Essential Spices for Flavorful Cooking: Over 80 Best Spices Recommended By Foodies & Chefs Spices Cooking Tips

When a member of my local foodie group on Facebook asked everyone to share their five favorite spices (not including salt and pepper), the response was not only interesting, but overwhelming. If you want to try a new spice or herb to change up your recipes, below are over 80 that foodies and chefs say they must have in their pantries.

We have a list of some the spices at the bottom of the page so you can order them ASAP. Plus read about the health benefits of spices.

"McCormick brand curry powder, Tony Chachere's creole seasoning, Cajun seasoning, Tex Joy sausage seasoning, pink Himalayan salt." – Lindy L.

"Paprika and dill." – Dawn C.

"Cumin, oregano, rosemary, garlic powder, chili powder." – Angie D.

"Turmeric, za'tar, coriander, smoked paprika, cardamom." – Blake M.

"Curry, cumin, oregano, rosemary and adobo." – Lisa H.

"Rosemary, basil, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, garlic. OK, technically not a spice, but I don't know how to have a list without garlic." – Suzanne R.

"Cumin, thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano. We also use the steak seasoning from Texas Roadhouse a lot." – Ann W.

"Garlic, Italian seasoning, turmeric, lemon pepper and chili powder." – Teresa L.

"I use rotisserie chicken seasoning on A LOT! I use it on veggies, shrimp, popcorn! It's good on a lot of things." – Joy M.

"Garlic, sage, cayenne, white pepper, jalapeño." – James L.

"Tony's, cumin, garlic, basil, Weber's Kickin' Chicken." – Becky T.

"Garlic and onion powders, paprika, all kinds, sweet, smoked or hot, Italian seasoning and poultry seasoning." – Amy R.

"I can’t live without seasoned salt, white pepper, Maldon flaky salt for finishing." – Bob M.

"Smoked paprika, garlic powder, Morton Nature's Seasons, herbes de provence, rosemary. I could add more, love spices and herbs." – Donna J.

"Garlic powder, onion powder, garlic pepper, Slap Ya Mama, garlic salt." – Jolie G.

"Paprika, garlic, ginger, Tony’s, cayenne." – Shane S.

"Dill, cilantro, garlic, onion, lemon pepper." – Candi S.

"Garlic, turmeric, chili powder, cayenne, sage." – Casey C.

"Garlic powder, Uncle Chris' seasoning, Italian seasoning, onion powder and Tony Chachere's seasoning." – Jennifer L.

"Montreal Steak, Uncle Bob’s Burger Seasoning, Tony’s, cayenne, lemon pepper." – Lindsey M.

"Check out Flavor God products online." – Casey M.

"All season salt." – Tanya F.

"Rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano and cumin." – Nikki M.

"Za’atar, allspice, smoked paprika, herbs dè provance and madras curry powder." – Steve H.

"Too many! Onion and garlic powders, Fiesta taco seasoning, hot pepper flakes, Tajin chili-lime salt, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning." – Cathy S.

"Tony Chachere's, seasoning salt, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder." – Cheryl S.

"Garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, Montreal steak, cumin." – Brenda K.

"My new favorite seasoning is Everything But the Bagel from Trader Joe's. It does have salt but I put that sh!t on everything!" – Jennifer R.

"Garlic powder, cinnamon, Fat Head Steak seasoning, lemon pepper and Salad Supreme." – Betty M.

"Anything truffle!!!!" – Michelle H.

"Smoked paprika, smoked sea salt, rosemary, Slap Ya Mama Cajun seasoning, granulated garlic, Private Selection Italian seasoning in a grinder, Fiesta fancy light chili powder, cumin." – Candace N.

"Garlic, onion, basil, oregano, pepper." – Margaret L.

"Cumin, chili powder, garlic, smoked paprika, coriander. (Green things are herbs: cilantro, basil, thyme.)" – Joanna K.

"Garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, lemon pepper, Tony's." – Katy S.

"Garlic powder, turmeric, cumin, oregano and thyme." – Allen M.

"Cinnamon, basil, oregano, sage, mint." – Brenda W.

"Cinnamon, thyme, oregano, basil, cumin. Also chili powder and cumin." – Ellen K.

"Garlic powder, cinnamon, cayenne, smoked paprika, basil." – Geneva G.

"Tony Chachere's creole, garlic/onion powder, chili powder, cumin, thyme." – Laura N.

"Rosemary, Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Italian seasoning, dill, everything bagel seasoning." – Sara M.

"Chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper flakes and rosemary." –  Teena R.

"Paprika, garlic, oregano, cilantro, onion powder. Mixed spice blends like Tony Chacharie's and Mrs. Dash." – Ken W.

"Garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, cumin." – Aundra N.

"Garlic powder, Lawry’s, cumin, Italian seasoning, onion powder, smoked paprika." – Beverly F.

"Garlic, onion powder, cumin, cinnamon, dill." – Lara Dickson H.

"Onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, thyme and lemon pepper." – Pebo R.

"Killen's Sweet BBQ rub, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, cumin." – Mike B.

"Garlic, basil, curry, cumin, cinnamon." – Patti S.

"Garlic salt and power. Montreal steak seasoning is number one for us." – Charlotte F.

"Cayenne, cinnamon, chili powder." – Carol W.

"Garlic powder, turmeric, cumin, chili powder and cayenne." – Stephanie S. 

"Smoked paprika, oregano, garlic, basil, dill." – Connie K.

"Cumin, chili powder, dill, cinnamon, clove." – Jennifer B.

"Greek, cinnamon, cloves, creole, enchilada (or any Mexican seasoning), chili powder and Morton Nature's Seasoning is my staple for a combo salt, pepper, garlic, onion blend. Gosh, there are so many more but enough to get started." – Olivia H.

"Cumin, Leona General Store Rub, onion powder, oregano, thyme." – Alana M.

"Cumin, oregano, Old Bay, Italian seasoning, cinnamon." – Brenda L.

"Garlic, paprika, lemon." – Theresa B.

"Mango habanero, orange pepper, Uncle Chris's fajita seasonings, pink Himalayan salt, garlic pepper." – Jon H.

"Rosemary, basil, fennel, oregano and Italian seasoning." – Carol H.

"Garlic, za'atar, curry, red chili flakes, Chinese 5 Spice." – Terri L.

"Cayenne, garlic powder, cumin, cinnamon, ginger." – Larry V.

"Earl Campbell’s All Purpose Seasoning, garlic, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon." – Patricia C.

"Smoked paprika, garlic, ginger, onion powder, cinnamon (but not in savory)." – Lori H.

"Tony Chachere's, Montreal Steak Seasoning, Butt Rub, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and garlic salt." – Kim K.

"Red curry powder, garlic, cumin." – Jeanne S.

"Onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder and season salt." – Michelle T.

"Weber Roasted Garlic and Herb Seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, lemon pepper and everything bagel." – Stacey W.

"Cinnamon, allspice, ginger, cloves and paprika." – Robin M.

"Tony Chachere‘s." – Megan R.

"Garlic, onion, cumin and celery." – Jennifer M.

"Turmeric, Chinese 5 Spice, adobo, Greek seasoning, Tony's." – Deanna H.

"Try Flavor God seasoning." – Amy M.

"Garlic, Tony’s, garlic salt." – Melissa K.

"Curry powder, paprika, cayenne, basil, ginger, lemongrass, herbes de provence." – Jaye D.

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