For those embracing a ketogenic lifestyle, finding suitable seasonings and flavor enhancers can sometimes be a challenge. Many store-bought options are laden with sugar, preservatives, and unwanted carbohydrates. This article provides a comprehensive guide to creating your own keto-friendly chili seasoning, ensuring a delicious and healthy addition to your meals.
Why Make Your Own Keto Chili Seasoning?
While ready-made chili seasoning mixes are convenient, crafting your own offers several advantages, especially for those following a ketogenic diet:
- Sugar-Free: You have complete control over the ingredients, ensuring no added sugars sneak into your seasoning.
- Preservative-Free: Homemade seasoning eliminates the need for artificial preservatives and additives.
- Customizable Spice Level: Tailor the recipe to your preferred level of heat, from mild to fiery.
- Budget-Friendly: Buying spices in bulk and creating your own blends can be more economical than purchasing pre-made mixes.
- Freshness: Using fresh spices guarantees a more potent and flavorful seasoning.
The Foundation: Individual Spices
The key to a great chili seasoning lies in the quality and balance of individual spices. Here's a breakdown of essential ingredients:
- Chili Powder: The cornerstone of any chili seasoning. Chili powder is made from ground, dried chili peppers. While you can make your own, purchasing a jar is a convenient option. Be sure to use chili powder, NOT chile powder! Chili powder is a blend of ground dried chili peppers with other spices. Note that "chili powder" refers to a mixture of spices vs "chile powder" refers to a dried and ground form of one specific chile.
- Cumin: This spice brings a hearty and warm taste, adding depth and complexity to the chili.
- Garlic Powder: A staple in almost every chili seasoning mix. You can use garlic salt instead. If you do, I suggest omitting additional salt from the recipe. The only difference between granulated garlic and garlic powder is that the powder has been ground finer, than the granulated garlic.
- Onion Powder: It rounds out the flavor of the homemade spice mix. Onion flakes or dried minced onions are the perfect substitutes if you don't have the powder. The only difference between granulated onion and onion powder is that the powder has been ground finer, than the granulated onion.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor profile. Whether you grind your own sea salt or use iodized table salt is completely up to you. It won't change the flavor of the mixture at all.
- Pepper: Use your favorite type of pepper, even if that is ground black pepper.
- Allspice: A ground-up berry from Jamaica with a flavor reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Cayenne Pepper: Adds heat to the seasoning. Use a pinch for a mild flavor or more for a spicier kick.
Optional Spices for Enhanced Flavor
Consider adding these spices for a more complex and nuanced flavor:
- Smoked Paprika: Imparts a smoky flavor to the chili.
- Mexican Oregano: Adds an authentic touch to the seasoning.
Chile Powder Varieties
Consider experimenting with different chile powders for unique flavor profiles:
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- Chipotle Chile Powder: Prepared from dried and smoked jalapenos, and has a rich, smokey, and spicy flavor.
- Guajillo Chile Powder: A common pepper found in Mexican and Southwestern cuisine and the dried form of the marasol chile.
- Ancho Chile Powder: A dark chile powder prepared from dried and ground poblano peppers, tends to be fruity, mild in spice, and slightly smoky.
Keto Chili Seasoning Recipe
This recipe provides a base for your keto chili seasoning. Feel free to adjust the quantities to suit your taste preferences. This recipe makes 8 tablespoons of chili seasoning mix. If you’d like to make a double batch of the seasoning, simply click on the 2X button above. This recipe makes 4 ounces of seasoning mix, which equals 8 tablespoons.
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
Instructions:
- Add all of the chili spices to a small mixing bowl. The bowl should have enough room for you to mix things up without them spilling out the top.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Mix well until thoroughly combined. To ensure the ingredients are well combined, at least ¼ of the jar should be empty.
- Store in an airtight container. Note: You can make this DIY chili seasoning right in a jar! Just be sure only to fill it ¾ full, leaving ¼ of the jar empty so it is easier to mix.
Tips for the Best Flavor
- Use Fresh Spices: Check the "best by" dates on each ingredient - the seasoning will be good up until the earliest best by date. Use the freshest spices you can find for the best results.
- Adjust to Taste: Don't be afraid to experiment with different quantities of spices to find your perfect blend.
- Make a Large Batch: As you make this recipe for chili seasoning, consider making a double batch and storing it in small spice jars. It's a lovely homemade gift! In fact, it has such an amazing flavor, you might have people asking for your recipe.
- This chili seasoning is mild to medium in spice. If you want a seasoning that’s on the spicier side, simply add more cayenne pepper to taste.
Storage Instructions
- Store all homemade spices and seasonings in an airtight jar. The best way to store it is in a mason jar that seals tightly with a lid.
- Either label with the date you made your seasonings or you can keep a log of when you made them.
- Keep your seasonings in a dark place like a pantry or kitchen cabinet.
- Heat will also cause seasonings to lose their flavor quickly.
- Don’t store your spices in the freezer.
- Spices and seasonings don’t hold up well when exposed to moisture.
How to Use Your Keto Chili Seasoning
This homemade chili seasoning is incredibly versatile. Here are a few ideas:
- Keto Chili: The most obvious use! Add it to your favorite keto chili recipe for a burst of flavor.
- Meat Rub: Use it as a dry rub for meats like beef, chicken, or pork before grilling or roasting.
- Vegetable Seasoning: Toss sweet potatoes in chili seasoning, then adding them to this Sweet Potato Spinach Salad.
- Snack Flavoring: Sprinkle it on top of nachos, put it in soups, sprinkle it on top of guacamole, or toss it with meat or veg before going on the grill.
- Chili Lime Chicken Wings: You can also use it to make some chili lime chicken wings.
- Zucchini Nachos: Use this mix to make zucchini nachos.
