Chipotle Seasoning Recipe
Frustrated when your food is sometimes flat and flavorless? Add a little pizzazz to your plate with our spicy chipotle seasoning recipe! Shake, sprinkle, or pour as much as you want, and get ready to be WOW-ed!
There are some toppings that are essential, like salt and pepper, while others that are meant to delight and dazzle. This flavorful chipotle seasoning recipe is one of those. When you run out, you immediately make more so you won’t be deprived of a single day of deliciousness.
Of course, you can buy something pre-packaged that’s slightly similar, but is that really what your taste buds are telling you? Wouldn’t you rather make a super fresh batch of seasonings for a fraction of the price? Sure you do!
Table of Contents
Table of contents
What Is Chipotle Flavor?
Chipotle peppers are actually smoked and dried jalapeño peppers that bring a whole new dimension to your taste buds. Imagine the sizzle of a campfire and the zest of a fiesta all coming together in one flavorful party!
This transformative process infuses them with a smoky, slightly sweet, and earthy taste that’s perfect for adding depth and warmth to a wide range of dishes. Whether you’re aiming for a gentle heat or a bold kick, chipotle peppers bring that extra pizzazz that turns ordinary meals into extraordinary!
Ingredient Notes
- Chipotle Powder: The star of the show, chipotle powder, brings that irresistible smokiness and moderate heat that gives this seasoning its distinct character. Feel free to adjust the amount to your desired level of spiciness.
- Ground Flaxseed Meal: This ingredient isn’t just about nutrition (though it is rich in essential fatty acids)—it also acts as a fantastic binder, helping the seasoning stick to your dishes. Its nutty undertones add an extra layer of complexity to the blend.
- Nutritional Yeast: A powerhouse of umami flavor, nutritional yeast brings a cheesy and savory punch to the mix. It’s a delightful way to enhance the overall taste of the seasoning. It occasionally comes in a small flake or large flake form. Since we’ll be grinding this seasoning, either will work, but small may be preferable.
- Salt: Salt is the conductor of the flavor orchestra. It elevates the individual notes of each ingredient, creating a harmonious balance that ties everything together.
- Paprika: Paprika contributes not only vibrant color but also a mild, sweet flavor that complements the smokiness of chipotle. Choose your preferred level of paprika—sweet, smoked, or hot—to customize the seasoning to your taste.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder infuses a touch of aromatic and garlicky goodness, enhancing the overall depth of the seasoning.
- Cayenne Pepper: For those who want to crank up the heat, cayenne pepper is here to play. It’s totally optional, so adjust according to your heat tolerance for an extra fiery kick.
How to Use This Chipotle Seasoning Recipe
I’ve added this homemade chipotle seasoning to pretty much everything on my plate recently, but here are the most mouthwatering suggestions:
- Spice Up Your Proteins – Use your chipotle seasoning as a rub for tofu, tempeh, seitan, or any of your favorite vegan protein sources.
- Jazz Up Veggies – While steamed broccoli is certainly healthy and delicious, you might want to go the extra mile and add a little seasoning. Roasted, sautéed, or grilled, vegetables get an instant makeover with a sprinkle of chipotle seasoning. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil, dust on the seasoning, and let the magic happen.
- Flavor-Packed Side Dishes – Elevate any side by adding the seasoning to dishes like rice, quinoa, or couscous.
- Sprinkle Over Salads – You’ll wonder how you ever enjoyed your salad without it! Just a half of a tablespoon will do the trick. The slightly gritty texture and nutty flavor adds a whole new dimension to your salad. So good!
- Power Up Your Potato – The perfect topping to a plain potato. For a loaded baked potato, add a little bit of vegan butter and sour cream along with several sprinkles of this spicy concoction to make an absolutely awesome appetizer.
- Popcorn Party – Give your popcorn a gourmet twist by tossing it with a pinch of chipotle seasoning. It’s a bold and addictive snack that’s perfect for movie nights.
- Mac & Cheese – This option is my favorite because it reminds me of the baked macaroni and cheese my mom used to make when I was young. She would fill a casserole full of creamy shell pasta and then add a breadcrumb-type topping. Boost up your own breadcrumb mix by adding a couple of tablespoons of this chipotle seasoning before baking. Heavenly!
Simple Storage
Storing your homemade chipotle seasoning couldn’t be any easier. This amount should last for at least 2 months in the refrigerator. A great idea is to place some of the seasoning into a glass spice jar with a shaker top. You can bring it to the table more easily and refill it from the main jar when needed.
You can even freeze the seasoning if you don’t think you’ll use it before then. Just pour into a freezer-safe container before storing, and it should last for at least 6 months.
Any unopened bags of whole flaxseeds can be stored at room temperature for up to a year. Opened bags of whole or ground flaxseeds should be refrigerated or frozen to prevent them from becoming rancid.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Coffee Grinder (if not using pre-made ground flax meal)
- Whisk
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Covered 16 oz. Mason Jar
More Chipotle Seasoned Recipes You’ll Love
On a spicy kick? Try these other chipotle seasoned recipes:
- Spicy Chipotle Corn Ribs are easy to make in the air fryer for a quick appetizer or side!
- Dip your quesadillas or chips into this incredible Chipotle Bean Dip!
- Spice up your Taco Tuesdays with these chipotle-flavored Oyster Mushroom Tacos!
Chipotle Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup flaxseeds, golden roasted flaxseeds are best or ground flaxseed meal
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to your preference
- ¼ teaspoon paprika, sweet paprika is best if you have it
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
- If using whole flaxseeds, add to a coffee grinder and process until finely ground. If using pre-packaged ground flaxmeal, skip this step!
- In a medium bowl, add the ground flaxseeds, nutritional yeast, salt, paprika, chipotle powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper (if using). Whisk well to incorporate.
- Store in a covered mason jar in the refrigerator.
Notes
- You can made this recipe with whole flaxseeds—or you can use pre-ground flaxseed meal which is a vegan pantry staple commonly used as an egg replacer!
- If you have an old shaker top container (like a spice jar or parmesan shaker), you can add a portion of your chipotle seasoning to this and use as a dispenser at the table.
- Like it spicier? You can add up to 1 tablespoon of chipotle powder, depending on your taste preference.
Nutrition
Spicy Chipotle Seasoning Recipe and article by Gina House, photos by Michelle Cehn. Copyright of World of Vegan™, all rights reserved.
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Leave a Comment
Love putting this on my tofu!
I made this chipotle seasoning and it was so yummy over popcorn. I think it would be great over roasted veggies, so I’ll try that next … thanks for the great recipe!
I am in love with this seasoning! It’s so easy to make and I pretty much use it on everything – lol. You must give it a try!
Love chipotle flavors… I use this on so many dishes to add more dimension.
Love this seasoning. I’ve been using it on beans recently and it makes such a difference.
Very good sprinkled over Brussels sprouts before roasting. – thank you!
This spice blend has such a gorgeous color! I am a huge fan of spice blends.