Homemade Chili Powder substitute is way better than the storebought version. Most store-bought chili powders are filled with additives and fillers and cost way more than DIY chili powder. When you make your own chili seasoning blend, you can control the ingredients and make the taste fit your preference.
Let’s say you don’t like onion powder? Then you can just leave it out. Unfortunately, you don’t have that choice when it comes to store-bought seasonings. You can also customize the heat to suit your tastebuds by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper.
For these reasons, I love to make my own seasoning blends. They are gluten-free and vegan, like the Creole Seasoning Recipe, Homemade Shawarma Seasoning, and Jamaican Jerk Seasoning.

What Is Chili Powder?
Chili powder is a red-colored blend of smoky, spicy, aromatic, savory spices that is popular in Latin American cooking. The spices consist of dried peppers, cumin, paprika, oregano, onion powder, and garlic powder. Some store-bought blends contain salt.
Sometimes chili powder is written on bottles in the store that contains only a blend of dried peppers, whether Ancho, Cayenne or Chipotle, make sure you read the label because this doesn’t contain the other ingredients that make chili powder seasoning like the oregano, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder used in Latin American cooking.
Chili Powder
I actually avoided buying a store-bought chili seasoning mix for many years because I just didn’t like the ingredients or flavor of store-bought ones. I found the flavor was just too strong for my liking, so my vegan chili would result in a bitter flavor.
Now, making my own chili powder has given me control over the results, making the blandest chili be incredibly delicious.
Add a teaspoon of chili powder to your favorite stew, soup, enchilada, or taco recipe to take them to the next level.

Chili Powder Ingredients
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Dried Oregano
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Allspice
How To Make Homemade Chili Powder?
- Combine all ingredients together in a bowl, and mix well.
- Transfer chili powder to a container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Store container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.
Amazing Recipes To Try
Other Homemade Spice Blends
- Chicken-Style Seasoning
- Creole Seasoning Recipe
- Homemade Shawarma Seasoning
- Easy Curry Powder
- Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
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Nutrition
(Per serving)- Energy: 9 kcal / 38 kJ
Cook Time
- Preparation: 5 min
- Cooking: 5 min
- Ready in: 10 min
- For: 1 Jar
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together in a bowl, and mix well.
- Transfer chili powder to a container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Store container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.
Looks very incredible
Thanks so much; this was grand! I substituted coriander for the allspice, but I am so thankful for this recipe.
Lakella, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Love the idea of the coriander.
I was making soup at a friend’s house and it called for chili powder which she did not have. I used this recipe to make my own and it was fabulous! Smokey. Rich. Fabulous flavor depth. Ill be making my own using this recipe from bow on!
Jean, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you so much, I appreciate your feedback.