How to Make Chili Seasoning Packets

When I make homemade chili everything has to be perfect. I never really stray from my recipe because the whole family loves it just how I fix it. Lots of times, I serve my famous chili, and others ask me for the recipe. But rather than write it down every time someone asks for it, I just hand them a seasoning packet. Not one of those packs you buy from the store, but one I've made myself. After all, anyone can add tomato juice, ground beef, or kidney beans. It's the seasoning, though, that really makes the chili. Whether you want to let others in on your chili secrets, or you just want to make it easier on yourself when you cook, you'll appreciate how easy it is to make your own chili seasoning packets. Then, whenever you're ready to make a big pot, you can just rip open a packet and dump it in - perfect for when you have limited time for cooking.

Use a separate bowl for each packet of chili seasoning you wish to make. The best bowl is one that is small and square. That way, it's easy to pour the seasoning into a packet. Or, you can use a funnel to fill the packs.

In each bowl, mix together a tablespoon of flour, two tablespoons of minced onion, a teaspoon and a half of chili powder, a teaspoon of salt, a half-teaspoon of crushed red pepper, a half-teaspoon of minced garlic, a half-teaspoon of sugar, and a half-teaspoon of ground cumin. Or, mix up your own recipe of seasonings.

The seasoning can be poured into a zipper-lock bag to store in your pantry for up to six months. Rather than use plastic sandwich bags for the small amount of seasoning, you can find miniature zipper bags at most craft stores.

To give a chili seasoning packet as a gift you can do something a little nicer with it. Cut two pieces of scrapbook paper, or another type of paper, to be slightly smaller than a regular envelope. Use a non-toxic glue stick to seal the envelope. Go around three sides of one piece of the paper, stick the other paper to it, and allow the glue to set. Then, pour the spices into the envelope, wipe off the inside top, and seal the two pieces with the glue stick. You can print out a label to put on the chili by using peel-n-stick, printable labels from a store selling office products.

Although people are going to love your chili seasoning packets you don't have to limit them to that. You can also make seasoning packets for pot roast, beef stew, chicken soup, or other recipes.