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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COMING SOON
Smoky Southwestern Pepper Jack Cheese Dip
Grilled Smoky Southwestern Chicken Tenders
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.
Nut-Free Basil Pesto Chunky Tomato Sauce
Forget bland, store-bought sauces. This recipe features the robust texture of canned petite diced tomatoes, slow-simmered to create a rich and hearty base. The secret ingredient? A bright and aromatic nut-free basil pesto, made with roasted salted pepitas for a unique, allergy-friendly, and satisfying twist on the classic. Perfect over a bed of pasta, draped over roasted vegetables, or as a vibrant base for your next homemade pizza, this meatless tomato sauce is packed with flavor and perfect for everyone at the table.
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)
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
