When it comes to store-bought seasoning mixes, it’s frustrating when the salt overpowers the actual herbs and spices. By skipping the salt, you can be as generous as you want with this homemade smoky southwestern seasoning mix. It’s smoky, versatile, and hits that perfect savory note without being spicy. Whether it’s swirled into sour cream, dusted over hard-boiled eggs, or rubbed onto grilled meats, this is the one seasoning you’ll find yourself reaching for time and time again.
Homemade seasoning mixes are becoming my new favorite thing, especially since we’ve been making so many dips, spreads, and sauces lately. They’re a great way to add lots of flavor to almost anything, without adding a ton of sodium. When you’re enjoying dips, spreads, and sauces with already salty crackers, chips, or pretzels, the last thing you really need is even more salt thrown into the mix. For this particular seasoning, I wanted to create a mixture that was smoky and non-spicy, with a southwestern influence. A quick-grab seasoning that we could reach for to flavor game night pimento cheese, add to hamburger meat for last-minute burgers or tacos, or even sprinkle on top of a deviled egg or two to add lots of instant flavor. And yes, while I do often turn to my spice rack for my ever-present Homemade Taco Seasoning, there are times when even it lends too much salty flavor to a recipe.
The main difference between my taco seasoning recipe and this seasoning recipe is that this one contains no salt, black pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes, which makes it significantly less salty and spicy. But this recipe also uses ground coriander, which lends a slightly citrusy, warm, nutty flavor, as well as smoked paprika instead of sweet paprika. And while I don’t often suggest to anyone which type of paprika to use for a recipe, in this case, smoked paprika is a must. It’s what gives this southwestern seasoning its smokiness. Without it, it just wouldn’t be the same. After whipping up a batch of this no-salt seasoning, you’ll be surprised just how many things you can use it on. Add it to roasted vegetables, grilled meats, mixed into mayonnaise on your favorite sandwich, or even swirled into sour cream as a topping for tacos, nachos, or chili. This is definitely one of those wee simple recipes that keeps on giving, over and over again, in new, flavorful, and, thankfully, not over-loaded-with-salt ways.
Ingredients:
- 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Ground Cumin
- 2 1/2 Teaspoons Dried Oregano
- 2 1/2 Teaspoons Smoked Paprika
- 2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Coriander
Directions:
- In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients together until well incorporated.
- Store the seasoning mix in a small glass jar in a cool, dry place.
- Use this seasoning to season your favorite meats, vegetables, marinades, or sauces.
Suggestions:
- Use smoked paprika for this recipe, not sweet paprika. It is what gives this seasoning its lovely smoky flavor.
- Shake the jar of seasoning before each use to ensure that all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
- If you are using this seasoning mix in a recipe that does not contain salt, you can still add salt. The great thing about this seasoning mix not having salt already in it is that you can control how much salt you add along with it for each recipe.
Improvements:
- Add 2 teaspoons of dried parsley to the seasoning mix.
- Use toasted or roasted garlic powder or onion powder in this recipe.
- If you want to add a bit of spice to this seasoning, add 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon of ground chipotle or 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
- Replace the taco seasoning in these Candied Jalapeño Taco Seasoning Deviled Eggs with this Smoky Southwestern Seasoning. You may need to add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of finely ground sea salt.
- If you love this Smoky Southwestern Seasoning (No-Salt) recipe, make sure to try our Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe.
Ingredients:
- 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Ground Cumin
- 2 1/2 Teaspoons Dried Oregano
- 2 1/2 Teaspoons Smoked Paprika
- 2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Coriander
Directions:
- In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients together until well incorporated.
- Store the seasoning mix in a small glass jar in a cool, dry place.
- Use this seasoning to season your favorite meats, vegetables, marinades, or sauces.
