Bland chicken & rice can get boring quickly…but fresh herbs plants can be hard to look after and fresh herbs wilt before you use them. That’s why I love dried herbs! When you add spices to your meals, you can completely elevate the flavors.

Also, spices serve multiple purposes: they’re there to enhance the taste of dishes you make, but some herbs and spices also have certain health benefits.

Learning how to cook with spices is an important step in the journey to making delicious food. Adding them to soup, stews and basically anything else you’re cooking will increase the flavor and make everything so much more delicious.

As a basic guide to spices, you want to get pre-ground ones (you can ground your own spices if you have a mortar and pestle, but buying pre-ground ones is usually much easier for most people). To get used to the spicy taste, you can always add less and then slowly increase the amount, depending on your taste.

Here are ways to use different spices and spice blends! 

Even though many of these seasonings are Trader Joe’s brand - all brands are very similar - get them from whatever store you have near you!

How To Use Different Spices

Basil & Oregano

Overview

• You can buy these as dry seasonings OR have small plants in your home & eat them fresh! Just a word of warning - basil needs a LOT of water! I give my plant a full cup every morning.

• These pair very well together! I also typically pair these with salt & pepper

What to use it in/ on

• Italian dishes of all types like meats, veggie side dishes, cheeses, pasta & pasta sauce dishes

• Vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant - sprinkle basil and oregano in stir-fry’s or when you’re baking these veggies

• Meats like poultry, fish, lamb, and pork - make a “dry rub” by seasoning meats with basil, oregano, salt & pepper and pressing these seasonings into the meats before cooking to make them super tasty. I also like to season meats after they come out of the oven for a little more flavor.

• Soups

• Make-your-own salad dressings

• Make-your-own tomato sauce or canned, roasted tomatoes

Everyday Seasoning Mixes - Lemon Pepper, Everyday, and Everything Bagel

Overview

• You can buy these as dry seasonings OR have small plants in your home & eat them fresh! Just a word of warning - basil needs a LOT of water! I give my plant a full cup every morning.

• Also, as with all of these seasonings, these pictured are Trader Joe’s specific but Mrs. Dash brand, and pre-mixed seasonings from any grocery store are good!

What to use it in/ on - these are common spices you use every day

• Seriously… you can use these on about anything!! Definite crowd pleasers. Here are a few of my go-to’s

• Tuna fish - mix it with mayo

• Eggs - hard boiled, fried, etc.

• Frozen veggies - steamed or sautéed

• Cauliflower rice - with grated parmesan cheese

Red Chili Powder/ Flakes

Overview

• This is a mix of different types of dried hot peppers. Spicy!

What to use it in/ on

• Chilis - make one with beans, ground turkey, and canned tomatoes

• Veggies - zucchini, corn, bell peppers, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes

• Protein - fish, chicken, beef

• Rice

• Soups and sauces

Cinnamon

Overview

• Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the inner bark of several tree species - it’s great as a spice for food and also has a great aromatic appeal! Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg all have a Christmas sort of nostalgia to them!

What to use it in/ on

• Cookies and other desserts- makes them so flavorful!

• Coffee grinds - add them to the grinds before you

• Baked sweet potato - did you know that you can bake a potato in the microwave?? Poke holes in it with a fork. “Bake” it for 5 minutes on each side in the microwave.

• Oatmeal - make it with nuts & a banana!

• Baked apples - just cut them up & put them in the microwave!

Taco Seasoning Mix

Overview

• Taco seasoning mixes are typically combinations of chili powder, garlic powder, onion Powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin and salt. PHEW! I’ll use a pre-mixed seasoning mix thanks :)

What to use it in/ on

• TACOS :)

• Nachos

• Fajita vegetables - stir-fried peppers and onions. This makes a delicious side dish for many proteins!

Taco Seasoning Mix

Overview

• Taco seasoning mixes are typically combinations of chili powder, garlic powder, onion Powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin and salt. PHEW! I’ll use a pre-mixed seasoning mix thanks :)

What to use it in/ on

• TACOS :)

• Nachos

• Fajita vegetables - stir-fried peppers and onions. This makes a delicious side dish for many proteins!

Garlic Powder or Garlic Salt

Overview

• A step up from salt & pepper! :) So versatile - you can use it on most savory dishes.

What to use it in/ on

• Veggies - mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, cabbage, and more!

• Protein - tofu, chicken, beef, you name it! Dry rub the seasoning on the meat before you cook it - press it in!

Salt & Pepper of course!

Overview

• The basics! Seriously you can use these on anythingggg 😉

What to use it in/ on

• Stir-fried, steamed, or baked veggies

• Starches like rices, pasta (probably just salt not pepper), quinoa

• Sheet-pan veggie & protein meals like chicken and broccoli or salmon and snap peas

• Dry-rubs on meats - before you cook them, press salt & pepper into the meat, or let sit for 30 minutes before cooking if you have time

How long do spices keep in the pantry?

Ground spices will keep for 1-3 years. Check the expiration dates every spring for some Spring Cleaning!

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