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Cajun seasoning is a popular spice blend that can be added to different types of recipes to give them a spicy and earthy flavor.
Originating from Louisiana, Cajun seasoning is made by combining several different herbs and spices such as paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, oregano, and peppers.
You may also find varieties with onion powder, thyme, white pepper, and red pepper.
You can make Cajun seasoning at home by mixing all the above-mentioned ingredients.
However, to skip buying all those individual herbs and spices, you can simply buy Cajun seasoning from one of the many great brands available in the market.
Since Cajun seasoning comes in different blends and forms, it might be a bit difficult to choose the right product for your cooking needs, and for that, we have reviewed some of the best Cajun seasoning brands.
So, what are the best Cajun seasoning brands? Buying a product from a reputable brand guarantees great flavor and quality. Some of the best Cajun seasoning brands include McCormick, Slap Ya Mama, Louisiana fish fry, Badia, Frontier, Unpretentious Baker, Gustus Vitae, and A Cajun Life.
Read on for a detailed buyer’s guide for choosing the best Cajun seasoning brands and our top picks of the 9 best ones!
Cajun Seasoning Brands – Buyer’s Guide
Cajun seasoning has a spicy flavor that comes from the cayenne and paprika, and a subtle earthiness that comes from the garlic powder, onion powder, and herbs.
It is a versatile seasoning blend that tastes great with grilled chicken, oven fries, steaks, pork, corn on the cob, roasted veggies, and classics such as gumbo and jambalaya.
When choosing the best Cajun seasoning brand, there are a few things to consider, such as:
Contents Of The Spice Mix
Since different brands of Cajun seasoning use different herbs and spices to create a unique blend, you need to pay close attention to the ingredients included in the spice mix.
You will generally find most Cajun spice blends clearly indicating what type of recipes they go with, with most of them designed to reflect the special taste of Cajun cuisine.
Quality Of The Ingredients
It is very important to pay attention to the quality and origin of the ingredients the Cajun seasoning is made with, since pesticide residues and other undesirable chemicals may be found in some spices.
For this reason, you must opt for Cajun seasoning made from herbs and spices from organic cultivation. Not only do they have a better and stronger taste but are also better for the environment.
Additives
As with most shelf-stable products, Cajun seasoning may often contain additives such as glutamate to enhance its flavor and extend its shelf life.
Such additives and preservatives have a bad reputation, with many suspected of being carcinogenic, due to which most people prefer additive-free spice blends.
Similarly, when it comes to Cajun seasoning, an organic and natural mixture, without any additives, is the best option both in terms of health and flavor quality.
The 9 Best Cajun Seasoning Brands
Before starting to make a dish, it is very important to have the right ingredients at hand to make sure you get the best flavor out of it.
For times when you to enrichen and spice up seafood, fries, gumbo, and jambalaya with Cajun seasoning, you can pick from one of the many amazing Cajun seasoning brands out there.
Here are our top picks of the 9 best Cajun seasoning brands to help you choose:
| Rank | Product | Best Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | McCormick Cajun Seasoning | One of the best seasoning brands in the market |
| 2. | Slap Ya Mama All-Natural Cajun Seasoning | Guaranteed to be all-natural |
| 3. | Louisiana Cajun Seasoning | All-purpose Cajun seasoning that tastes great with everything |
| 4. | Badia Louisiana Cajun Seasoning | Spicy but not overly salty |
| 5. | Frontier Cajun Seasoning | Certified organic, kosher, and non-irradiated |
| 6. | McCormick Gourmet Collection Cajun Seasoning | Spicy blend of peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs |
| 7. | Unpretentious Baker Cajun Seasoning | Enhances your dishes with authentic Cajun flavor |
| 8. | Gustus Vitae Artisanal Cajun Seasoning | Crafted in small batches and sustainably sourced |
| 9. | A Cajun Life Original All-Purpose Cajun Seasoning | Endorsed by MasterChef Will Staten |
1. McCormick Cajun Seasoning
McCormick has been making a variety of spices, seasoning mixes, extracts, and sauces since 1889 and is one of the best Cajun seasoning brands on the market.
