If your family loves pickles as much as mine does, this dill pickle seasoning is about to become the most used jar in your spice cabinet. It tastes like a crunchy dill pickle in powder form, and it takes 5 minutes to mix up.
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Here's how this one started. Alex went through a phase last winter where he wanted pickle flavored everything. Pickle chips, pickle popcorn, you name it. One Tuesday I looked at the price of a tiny jar of pickle seasoning at our Manhattan grocery store and thought, wait a minute. I have every single one of these spices at home.
So I tested a few batches in my kitchen until I got the balance just right. Tangy, garlicky, a little salty, with that unmistakable dill flavor. Sarah sprinkles it on popcorn for movie nights, and Donald puts it on his eggs almost every morning now.
In this post, I'll show you exactly how I make it, what to put it on, and how to store it so it stays fresh for months. It reminds me of the first time I made my own homemade taco seasoning and realized I never needed the store bought packets again. Same story here, I promise.
Why You Will Like This Recipe
- Ready in 5 minutes. You just measure, whisk, and pour into a jar. That's it.
- Uses pantry spices you already have. No fancy ingredients except maybe citric acid, and I'll tell you where to find it.
- Tastes like real dill pickles. Tangy, garlicky, and bold, not fake or overly salty like some store versions.
- Works on everything. Popcorn, fries, chicken, eggs, dips, roasted veggies. My kids find new uses weekly.
- Cheaper than store bought. One batch costs a fraction of those little specialty jars.
- Keeps for up to 12 months. Make it once and enjoy it all year.
Ingredients For This Dill Pickle Seasoning
Here's everything you need. I bold the ones that really make this blend taste like a pickle.
- 2 tablespoons dried dill
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon citric acid (or vinegar powder)
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon turmeric (optional, mostly for that pretty golden color)
A few quick notes from my kitchen:
The citric acid is what gives you that puckery, briny tang. You can find it anywhere that sells canning supplies, and one small bag lasts forever. If you can't find it, vinegar powder works too.
The sugar might surprise you, but don't skip it. It rounds out the tang the same way a good pickle brine has a touch of sweetness.
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Dill Pickle Seasoning
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: About ½ cup (24 servings) 1x
Description
This homemade dill pickle seasoning tastes like a crunchy dill pickle in powder form, and it takes just 5 minutes to whisk together. Tangy, garlicky, and bold, it works on popcorn, fries, chicken, eggs, and dips, and it keeps for up to 12 months.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried dill
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon citric acid (or vinegar powder)
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon turmeric (optional, mostly for that pretty golden color)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk until the color looks even throughout. Break up any little clumps of dried dill with the back of a spoon so every pinch tastes the same.
- Pour the seasoning into a clean spice jar or any small airtight container, using a funnel so nothing ends up on your counter.
- Give the jar a quick shake before each use, since the finer powders settle to the bottom over time.
Notes
The citric acid is what gives you that puckery, briny tang. If you can't find it near the canning supplies, vinegar powder works too. Don't skip the sugar, it rounds out the tang the same way a good pickle brine has a touch of sweetness. Want it spicy? Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry away from the stove, and it keeps its flavor for up to 12 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Seasoning
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 teaspoon
- Calories: 7
- Sugar: 0.4g
- Sodium: 195mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1.3g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 0.3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
How To Make Dill Pickle Seasoning
This is honestly one of the easiest things I make. Sarah does most of it herself now, and she's proud of it every single time.
Mix The Spices
Add all the ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Whisk everything together until the color looks even throughout. The turmeric will tint the whole blend a soft yellow, so it's easy to see when it's fully combined.
(A little tip I learned the hard way: dried dill likes to clump. Break up any little pockets with the back of a spoon so every pinch tastes the same.)
Transfer To A Jar
Pour the seasoning into a clean spice jar or any small airtight container. I use a funnel because the first time I tried pouring straight from the bowl, half of it ended up on my counter. Not my finest moment!
Shake Before Each Use
The finer powders settle to the bottom over time. Give the jar a quick shake before you sprinkle, and every batch will taste just like the first.
That's it. Five minutes, one bowl, and you've got about half a cup of homemade dill pickle seasoning ready to go.
What To Put It On
This is where the fun starts. Here's how my family uses it:
Popcorn. Sarah's number one pick. Toss hot popcorn with a little melted butter first so the seasoning sticks.