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This smoky southwestern pepper jack cheese dip is everything a great appetizer should be. Creamy, cheesy, dangerously addictive, and packed with spicy, smoky flavor that keeps everyone coming back for just one more scoop. With the perfect amount of smokiness and a kick of heat from freshly grated pepper jack and candied jalapeños, it’s the kind of dip that disappears almost the second it hits the table. Best of all? It’s completely customizable. If you live for the fire, go heavy on the jalapeños; if you prefer a gentler warmth, use less. Either way, serve it up with a mountain of salty corn chips and watch it disappear in minutes. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
Smoky Southwestern Corn Salad with Chives
This fresh corn salad features a perfectly balanced homemade southwestern seasoning blend made with smoked paprika and warm coriander to bring lots of lovely smoky flavor without adding too much heat. When combined with just a little bit of mayonnaise, a hint of heavy cream, and a splash of vinegar, this seasoning blend creates a slightly sweet, smoky, tangy sauce that’s effortlessly delicious. And with its colorful green pop of fresh chives, this flavorful side dish hits pretty much every flavor note without feeling too heavy. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
Smoky Southwestern Honey Mustard with Chives
If you love the classic sweet-and-tangy flavor of honey mustard, prepare to drool over this homemade version with a smoky southwestern-spiced twist. Whether you’re using it as a dip to dunk crisp rainbow-colored peppers or veggies, a dressing for your favorite salad greens, or drizzling it over juicy, perfectly grilled chicken as a sauce, get ready to put this smoky southwestern honey mustard on pretty much anything and everything you eat. And let’s not forget this honey mustard’s vibrant pop of fresh green chives, which make everything on your plate look as gorgeous as it is delicious. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
Southwestern Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin
The secret to this tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork tenderloin is a simple homemade smoky southwestern seasoning mix. First, it creates an incredible, savory crust as the meat roasts to tender perfection in the oven. Then, it’s used to whip up an addictive sweet-and-savory honey mustard sauce. Best of all? This pork is as versatile as it is delicious. Serve it sliced over a bed of fluffy rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or pasta for a cozy sit-down dinner, or use it to make the ultimate lunchtime sandwich or wrap. And as a bonus, you’ll have enough smoky southwestern seasoning and honey mustard sauce for at least two pork tenderloins, because trust us, your family is definitely going to want to have leftovers. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
In 2024, we cooked and baked our way through the alphabet with several of our food blogger friends. Every other Wednesday, we shared a new recipe featuring a consecutive letter of the alphabet, starting with A in January and ending with Z in December. CLICK HERE to find all of the 2024 Alphabet Challenge recipes.
In 2025, we cooked and baked our way through the alphabet with several of our food blogger friends. Every other Wednesday, we shared a new recipe featuring a consecutive letter of the alphabet, starting with A in January and ending with Z in December. CLICK HERE to find all of the 2025 Alphabet Challenge recipes.
Great Northern Bean Summer Caprese Salad
Caprese salad, with its seasonal ingredients, vibrant colors, and refreshing flavors, is a classic summertime staple. This easy-to-assemble great northern bean salad is made with fresh basil, sun-ripened tomatoes, and creamy fresh mozzarella pearls. For a twist on the traditional recipe, try this no-cook bean salad that combines canned great northern beans with classic Caprese salad ingredients. Not only does this flavorful side dish complement most summer meals, but it also helps keep your kitchen cool during the hot and humid months of summer.
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In 2026, we’ll be cooking and baking our way through the alphabet with several of our food blogger friends. Every other Wednesday, for the 2026 Alphabet Challenge, we’ll be sharing a new recipe featuring a consecutive letter of the alphabet, starting with A in January and ending with Z in December.
“A” – Homemade Apple & Whiskey Barbecue Sauce
“B” – Small-Batch Blue Cheese Dip with Dried Herbs
“C” – Dill Pickle & Mustard Seed Cream Cheese Spread
“D” – Parmesan & Cheddar Pimento Corn Chip Dip
“E” – Whipped Feta Lemon Zest & Basil Deviled Eggs
“F” – Lemony Potato & Fennel Rotisserie Chicken Soup
“G” – Chunky Garlic Stuffed Olive Deviled Eggs
“H” – Creamy Cilantro Herb Caribbean Potato Salad
“I” – Sun Dried Tomato Italian Dipping Oil for Bread
“J” – Jerk Seasoned Caribbean Honey Mustard Sauce
“K” – Spicy Cheddar Krispies Crackers (Rice Krispies)
“L” – Deviled Eggs with Lemon Caper Remoulade
“M” – Mexican Green Chile Pimento Cheese Dip
“N” – Smoky Southwestern Seasoning (No-Salt)
“O” – BBQ Deviled Eggs with Crispy Fried Onions
“P” – Southwestern Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin
Please make sure to check out the other great “N” recipes below. A huge thanks to A Day in the Life on the Farm for hosting this 2026 Alphabet Challenge event.
- Beef Stew with Noodles by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Chicken Caprese Noodle Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Duck Egg Narjissiya by Food Lust People Love
- Grilled Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders by Blogghetti
- Millet Noodle Chowmein by Sizzling Tastebuds
- Naturally Fermented Appam Using Homemade Toddy by Sneha’s Recipe
- Navratan Korma by Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Nectarine Caprese Salad by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Nutella Oatmeal Cookies by A Messy Kitchen
- Nutella Rolls by Magical Ingredients
- Smoky Southwestern Seasoning (No-Salt) by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
