Cajun seasoning is the perfect combination of spicy and savory ingredients to enhance the flavor and aroma of any food. Cajun seasoning works well with chicken, fish, steak, and any meat recipes, rice, vegetables, pasta, soups, French fries and French dips, stews, eggs, and even popcorn.
Since there’s no general rule for making Cajun seasoning, everyone tends to make a spin and add more ingredients to improve their mixture. Even commercially available Cajun seasonings contain different spices, making it hard to choose the best one. Originating from Louisiana, Cajun seasonings generally include paprika and cayenne, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper.
Other brands of cajun seasoning include McCormick Gourmet Collection Cajun Seasoning, Slap Ya Mama All Natural Cajun Seasoning, Louisiana Cajun Seasoning, Frontier Cajun Seasoning Certified Organic, Badia Louisiana Cajun Seasoning Powder, McCormick Perfect Pinch Cajun Seasoning, and McCormick Bayou Cajun Seasoning. These blends may contain dried thyme, onion powder, red pepper, and white pepper.
Table of Contents
Best Cajun Seasoning
1. Overall Best: McCormick Gourmet Collection Cajun Seasoning
With added red and green bell pepper, sea salt, and oregano, this is a crowd favorite and our overall best Cajun seasoning.
Pros: Flavorful, good consumer reviews, vegan and kosher, all-natural
Cons: Contains salt, not so powerful flavors
The McCormick Gourmet Cajun Seasoning, 2.25 oz is a fan favorite in terms of brand familiarity and quality. The ingredients include garlic, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, chili pepper, sea salt, onion powder, paprika, and red and green bell peppers. The product is stored in a clear jar with a handy design. This product provides an overall pleasing taste that goes well with meat, fish, and other seafood recipes.
One of the things we like about this McCormick product is its claim to be all-natural. According to their website, their products are also organically prepared and produced, with no artificial preservatives and additives, vegan, and kosher-safe. As a result, this product is one of the most popular on Amazon.
However, this seasoning contains sea salt that not everybody enjoys. Some consumer reviews also pointed out this product’s less powerful flavors. Nevertheless, if you’re into a milder Cajun spice, this one is for you.
2. Best Popular: Slap Ya Mama All Natural Cajun Seasoning
A cajun seasoning with a straightforward taste. Contains red pepper and green pepper.
Pros: Simple taste, suitable for any dish
Cons: Fragile packaging, high salt content
Recently, Slap Ya Mama All Natural Cajun Seasoning gained popularity and became one of the best-selling cajun seasonings on Amazon. This cajun seasoning blend is straightforward, containing only salt, red pepper, black pepper, and garlic. Since this product does not have any other spices, it is suitable for grilling, frying, smoking fish, other seafood, meats, and instant pot.
Although Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning mix is all-natural, free from MSG, and Kosher certified, the main disadvantage of this brand is its high sodium content. According to the packaging, every gram of this product contains 310 milligrams of sodium, 13% of the daily allowable sodium intake. Another thing to consider is their packaging, as it may not be as sturdy as other options on this list.
3. Best Premium: Frontier Cajun Seasoning Certified Organic
This all-organic premium cajun seasoning contains numerous spices that add to its rich flavor.
Pros: All-organic, Kosher, Non-irradiated, no salt and sugar.
Cons: A little expensive, more complex flavors.
The Frontier Cajun Seasoning became popular due to its all-organic claims. Aside from being certified organic, this product is Kosher and non-irradiated. This cajun seasoning contains paprika, onion powder, garlic, marjoram, dried thyme, cumin, cayenne, and fennel seed, all USDA-approved organic. Surprisingly, the Frontier Cajun seasoning does not contain any salt in its ingredient list.
This cajun seasoning mix is packed in a glass container with a tin lid that closes and opens effortlessly. Due to the addition of cumin, this seasoning blend provides a somewhat sweet undertone to its flavors. If you don’t enjoy cumin in your cajun cuisine, you might take note of this. Unfortunately, this spice mix is also pricey compared to other options on this list.
4. Best Organic: Aplenty Organic Cajun Seasoning Blend
An all-organic product that contains cane sugar, mustard, and safflower oil.
Pros: Secured packaging, affordable, all-natural, Kosher certified
Cons: More complex flavors.
Aplenty Organic Cajun Seasoning Blend is another organic cajun spice blend that we recommend. Like Frontier cajun seasoning, this product is Kosher certified, USDA certified organic and does not contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. The ingredient list includes cayenne, paprika, sea salt, crushed red pepper, garlic, onion, cane sugar, mustard, safflower oil, yeast extract, and rice concentrate.
This product is also more affordable than other organic options. You can use this to season your shrimp, steamed crab, or make chili sauce and dips. However, this product is not as spicy as others and contains cane sugar and mustard that everyone may not enjoy.
5. Best For Everyday Use: McCormick Culinary Cajun Seasoning
Contains 1.12 pounds of cajun seasoning. Has milk flavors and is all-natural and organic.
Pros: All-natural and organic, Kosher certified, affordable.
Cons: Has a mild flavor.
If you use cajun seasoning every day for different dishes, you need McCormick Culinary Cajun Seasoning. This Cajun spice mix comes in a 1.12-pound clear plastic container and can last you a long time. In addition, this product is claimed to be Kosher certified, all-natural and organic, and vegan.
This cajun seasoning mix made for culinary purposes contains garlic, salt, paprika, onion, white pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, and other spices. This blend is perfect for fries, meats, and vegetable dishes. However, the flavors of this seasoning are mild compared to others.
6. Best For Grilling: McCormick Grill Mates Louisiana Cajun Seasoning
A handy cajun seasoning made especially for grilling. Great for seafood and meat.