The McCormick Cajun seasoning is a high-quality product that features a robust and spicy flavor.
It doesn’t contain any MSG and goes great with chicken, fish, shrimp, and rice with a Louisiana-style flair.
It comes in a small container that doesn’t take up much space and can easily be stored away. In addition to that, it is also vegetarian, vegan, and kosher.
2. Slap Ya Mama All-Natural Cajun Seasoning
One of the most popular seasoning brands in the market, the Slap Ya Mama line of top-quality Cajun seasonings is produced in Ville Platte, Louisiana, the self-proclaimed smoked meats capital of the world.
This unique blend of spices has the perfect balance of spice and flavor and can be used on a variety of dishes.
It is extremely versatile and can be used as a rub for grilling, frying, or smoking.
Guaranteed to be all-natural, MSG-free, and kosher, its main ingredients are salt, black pepper, red pepper, and garlic.
3. Louisiana Cajun Seasoning
This zesty all-purpose Cajun seasoning is perfect for meats, fish, vegetables, soups, salads, and just about anything.
As the packaging says, it tastes great with everything!
Made with salt, spices, dried red pepper, dried garlic, and paprika, it is free of additives such as MSG and is a popular choice for Cajun cuisine lovers.
A little goes a long way with this seasoning and it is a bit on the spicier side, so if you are cooking for someone who is not very fond of spicy food, use it sparingly.
4. Badia Louisiana Cajun Seasoning
Badia is another popular Cajun seasoning brand that is a great choice for Louisiana-style cooking.
It has a dispenser integrated into its bottle, making it much easier to use and handle as compared to other options.
It can easily be stored and doesn’t take up much space in your pantry. It is the perfect balance of spicy and flavorful, without being overly salty like some Cajun seasonings can be.
Not only is it a high-quality product but it also contains no MSG, is gluten-free, and goes well with several foods, especially meats.
5. Frontier Cajun Seasoning
Another great Cajun seasoning brand in terms of consistent quality, this spice blend by Frontier is certified organic, kosher, and non-irradiated.
What’s even great is that Frontier is a member-owned cooperative with a responsibility towards the people and the planet.
Perfect for turning soups, meats, beans, and grains into Southern delicacies, it comes in a handy closable container that weighs 2.08 ounces.
6. McCormick Gourmet Collection Cajun Seasoning
Another great Cajun seasoning blend from McCormick, this one is a crowd-pleaser in terms of its taste and quality.
It offers a spicy blend of peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs, which adds a superior flavor to meats, seafood, and other Cajun cuisine favorites.
It is an all-natural product that ensures consistent high quality and comes in a handy container making it easy to use and store as well.
7. Unpretentious Baker Cajun Seasoning
If you are looking for an ideal Cajun seasoning for your favorite Southern cuisine, look no further.
This Cajun spice blend by Unpretentious Baker is a unique product that enhances your dishes with authentic Cajun flavor.
Made with salt, paprika, cayenne, thyme, and oregano, this dry rub blend is a great pick for seafood, chicken, and pork.
Packaged in the USA, it comes in a container filled with 2 cups (32 tbsp) of Cajun seasoning. With great overall ratings and reviews from users all over the country, it is one of the best Cajun seasoning brands on the market.
8. Gustus Vitae Artisanal Cajun Seasoning
This artisanal Cajun seasoning blend by Gustus Vitae is crafted using the finest quality spices that are all-natural and sustainably sourced.
Crafted in small batches to keep the quality premium, it is inspected for quality at each step of the way.
With no MSG and irradiation, it uses all-natural high temperature and high-pressure gas to give the spices a super hygienic clean.
In addition to that, it is non-GMO project verified and comes in a magnetic tin that can stick to most metal surfaces such as fridges, ovens, and BBQs.