- Venison Chili: This seasoning mix also tastes delicious in venison chili - either on the stovetop or the slow cooker.
Keto Chili Recipe Tips
Classic chili recipes are usually bean-heavy, and unfortunately, beans are starchy vegetables that are not so keto-friendly. To make a simple low-carb chili recipe, drop the beans and purchase more meat than you would normally. The goal of any keto diet is to limit your carbohydrate intake to anywhere below 50 grams per day or so (this can vary depending on your size and weight).
Ingredients
- Protein: Easily swap out the ground beef for other proteins, like ground chicken or ground turkey. I try not to use ground beef that has more than 20% fat, as it can make the overall chili quite oily. We used 80/20 beef, but you can use a leaner cut if you prefer.
- Vegetables: Amp up the vegetables by adding other low carb vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or even spinach. You can also use low-carb roasted root vegetables such as turnips, jicama, and celery root.
Cooking Methods
- If you’d prefer to make this chili in a slow cooker or a crockpot, you can easily do so. Simply cook all the vegetables and beef in the pan before adding it to the slow cooker.
Serving Suggestions
- This keto chili is hearty enough to enjoy on its own, but you can go the classic route and serve it with some keto cornbread.
Additional Tips
- Gather all of the ingredients needed for your chili recipe. This might seem like a silly step, but you'll be happy to have everything right where you need it once you start the cooking process so you don't have to run to the pantry or store while trying to cook!
- Once you have your ingredients together, cut up your aromatics and other whole vegetables.
- If you love chili as much as I do, then you know a great Chili Spice Mix can make ALL the difference! Say hello to flavor!
- Want even more flavor? This hearty soup is always a tasty pick, and for breakfast, nothing is easier than tasty egg bites.
Thickening the Chili
- If you like a thick chili you can also stir in a cornstarch slurry. 2 tablespoons cornstarch blended with 3 tablespoons of liquid. Add in a cup of cauliflower rice to help thicken the chili or any additional vegetables like Trifecta Broccoli or Trifecta Mixed Vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition.
Making Keto Chili in Advance
- You'll love making this keto chili in advance as the flavor often gets better after sitting for a day in the fridge!
- Portion out your chili into 1 cup serving sizes and reheat in the microwave for two and a half minutes when ready to eat.
Meal Prep
- Chili makes for a great main meal or can be added to a variety of recipes to add more versatility to your meal prep for the week.
- If you’re adding this great recipe to your weekly keto meal prep, remember you can cross-utilize the ingredients!
Storage
- TO STORE: Like any good stew or curry, chili tastes better the longer it sits before serving. Store chili in the refrigerator, covered.
Simple Keto Chili Recipe Example
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil- While any oil can be used, it’s best to stick to a flavorful one, like olive oil.
- 1 small diced Onion
- 1 diced Celery
- 1 pre-roasted Red Pepper
- Minced Garlic
- 1 pound ground beef
- Beef Stock
- Diced Tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons of the keto chili seasoning
Instructions:
- Heat oil in a non-stick pan or skillet and place over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, peppers, and garlic, and cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Start by sauteeing the onions, peppers, and garlic in the olive oil for several minutes, until fragrant.
- Increase the heat to high and add the ground beef and break apart. Let it cook until mostly browned. Add the ground beef, break it apart, and cook until no longer pink.
- Add the remaining ingredients, including the spice mix, and reduce to low. Add the raw ground beef, and continue to cook on medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until meat begins to brown and is cooked about 3/4 of the way through. Continue to cook on medium-high heat and add beef stock to release any of the brown bits stuck to the pan, then stir in the diced tomatoes; bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer cook for 20 minutes.
- Add in a cup of cauliflower rice to help thicken the chili or any additional vegetables like Trifecta Broccoli or Trifecta Mixed Vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition.
Common Questions
- Is paprika in chili powder? I did not use paprika in my spice mix. It adds a smoky flavor to any dish. If you like that taste, then add a pinch.
- Is chili seasoning the same as taco seasoning? This homemade chili seasoning recipe is not the same as taco seasoning, although people do use them interchangeably. I haven't tried it, but I imagine ground beef seasoned with this mix would taste quite yummy in a taco!
- Can I use cayenne pepper instead of chili powder? Not unless you want an extremely spicy seasoning blend! Ground cayenne pepper is exactly what it says it is. It’s ground red cayenne peppers with no added ingredients.
- Can I substitute chili seasoning for taco seasoning? Chili seasoning and taco seasoning use similar ingredients, but in different quantities. You can substitute chili seasoning for taco seasoning in a pinch. The chili seasoning will have a stronger chili flavor.
- What spices go into chili? I make my own homemade chili powder with a variety of dried chilis, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and paprika.
- What do you put chili powder on? You can dust chili powder top of nachos, put it in soups, sprinkle it on top of guacamole, or toss it with meat or veg before going on the grill.
- Is there cumin in chili powder? Yes. In my recipe there is.
Beyond Chili: Other Keto-Friendly Seasoning Mixes
If you enjoyed this homemade chili seasoning blend, here are some more homemade keto sauce and seasoning mixes you should make next. They are even better than store-bought!
- Keto Taco Seasoning Mix: Makes Taco Tuesday a snap because you'll always have it on-hand to make the best taco meat.
- 10-Minute Keto Enchilada Sauce: Tastes delicious on top of chicken or as a dip for your steak.
- Keto Teriyaki Sauce: Only has 1g net carbs in each serving and is amazing on top of cauliflower rice.
- Avocado Mayo: Is the perfect spread for your low-carb sandwich, with only 1g net carb in each serving.
- Keto Worcestershire Sauce: Has no carbs in it and has the most amazing taste to enhance almost any recipe.
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