Pros: Handy, straightforward flavors, Kosher certified and vegan.
Cons: Can be too salty for some.
McCormick Grill Mates Louisiana Cajun Seasoning is a handy option if you’re on a trip and need a grilling mate. This cajun blend is made especially for grilling seafood and meats and contains garlic powder, sea salt, paprika, white pepper, red pepper flakes, black pepper, celery seed, onion powder, and paprika extracts for added cajun taste.
According to their website, this cajun seasoning is Kosher certified, vegan, and gluten-free. However, some customer reviews stated this product’s excessive salt content. This may not be for you if you wish for a salt-free cajun spicer you.
7. Best Extra Spicy: Slap Ya Mama Louisiana Style Cajun Seasoning Hot Blend
A cajun blend with an extra hot kick. Contains less salt than the original blend.
Pros: All-natural, affordable, blends well, less salty than the original blend.
Cons: Issues with damaged packaging.
If you’re after spicy shrimp recipes, you will enjoy the Slap Ya Mama Louisiana Style Cajun Seasoning Hot Blend. This seasoning blend provides a straightforward cajun taste with that extra kick and spiciness. This mix only contains salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and garlic powder that will blend nicely with any main dish you wish to prepare.
Compared to the original blend, this hot blend contains lesser salt with only 190 milligrams per gram of product. In addition, this hot cajun blend is claimed to have no MSG, is Kosher certified, and is all-natural. The only downside of this product is its packaging, which may be damaged during shipment.
8. Best Low-Sodium: Badia Cajun Louisiana
Contains only 80 milligrams of sodium per gram of seasoning, perfect for a low-sodium diet.
Pros: Low-salt content, handy packaging.
Cons: Lack of other cajun spices.
If you want a flavorful blend with low sodium content, you will love the Badia Cajun Louisiana Seasoning Blend. With only 80 milligrams of salt per gram of seasoning, this is one of the best options for those on a low-sodium diet who still wants to enjoy cajun fries or cajun seafood.
This Cajun spice blend contains dehydrated onion and garlic powder, paprika, salt, and anti-caking powder. Although this product contains tricalcium phosphate as an anti-caking agent, this compound is considered safe for animal and human consumption. The main drawback of this product is its lack of additional spices that make up a cajun seasoning.
9. Best Salt-Free: Marshall’s Creek Spices No Salt Cajun
A salt-free option perfect for any main dish. Contains no sugar and MSG, too.
Pros: Salt, sugar, and MSG-free, affordable, straightforward flavors.
Cons: Prone to clumping.
If you wish for a salt-free cajun spice mix, you might enjoy Marshall’s Creek Spices No Salt Cajun. This mixture contains the basic cajun spices like garlic, onion, paprika, cayenne powder, and pepper. Although this does not contain any salt or MSG, this product garnered excellent reviews as it mimics the original cajun taste.
This mixture blends well with anything: from grilled meat and seafood to stews and fries. We also appreciate that this fine powder does not contain any fillers and additives. However, since this fine cajun powder mix does not have any anti-caking agent, clumping may result when left open for a long time.
10. Best For Shrimp Recipes: Cajun's Choice Louisiana Foods Cajun Shrimp Seasoning Mix
A cajun shrimp ready-mix that provides a quick recipe on the packaging.
Pros: Complete ingredients, convenient.
Cons: Costly
If you’re making cajun shrimp, Cajun's Choice Louisiana Foods Cajun Shrimp Seasoning Mix is the product for you. This cajun mix contains paprika, red pepper flakes, black pepper, white pepper, garlic, onion, and salt. This cajun seasoning also comes with a convenient cajun shrimp recipe at the back of the packaging.
This product also claims to be MSG, gluten-free, and made from all-natural ingredients. However, the main drawback of this product is its price. Although it comes with a pack of 12, the price point is still more expensive than anything on this list.
Cajun Seasoning Buying Guide
Content
Since different brands contain different spices, you should first look at the ingredient list. You might have some herbs that you don’t like or have allergies to some spices. Cajun seasoning basically consists of paprika and cayenne powder, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper. Some brands add thyme, oregano, cumin, fennel seeds, celery seeds, salt, and even sugar to enhance the flavors.
If you wish for more straightforward flavors, you can choose from Slap Ya Mama All Natural Cajun Seasoning, McCormick Culinary Cajun Seasoning, Badia Cajun Louisiana, and Marshall’s Creek Spices No Salt Cajun. If you prefer a spicier cajun mix, you can also try Slap Ya Mama Louisiana Style Cajun Seasoning Hot Blend.
Quality of Ingredients
Checking the quality of the ingredients will also help you decide on buying. There are all-natural and organic options, Kosher and USDA certified, containing no artificial flavorings and preservatives.
Packaging
To avoid running out of cajun spice mix when you need it, gauge your needs and decide what size you should purchase. If you use cajun seasoning so often, we recommend buying larger bottles like McCormick Culinary Cajun Seasoning, Slap Ya Mama All Natural Cajun Seasoning, and Marshall’s Creek Spices No Salt Cajun.
Related Questions
When properly stored, cajun seasoning can last up to three years.
One of the most known brands is McCormick. They produce different cajun spice mix lines, including Grill Mates, Culinary, and Gourmet.
Cajun contains more cayenne and paprika, making it spicier than blackened seasoning or creole seasoning. If you wish to make cajun from creole seasoning, just add cayenne or chili powder.
No. Cajun seasoning contains lesser ingredients than Old bay. However, Old bay provides a milder taste as it has fewer ingredients. Cajun contains more cayenne powder and paprika, making it spicier and more complex than Old bay.
Here’s a quick homemade cajun seasoning recipe for you: just mix dried herbs like paprika and cayenne powder, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients depending on your liking.
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