Fries and potatoes. Sprinkle it on fries, roasted potatoes, or potato chips right out of the oven. It's also amazing dusted over garlic butter steak bites and potatoes for a fun twist on our usual dinner.
Chicken. Rub it on chicken before baking or grilling. It gives weeknight chicken a completely different personality. If your family loves bold chicken dinners, my honey garlic chicken thighs are another one they'll ask for again.
Eggs and deviled eggs. Donald shakes it over fried eggs every morning. A pinch in deviled egg filling is wonderful too.
Dips. Stir a teaspoon into sour cream or Greek yogurt for an instant pickle dip. It works beautifully alongside a creamy tzatziki sauce on a snack board.
Fish. A light dusting on baked salmon is surprisingly good. Try it on my go to salmon recipe and you'll see what I mean.
Storage Tips
Store your dill pickle seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry. Keep it away from the stove, since heat and steam make spices fade faster.
Stored this way, it keeps its flavor for up to 12 months. Honestly, ours never lasts that long. A batch disappears in about six weeks at my place.
If you notice the blend clumping over time, that's usually humidity. Just break it up with a fork and it's good as new. A tiny food safe silica packet in the jar helps if your kitchen runs humid in the summer, which mine definitely does.
There's no reheating with this one, obviously, but here's a nice thing I've noticed. The flavor actually gets a little deeper after the blend sits for a day or two, once the dill and garlic get friendly with each other.
Tips And Variations For Your Dill Pickle Seasoning
After making this more times than I can count, here's what I've learned:
- Want it spicy? Add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne or red pepper flakes. Alex calls this the fire pickle version.
- Want it extra tangy? Bump the citric acid up to 1½ teaspoons. Start small though, because a little goes a long way.
- No citric acid at all? The blend still tastes great, just milder. You can add a splash of pickle juice directly to dips instead.
- Make it a ranch pickle blend. Stir a tablespoon of the seasoning into buttermilk ranch dressing. Ever wondered what pickle ranch tastes like on pizza night? Trust me, try it once.
- Watch the salt. If you're seasoning something already salty like chips or fries, sprinkle lightly and taste as you go. I over salted a batch of popcorn once and the kids still tease me about it.
- Double the batch. These little jars make sweet homemade gifts. I tied a ribbon on a few last December and my neighbors loved them.
Dill Pickle Seasoning FAQ
What Is Dill Pickle Seasoning Made Of?
It's a blend of dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sugar, citric acid, mustard powder, black pepper, and a little turmeric for color. The dill brings the classic pickle taste, and the citric acid adds that tangy bite you get from pickle brine. Everything except the citric acid is probably in your spice cabinet right now.
What Can I Use Dill Pickle Seasoning On?
Almost anything savory! We use it on popcorn, french fries, roasted potatoes, deviled eggs, chicken, fish, and stirred into creamy dips. It's also great on cucumber slices for a quick fresh pickle taste. Sarah even shakes it on buttered toast, which sounded odd to me until I tried it.
Can I Make Dill Pickle Seasoning Without Citric Acid?
Yes, you can. The blend will taste a bit less tangy but still very pickle like, thanks to the dill and mustard powder. Vinegar powder is a great swap if you have it. Or leave the tang out of the jar and add a splash of vinegar or pickle juice to whatever dish you're seasoning.
How Long Does Homemade Dill Pickle Seasoning Last?
Up to 12 months in an airtight container stored in a cool pantry. The spices won't spoil after that, but the flavor slowly fades. I write the date on the jar lid with a marker so I always know how fresh it is. Give it a sniff, and if the dill still smells bright, you're good.
Recipes You May Like
- Crispy Air Fryer Pickles With Zesty Dipping Sauce: if you love pickle flavor, these crunchy fried pickles are a must try snack at our place.
- Garlic Parmesan Fries: golden, garlicky fries that taste even better with a pinch of this seasoning on top.
- Crispy Air Fryer Potato Chips: homemade chips that are begging for a dusting of pickle seasoning right out of the air fryer.
Final Thoughts
Making your own dill pickle seasoning is one of those small kitchen wins that makes you wonder why you ever bought it. Five minutes, nine pantry spices, one quick whisk, and you have a jar of tangy, garlicky goodness that works on almost everything.
This blend has earned a permanent spot next to my salt and pepper, and I have a feeling it'll do the same in your kitchen. Give it a try this week and let me know what you sprinkle it on first!
Don't forget to save this one to Pinterest so you can find it next time movie night rolls around.
