Gluten-Free Chili Seasoning Mix

This easy gluten-free chili seasoning mix recipe is a delicious blend that makes homemade chili taste incredible. Mix up a batch in minutes & enjoy all season long! (Naturally vegan, paleo & whole30)

If any of your New Year’s resolutions involve eating delicious, nourishing food this year, today’s recipe is here to help you along!

I’m a big fan of homemade spice blends (so easy! so inexpensive!), and today we’re sharing our go-to gluten-free chili seasoning mix to spice up your next bowl of chili.

This simple blend of herbs and spices makes any chili recipe taste amazing. It easily replaces packets, is made from whole-food ingredients, and really packs in the flavor. Plus, there’s a good chance you already have everything you need to make it on hand in your spice cabinet, since we’re using common spices and herbs!

Here’s what you need to make our homemade gluten-free chili seasoning in a snap…

Gather Your Ingredients

• Chili Powder. Our gluten-free chili seasoning starts with a base of chili powder. This blend of seasonings gets you off to the right start!
• Onion Powder & Garlic Powder. Then, comes some onion and garlic powder. It’s a great shelf-stable way to get that garlic flavor and some extra depth into your dish.
• Cumin. Smoky cumin comes next. It adds that classic taste you crave in chili.
• Smoked Paprika. One of my “secret” ingredients! I love the depth of flavor that smoked paprika adds. It’s SO much more flavorful than regular paprika!
• Salt. I usually use kosher salt for my seasoning blends. If you want to make salt-free chili seasoning, just omit the salt and salt your chili to taste later.
• Pepper. Then, I finish up with some black pepper. It’s simple, but it gives it that little something!
• Optional: Chipotle Chili Powder. If you like spicy chili seasoning, try adding the optional chipotle chili powder! Chipotle chiles are smoked jalapeños, so they add a smoky, savory kick to chili seasoning. Add the smaller amount for medium heat, and add the full amount (or even more!) for spicy chili seasoning.
• Optional: Cornstarch. If you want your chili seasoning to thicken the chili like many store-bought packets do, add the suggested cornstarch, which will thicken as the chili cooks. (Omit this for paleo or Whole30, as cornstarch is not approved for these protocols)

How To MAke Gluten-Free Chili Seasoning, Step By Step:

1. In a small mixing bowl or a glass jar, combine chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. 
2. Add cornstarch and/or chipotle chili powder (if using)
3. Whisk the ingredients together, or cover the jar with a lid and shake to combine well. 
4. If you made a single batch: use the entire seasoning blend to replace 1 chili seasoning packet
5. If you made a large batch: Use 3-3 1/2 Tablespoons gluten-free chili seasoning blend to replace 1 seasoning packet (use 4-4 1/2 Tablespoons if you also included the cornstarch). 

Tasty Ways To Use This Seasoning Blend

Now that you have a stash of chili seasoning, it’s time to put it to good use! Try one of these delicious ways to use chili seasoning:

• Mix Up A Batch Of Chili! Of course, the most popular way to use this chili seasoning is to make a pot of delicious chili! Stir it into your favorite chili recipes for bold, mouthwatering, hearty flavor.
• Season Sweet Potatoes. If you’re roasting sweet potatoes (in cubes, sticks, or wedges), drizzle them with olive oil and season with your homemade chili seasoning blend. It adds smoky, spicy flavor that pairs beautifully with sweet, savory sweet potatoes.
• Add To Chicken. Or, use this blend to season chicken breast before grilling. It’s great with a little lime juice, oil, and cilantro!
• Use Like Taco Seasoning. You can also use this spice mix to season taco meat or marinate chicken for tacos.

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Gluten-Free Chili Seasoning Mix:

What’s The Best Store-Bought Gluten-Free Chili Seasoning? Many brands are gluten-free these days, so you have more choices than ever at the grocery store. A few of our favorites are:

• McCormick Gluten-Free Chili Seasoning Mix. Make sure to ONLY buy the gluten-free seasoning packets, as their regular line of chili seasoning contains wheat flour and is NOT gluten-free.
• Simply Organic Chili Seasoning. This brand uses organic spices and seasonings. It uses potato starch and rice concentrate as the thickeners, so it can be ok for paleo folks who eat rice.
• Pioneer Brand Gluten-Free Chili Seasoning.
• Noble Made Chili Seasoning (Paleo & Whole30!). This blend is the only one we’ve been able to find that’s both paleo and whole30 approved. It uses tapioca starch as the thickener.

How Many Tablespoons Of Chili Seasoning Are In A Packet? Most packages of chili seasoning contain about 5 Tablespoons of seasoning mix, which usually includes some additional fillers like flour, msg, artificial flavors, or preservatives. If you’re substituting homemade chili seasoning for a seasoning packet, start with 3-4 Tablespoons of homemade chili seasoning per packet, and go from there, to taste.

How Long Does Homemade Chili Seasoning Last? Like I mentioned in our Spice Jar Organization post, most herbs, spices, and seasonings will keep for up to 2 years. They do lose potency over time, so the sooner you use it, the more vibrant and full of flavor your recipes will taste!

⭐ Don’t forget to leave a star review and comment below when you make our gluten-free chili seasoning recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

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