Sazón Seasoning Recipe

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Add some spark to your kitchen with this copycat Sazon Seasoning recipe! This vibrant blend of spices is a staple in Latin American cuisine, infusing dishes with bold color, rich fragrance, and irresistible flavor. Once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without it. This homemade Sazon Seasoning is sure to score a permanent place in your spice cabinet – it has in mine!

What is Sazon Seasoning?

Sazón seasoning is a popular Puerto Rican spice blend used throughout Latin American and Caribbean cooking, to enhance the flavor and color of dishes. It typically contains a mix of spices like coriander, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and ground annatto seeds, which give it a vibrant reddish-orange hue. It’s commonly used to enhance rice, beans, meats, seafood, soups and stews to add a warm, savory, and slightly smoky taste. You can buy ready-made sazon seasoning under various brands but as with all seasoning blends, you simply cannot beat homemade.

Why Homemade Sazon Seasoning?

Many store-bought versions not only include MSG which can cause allergic reactions for some people, it also includes other additives and preservatives. Making your own homemade sazón not only enables you to have full control over what goes in and what stays out, it also allows for a customizable blend. Love garlic? Add extra! Want a smoky touch? Swap out regular paprika for smoked paprika. Heat lover? Add some cayenne. Homemade sazon seasoning is a game-changer in the kitchen. It’s quick to make, easy to use, and full of bold, delicious flavors. Once you start adding this homemade blend to your dishes, you’ll never go back to store-bought versions. I keep a jar of this in my spice cabinet to have on hand as an all-purpose seasoning blend when I want to add some Latin American flair to my cooking.

Copycat Sazon Seasoning Ingredients & Substitutions

Making your own spice blends is a fun way to experiment and create flavors that match your taste preferences. While there is no “one way” to make sazon seasoning, there are some key ingredients that belong in every blend. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

• Mexican Oregano: Unlike Greek oregano that has a pungent and slightly bitter flavor, Mexican oregano (related to lemon verbena) has earthy and citrusy undertones with hints of lime, mint and anise. These flavors pair especially well with other spices you typically associated with Latin American cuisine like cumin, garlic and chilis. For an authentic flavor I encourage you to use Mexican oregano but in a pinch you can substitute regular (Greek) oregano. You can find Mexican oregano in Latino grocery stores or buy it online.
• Annatto Seeds: Also called achiote, these come ground and are added to the spice blend. If you have access to it, use it; it has a mild nutty, floral flavor. But annatto is added primarily for color and as such you can easily replicate it by substituting half paprika/half turmeric. You can buy annatto powder online.
• Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: These deliver pungency, umami, subtle sweetness and tremendous depth.
• Coriander: This contributes a bold citrusy flavor and fragrance.
• Cumin: This adds an earthy, slightly nutty, subtly bitter, and slightly smoky flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: To tie it all together. I recommend kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper for maximum flavor.

Sazon Seasoning Recipe

Making this blend is as easy as 1-2-3. Simply:

1. Measure all the ingredients. Note: If your Mexican oregano comes whole, first “grind” it up into small pieces with your fingers in the palm of your hand.
2. Mix them together in a small bowl or spice jar.
3. Store in an airtight jar in a dark, cool place for up to six months.

That’s it! Now you have your very own homemade sazon seasoning ready to sprinkle on any dish that needs a flavor boost. While this blend will keep for up to 6 months, for optimal flavor I recommend using it within a couple of months. It makes just 1/3 cup seasoning and it’s quick as a snap to whip up a fresh batch whenever you need it.

How to Use It

One of the things I love about sazon seasoning is its versatility. It’s excellent in a variety of Latin American and Caribbean dishes but it also makes a terrific all-purpose seasoning. Here are a few ways to incorporate it into your meals:

• Meat, Poultry and Seafood: Rub it on beef, pork, chicken, turkey or seafood before grilling, roasting, frying or baking. Sprinkle over ground beef when making tacos, empanadas, or picadillo (see my Birria Tacos, Tinga Poblana Tacos, For a yummy marinade, mix it with some lime juice and olive oil.
• Rice and Beans: Add it to rice for extra color and flavor. Stir into black, pinto, or kidney beans while they’re cooking (check out my White Bean Chili). Add it to your arroz con pollo for an authentic flavor boost.
• Soups & Stews – Stir in a pinch to deepen the flavor profile. Add some to your to chili for extra depth (see my Instant Pot Chili, Chili with Hominy and Chicken and Couscous Chili). Use it in ceviche or seafood stews for a bold taste.
• Vegetables – Toss with roasted potatoes, corn and other veggies. It’s delicious on Grilled Eggplant and Puerto Rican Tostones. Mix into sautéed bell peppers and onions or greens like kale and spinach. Sprinkle it on French Fries, Baked Potato Wedges or Sweet Potato Fries.
• Sauces and Dressings: Stir some into homemade tomato sauce for pasta or meat dishes. Add to vinaigrettes or creamy dressings for a Latin twist.
• Eggs and Breakfast Dishes: Sprinkle on scrambled eggs and omelets or mix into breakfast potatoes or hash browns.

However you choose to use this homemade Sazon Seasoning, I’m confident you’re going to love it as much as we do!

For more homemade seasoning blends from around the world try my:

• Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
• Greek Seasoning
• Old Bay Seasoning
• Curry Powder
• Creole Seasoning
• Montreal Steak Seasoning
• Elote Seasoning
• Pizza Seasoning
• Garam Masala
• Chaat Masala
• Dukkah
• Za’atar
• Chili Powder
• Chinese Five Spice
• Shichimi Togarashi
• Mixed Spice
• Berbere
• Baharat