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If you’ve ever pulled a tray of roasted potatoes out of the oven and felt like they were missing something, this potato seasoning is the answer.
Most potato dishes are only as good as their seasoning — and a generic shake of salt and pepper just doesn’t cut it when you want genuinely great roasted potatoes or crispy fries. This homemade potato seasoning changes that. The spices and herbs, measured once, mixed in five minutes, and ready to make every potato dish you cook taste like you actually thought it through.
Once you have a jar of this on your spice shelf, you’ll reach for it constantly. It works on roasted potatoes, air fryer potatoes, french fries, wedges, hash browns, potato soup — even sprinkled over a baked potato instead of the usual plain salt. And because you make it yourself, you control the heat, the salt level, and the ratios.
Helpful Tips
- Use fresh spices: Older spices lose flavor over time. If your paprika or garlic powder has been sitting in the pantry for more than a year, replace them for the best results.
- Season before cooking: Toss potatoes with oil and the seasoning blend before roasting or air frying. The oil helps the spices stick and brings out their flavor.
- Adjust the heat: Use ¼ teaspoon cayenne for a milder seasoning or increase it to ¾ teaspoon if you like a little extra kick.
- Taste before adding more salt: This blend already contains kosher salt, so check the potatoes before adding additional salt after cooking.
You’ll need
How to make potato seasoning
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or spice jar.
- Stir or shake until well mixed.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
How to use potato seasoning
As a general rule, use 1 to 1½ teaspoons of seasoning per pound of potatoes, tossed with olive oil before cooking. Adjust to taste — this blend is bold, so start a little lighter and build up.
Substitutions & swaps
| If You’re Out of… | Use Instead | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Celery salt | A pinch of regular salt | You’ll lose some savory flavor, but the seasoning will still taste great. |
| Mustard powder | Omit or add a tiny pinch of turmeric | Turmeric adds mild earthiness and color as a partial substitute. |
| Dried thyme | Dried rosemary, crushed | Rosemary has a stronger flavor, so use a little less. |
| Cayenne pepper | Red pepper flakes or omit | Red pepper flakes provide a coarser heat but work well in this blend. |
Storage
- Shelf Life: Up to 6 months
- Storage: Keep in an airtight jar in a cool, dark pantry.
- Refrigeration: Not needed.
- Label & Date: Mark the jar with the date you made it to keep track of freshness.
Keep the jar away from heat sources like the stove or oven — steam and heat accelerate the loss of potency in dried spices. A cool, dark cupboard is ideal. If the blend starts to smell faint or flat, it’s time to mix a fresh batch.
Frequently asked questions
Start with 1 teaspoon per pound of potatoes, tossed with 1–2 tablespoons of olive oil. For bolder flavor, go up to 1½ teaspoons per pound. Because this blend already contains salt, taste before adding any extra seasoning to your dish.
Yes — simply omit salt and celery salt from the recipe. The remaining 10 spices and herbs make a very flavorful salt-free blend. You can then season your potatoes with salt separately, which gives you more control over the final salt level.
It has a gentle, slow-building heat from the cayenne and black pepper — noticeable but not overwhelming. For a completely mild blend, reduce the cayenne to ¼ teaspoon or leave it out entirely. For more heat, increase to ¾ teaspoon or add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Absolutely. This blend works beautifully on roasted carrots, cauliflower, zucchini, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. It’s also great on grilled corn and roasted chickpeas. Think of it as a bold all-purpose roasting seasoning that happens to be optimized for potatoes.
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Made this blend? Tell us your favorite potato dish to use it on — we’re always looking for new ideas!
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Potato Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon celery salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl or spice jar.
- Stir or shake until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer the seasoning blend to an airtight spice jar or container.
- Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
Notes
- Adjust the cayenne pepper to make the seasoning milder or spicier.
- For extra-crispy potatoes, soak cut potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes, then dry thoroughly before seasoning.
- This blend works well on roasted potatoes, air fryer potatoes, French fries, potato wedges, sweet potatoes, and roasted vegetables.
- How to use: Toss 1 pound of potatoes with 1–2 tablespoons olive oil and 1–2 teaspoons potato seasoning before roasting, air frying, or grilling.
- Store the seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
- Toss cooked potatoes with a little Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley for a steakhouse-style finish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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