Food snobs have no place in the kitchen of a frugal cook. They might turn their noses up at a spice cabinet full of premixed seasoning jars, but they’re missing out. Not only do seasoning blends give extra oomph to simple, plain food, but they’re incredibly convenient to use. Even if it might be cheaper per ounce to make Cajun seasoning yourself, we’re all about preserving sanity in the kitchen. The Redditors in r/foodhacks recommended these seasoning blends as delicious, cheap, and easy ways to spice up your family’s meals, and we couldn’t agree more.
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Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
$3 from Amazon
If you’re American, chances are you grew up with a big bottle of Lawry’s on the table. “I think every spice cupboard I have ever seen when visiting the US has the obligatory aging Lawry’s,” says one Redditor. Anything that could use salt could use Lawry’s instead, including steamed broccoli, plain white rice, scrambled eggs, and baked potatoes.
Related: Cheap and Easy Ideas for Getting Supper on the Table
Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
$4 from Target
Tony Chachere’s is a Cajun seasoning blend that’ll add flavor to anything without adding much heat. One Redditor uses it on their eggs every morning, and it’s a great way to liven up plain chicken breast, rice, french fries, or batter for fried foods.
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Cavender’s All Purpose Greek Seasoning
$5 from Amazon
Lots of Redditors recommend Cavender’s, a Greek-style seasoning made with pepper, garlic, oregano, and 10 other spices. There’s “not a single meal I don’t use that with,” says one commenter. “It just goes with everything you would use garlic and onion powder with.”
Slap Ya Mama
$5 from Amazon
With a cheeky name and an eye-catching label, Slap Ya Mama is a Cajun blend. It’s a blend of salt, pepper, garlic, and red pepper, and comes in an original, mild flavor as well as a hot version in a red jar. “Use them like S&P on pretty much everything,” says one Redditor.
Montreal Steak Seasoning
$3 from Target
True to its name, Montreal Steak Seasoning makes any cheap steak taste like it came from a fancy steakhouse. The salt and spices are all coarsely ground for a rustic, robust flavor. It’s many people’s “go to for anything grilled or broiled.”
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Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse Rub
$8 from Amazon
Kinder’s seasonings grew out of a butcher shop, so they’re ideal for meats and anything grilled, like zucchini or portobellos. Redditors specifically call out the Buttery Steakhouse blend made with onion, garlic, butter flavor, and bell pepper. “The Buttery Steakhouse is the bomb on chicken and pork,” says one commenter.
Old Bay
$4 from Amazon
Old Bay is one of the most distinctive seasoning blends, and you can probably imagine the taste right now. It’s well known for crabs and seafood, but it’s great on potatoes and eggs, too. Old Bay’s paprika and celery flavors also go great on corn on the cob, mac and cheese, and tuna salad, according to Redditors.
Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel
$7 from Amazon (cheaper in store)
Trader Joe’s has a number of unusual and popular seasoning blends, and Everything But the Bagel is one of the most well known. It’s all the yummy stuff on top of an everything bagel, including garlic, sesame, and coarse salt. The seasoning blend is a great addition to popcorn or creamy dips and salad dressings, and it’s the “New Jersey/ New York staple for when we make our eggs.”
