Homemade Seasoning Packets: Mexican, Italian & Moroccan Recipes

DIY Homemade Seasoning Packets to Conquer the Meal Plan

Busy moms need serious time management skills! I’m not complaining, but sometimes I look up and it’s already 5 p.m., without dinner even being started. That’s usually when I grab a quick seasoning packet to inspire a meal. But not only are those packets limiting, they often times consist of some yucky ingredients not desirable for our little ones.

I’ve wanted to make homemade seasoning packets for quite some time, and am excited to be partnering with Ziploc®’s for their Fresh 180 program to deliver unique ethnic seasoning blends – including Mexican, Italian and Moroccan recipes – to help busy moms conquer their meal plans while also exposing our kids’ palates to flavors outside of the run of the mill taco seasoning packet.

Buy in Bulk, Prep Ahead, Keep it Fresh

Sadly, I got to the point that if I didn’t have one of those over-priced packets, I didn’t know what to do for dinner. Even with a pantry full of exotic spices (some mailed to me from around the world!), I still reached for the simplest solution. It wasn’t cost effective, or the healthiest option for my kids. After considering what flavors my family most enjoys and figuring out how to store them, I made three DIY homemade seasoning blends that can be used on pretty much any recipe in my meal plan.

Ziploc® brand Twist ‘n Loc® Containers (16 oz.) are the perfect solution for my homemade seasoning blends. I made a cup of each seasoning mix recipe, leaving space in the container to not overflow. Being BPA free, safe for the freezer and dishwasher, and leak resistant made this product the perfect choice to keep my seasonings fresh. I also love that they stack perfectly on top of one another, making efficient storage in my tiny pantry so much easier.

DIY Mexican/Taco Seasoning Mix Recipe

The first DIY homemade seasoning six is Mexican inspired. This recipe is a great mix for tacos, but also for chili or the base of a marinade for simple grilled chicken. I did add salt to the recipe, so no need to add more to your dish. The chili powder gives the spice blend a decent punch, and knowing that your taco night is not filled with MSG or wood chips is pretty awesome too.

Mexican Seasoning Mix

2 Tablespoons chili powder

1 Tablespoon garlic powder

½ Tablespoon onion powder

1 Tablespoon dried oregano

1 Tablespoon paprika

1 ½ Tablespoons ground cumin

½ Tablespoon sea salt, or as desired

1 Tablespoon black pepper

Italian food is some of our favorite because of the fragrant herbs used in traditional dishes. I usually keep a stash of Italian seasoning blend in my pantry, but decided to dry my own herbs to create this homemade herbal blend. Just lay your herbs out and let them wither away! This blend is great in all your pasta dishes. I also throw it into soups, like my Italian Sausage, Kidney and Kale Soup.

DIY Homemade Italian Herbal Blend

2 Tablespoons basil

2 Tablespoons marjoram

2 Tablespoons oregano

2 Tablespoons rosemary

2 Tablespoons thyme

The Moroccan spice mix is out of this world. I love introducing new flavors to my kids, and using spices like turmeric and ginger really accomplish that. Also, with the use of cumin, this seasoning blend is most like the flavors of my Cuban upbringing. I use this mix in tagines, and its grilling season, this awesome grilled Moroccan chicken is a must-try!

Moroccan Spice Mix Recipe

1 ½ Tablespoon cumin

1 Tablespoon ginger

½ Tablespoon garlic powder

½ Tablespoon turmeric

¼ Tablespoon cinnamon

1 Tablespoon pepper

1 Tablespoon sea salt

The use of these blends is endless…marinate chicken breasts with a tablespoon of the Mexican Spice Mix, squeeze of lemon/lime and fresh garlic in a Ziploc® brand Slider Bag for a few hours, grill and serve fresh with corn tortillas and your favorite fajita toppings, and you’ve got a great Latino meal. Leftover Italian vegetable soup stored in Ziploc® brand VersaGlass® Containers will taste just as good the next day. Tagines would also store beautifully in the VersaGlass®

My goal is to never again use the store-bought spice mixes. With these ethnic homemade seasoning blends, I feel inspired to cook up a family meal that is wholesome and cost effective.