seasoning blends, I’d say I know a thing or two about making spice mixes that add bold flavors to recipes!
If you’ve never cooked with adobo seasoning, let me tell you a little about it. Adobo seasoning is an all-purpose spice blend that’s commonly used in Latin American cuisine and Mexican recipes. The main ingredients are garlic and salt, but other ingredients like cumin, paprika and oregano are added to give the blend a mild, sweet heat, and earthy, peppery flavors.
This truly is an all-purpose seasoning blend that you can use on everything from meat to veggies. Here’s why I know you’ll love it!
- It’s flavorful. It’s salty and garlicky, with earthy, peppery flavors. The combination of spices will add flavor to anything you use it in. And it doesn’t contain msg, preservatives, or any other ingredients you can’t pronounce!
- It’s versatile. Use it to season grilled chicken, smoked pork, ground beef tacos, or roasted veggies. It’s delicious on just about everything!
- It’s easy to make. You only need 5 minutes and 7 spices to mix up this adobo seasoning at home. It will stay good in the pantry for up to 6 months, so you can double the recipe and add flavor to so many meals!
Ingredients
Here I explain the best ingredients for this adobo seasoning recipe and what each one does. For the exact ingredient measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Garlic powder (or granulated garlic) – the only difference between granulated garlic and garlic powder is that the powder has been ground finer, than the granulated garlic. I prefer to use granulated garlic because it’s less likely to clump over time, than garlic powder.
- Salt – I prefer either kosher salt or sea salt, over table salt, because of their coarse texture and superior flavor.
- Black pepper – to add a peppery flavor to the mix.
- Mexican oregano – while there is a difference between Mexican oregano and traditional oregano, you can use them interchangeably in this recipe if you don’t have Mexican oregano on hand. Mexican oregano is a bit stronger in flavor, but their shared peppery flavor, means that you can use either one and end up with similar flavors.
- Ground cumin – adds a rich, earthy, and nutty element to the spice blend.
- Paprika – while I use traditional paprika to make this homemade seasoning, if you’d like to add smokiness to the flavor, feel free to use smoked paprika instead.
- Ground turmeric – this vibrant yellow spice adds another layer of earthy flavors to the spice blend.
- Cayenne pepper (optional) – add for spice. How much you want to add is up to your preference, but I recommend a teaspoon for mild heat.
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Store in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 6 months.
Easy as that, in 5 minutes or less, you have a flavorful adobo seasoning, ready to season all your favorite recipes!
Ways to use it
Make Mexican chicken adobo (pictured above). This seasoning blend coats the chicken and is added to the rich, smoky adobo sauce for a flavorful addition to the dish.
Use it to season chicken, beef or pork for tacos.
Add it to soups or stews for more flavor.
Sprinkle it over vegetables before roasting. It’s a great replacement for seasoned salt.
Add it to white rice, brown rice, or quinoa for a boost of flavor. Add it to Puerto Rican rice and beans for a delicious side dish.
Use it as a dry rub on steak, chicken, fish, or pork before grilling. Or use it to make a wet marinade with liquids like lemon or lime juice, vinegar or broth.
Recipe notes
- This recipe makes 9 tablespoons of seasoning mix. If you’d like to make a double batch of the seasoning, simply click the 2X button in the recipe card below. The ingredient amounts in the recipe card will automatically update to accommodate the new serving size.
- I recommend using 1 ½ tablespoons of seasoning per pound of meat or veggies that you want to season.
- The adobo seasoning will stay good, stored in an airtight container in the pantry, for up to 6 months. After that the spice blend will not “go bad” but as spices sit longer, they begin to lose their flavor.
- I recommend storing the seasoning mix in an 8 ounce mason jar. If doubling the recipe, use a pint size or 16 ounce mason jar.
- This recipe is gluten free, and contains no added sugar, making it perfect for a whole30 or keto diet.
More homemade seasonings
Stock your pantry with the most popular homemade seasoning recipes on the blog to add flavor to every meal!
Adobo Seasoning
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional – add for spice
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Store in the pantry for up to 6 months.
Notes
- I recommend using 1 ½ tablespoons of seasoning per pound of meat or veggies that you want to season.
- This recipe is gluten free, and contains no added sugar, making it perfect for a whole30 or keto diet.
Nutrition Facts
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