Are you a fan of cajun food? I am sure that even if you aren’t, you must definitely love cajun seasoning. Cajun seasoning adds a whole kick of flavors to food like no other spice. The blend of spices works extremely well with meat and fresh vegetables!

However, you one day decide to make a cajun recipe, and you realize you are all out of cajun seasoning. Moreover, no supermarket nearby has it available either! In that case, this article is worth your time. This article will help you find the best cajun seasoning substitute. 

What are the best substitutes for Cajun seasoning? The best cajun seasoning substitutes are creole seasoning, Old Bay seasoning, adobo seasoning, cayenne pepper, and French four spice. 

However, before we dive into the substitutes, let me help you with a little more information on Cajun seasoning. 

Quick Peek: Cajun Seasoning

This section will help you understand what cajun seasoning is, its flavor and texture, its uses, and also nutritional information. Read on to know all about it!

What Is Cajun Seasoning?

Cajun seasoning is a spice native to Louisiana State in the USA, the home of Cajun cooking. Cajuns were the Frenchmen deported to the US by the British. Their cooking style was greatly influenced by the French as well as Africans and Native Americans.

Cajun seasoning usually is a mix of various spices like paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano. However, people seem to have had various spin-offs of it recently.

Describing Cajun Seasoning: Flavor And Texture

When I talk about the texture of cajun seasoning, it is in a fine powder form. It looks quite similar to paprika powder.

If I talk about taste, the cajun seasoning has a bold, spicy flavor with a subtle earthy taste. The spice flavor comes from the cayenne pepper and paprika, whereas the earthy notes are provided by garlic, onion, and herbs. 

Uses Of Cajun Seasoning

Cajun seasoning is one of the main ingredients used in cajun cooking. It is used extensively in cajun cooking to season various meat and vegetarian dishes.

However, lately, cajun seasoning has gained popularity almost everywhere in the world. Cajun seasoning is extremely versatile and can be used to add flavor to any recipe.

Cajun seasoning is now being used in various unconventional foods like popcorn and even dips to add flavor to them. 

Cajun Seasoning On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope. 

Cajun seasoning, being a seasoning powder, is used in very minute quantities in food. However, cajun seasoning does have vitamin A and C along with minerals like iron and calcium. 

A single tablespoon or approximately 15 grams of cajun seasoning has around 11 calories. It has very minute amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and dietary fibers.

Cajun seasoning, however, does have a high amount of sodium and should be used carefully by people with blood pressure issues. 

I think that was enough information on cajun seasoning. Now, let us quickly dive into the main topic of this article which is its substitutes. 

5 Best Cajun Seasoning Substitutes

The best substitutes for cajun seasoning are as given below. 

1. Creole Seasoning

Creole seasoning is made of paprika, dried oregano, ground black pepper, dried basil, salt, cayenne pepper, onion, dried thyme, and garlic. It shares some of its ingredients with cajun seasoning, making it a great substitute for the same.

Just like cajun cooking, creole cooking is highly influenced by African American and Native American cooking. It is often regarded as the urban cousin of cajun seasoning.

It goes well as a substitute for cajun seasoning in any recipe. You can substitute cajun seasoning with creole seasoning in the same ratio. 

2. Old Bay Seasoning

Old bay seasoning is said to be a blend of 18 different herbs and spices. Some of these spices include celery seed, paprika, mustard, salt, red pepper, and black pepper. Despite a large number of spices, old bay seasoning makes a great substitute for cajun seasoning. 

Old bay seasoning is extremely versatile, just like cajun seasoning. It can be used with a variety of meat, fish, and vegetable recipes.

It can also be used in unconventional ways, such as seasoning over popcorn. Use a 1:1 ratio while using it as a substitute for cajun seasoning. 

3. Adobo Seasoning

Adobo seasoning is made of fresh garlic cloves, salt, peppercorns, oregano, olive oil, and vinegar. It has a few flavor notes similar to cajun seasoning, making it a great substitute. 

Adobo seasoning is the Latin version of cajun seasoning. It can be used as a substitute for cajun seasoning in any recipe.

However, one important thing to remember with adobo seasoning is that it has an extremely salty flavor, unlike cajun seasoning.So, while using it as a substitute, try adding half the quantity of adobo seasoning as the amount of cajun seasoning given.

This is to prevent your food from getting too salty. You can always add more later if the taste does not meet your personal flavor requirements. 

4. French Four Spice

French four spice is mostly used in French cooking. It is known as ‘Quatre épices’ in French. It consists of four spices, namely ground pepper, nutmeg, dried ginger, and cloves. 

Just like cajun seasoning, French four spice is extremely versatile. This makes it a great substitute for cajun seasoning. However, the French four spices can be a little spicy. It might not be the best option if you are looking for a cheaper substitute. 

5. Cayenne Pepper 

Cayenne pepper, even though it is not a mix of spices, still works as a good cayenne seasoning substitute. Cayenne pepper or chili powder, in common terms, adds a kick of spice to food, just like cajun seasoning. 

To compensate for the rest of the flavors in cajun seasoning, you can add some garlic powder, pepper, and oregano to the cayenne pepper. This will make up for the rest of the flavors and will positively work as a good cayenne seasoning substitute. 

Short Recap

I am sure by this point; you must have gone through the entire article. However, are you still confused about which substitute would work best for your recipe? Let me break it down further for you.

Most Suitable: The most suitable substitute for cajun seasoning is creole seasoning. 

Easily Available: The most easily available substitute for cajun seasoning is cayenne pepper. 

Best Flavor Profile: Old bay seasoning would give the best flavor profile when used as a substitute for cajun seasoning. 

Final Word

I hope this article has helped you know all about cayenne seasoning and its various substitutes. All the substitutes given are very worthy alternatives for cajun seasoning. 

Most of the substitutes, just like cajun seasoning, are extremely versatile. They work well with both meat and vegetable dishes. 

They can be used as rubs and in marinades, too, to add extra flavor. So the next time you want to experiment with flavors in the kitchen, make sure you use some cajun seasoning!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)