9. A Cajun Life Original All-Purpose Cajun Seasoning
Endorsed by MasterChef Will Staten, this all-purpose Cajun seasoning by A Cajun Life is an authentic Louisiana spice blend that promises an authentic Cajun flavor.
Use it in a variety of dishes in place or regular salt and pepper to create rich, flavorful, Southern-inspired dishes for your friends and family.
With just the right amount of salt to spice ratio, it goes great with steak, seafood, chicken, pork, vegetables, fries, pizza, and popcorn. Whether you’re grilling, frying, smoking, or baking, it is the perfect spice blend for all!
Packaged within minutes of Eunice, Louisiana, it is low in sodium, contains no MSG, and is non-GMO. In addition to that, it is prepared in a facility that is dedicated gluten-free and allergy-friendly.
Related Questions
Now that you know all about choosing the best Cajun seasoning brands, along with our top picks of the 9 best ones, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have!
What is the difference between Cajun seasoning and Creole seasoning?
Cajun and Creole seasonings are very similar since they both contain paprika, garlic, pepper, and herbs.
The only difference is that Cajun seasoning is a little spicier than Creole, which is more flavor-rich and uses additional herbs such as basil.
What can you substitute for Cajun seasoning?
For times when you don’t have Cajun seasoning on hand, you can use other similar spices and seasonings such as Creole seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, and Cayenne pepper and paprika.
Creole seasoning features much of the same spices and herbs as Cajun seasoning and is one of the best Cajun seasoning substitutes.
However, since it doesn’t have as much heat as Cajun seasoning, it may be best to add a few crushed chilies or some cayenne pepper to the mix.
Old Bay seasoning is another popular branded seasoning used all over the US that works well with many Southern dishes due to its flavor profile.
Since it shares many key ingredients as Cajun seasoning, such as paprika, pepper, and salt, you can use it as a great substitute.
You may, however, notice that the taste of garlic and cayenne pepper might be missing, and for that, you can add those in very easily to get a closer flavor.
Lastly, if you have nothing else on hand, you can use some cayenne pepper along with some paprika since they are two of the most important ingredients in Cajun seasoning.
Although they will not give the same depth of flavors as Cajun seasoning, they will provide the required heat for Cajun recipes.
Can you make Cajun seasoning at home?
Cajun seasoning is extremely easy to make at home. It does require quite a few herbs and spices, but all of them are pretty easy to come by and chances are that you already have them in your home.
To make homemade Cajun seasoning, you will need paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, and ground white or black pepper.
All you need to do is combine all these ingredients and store them in a jar to use later for your favorite Southern-style recipes.
How long does Cajun seasoning last?
The answer to this depends on two factors: the quality of your Cajun seasoning and its storage conditions.
Cajun seasoning is best stored in a cool, dark place, away from sunlight and moisture where, if properly stored, it will retain its quality for 2-3 years.
To maximize its shelf life, it is recommended to store it in containers with tight-fitting lids that prevent any air and moisture from getting inside.
Is Cajun seasoning safe to use after its expiration date?
Most commercially packaged Cajun seasoning will carry a “best by” or “best before” date that indicates the maximum time the seasoning will remain at its best quality.
While it may not spoil after these dates have passed, chances are that they might start to lose flavor and potency over time.
How can you tell if Cajun seasoning has gone bad?
To check if Cajun seasoning has gone bad, you can rub or crush a small amount of the seasoning in your hands and then smell and taste it. If the aroma is not as strong and the flavor is also weak, it is time for you to replace it.
What is the difference between Cajun seasoning and blackened seasoning?
Both Cajun and blackened seasonings are spice blends that contain more or less the same ingredients; however, Cajun tends to be spicier than blackened seasoning.
While blackened seasoning does have some heat, it is not as much as Cajun, which is why if you are sensitive to spice, we recommend opting for blackened seasoning over Cajun seasoning.
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