Homemade Mesquite Seasoning (Copycat McCormick's Grill Mates)
This homemade copycat mesquite seasoning is super easy to make and has two secret ingredients that make it shine! After wayyyyy too many test batches, I finally cracked the code.
FROM THE COOK
"It still amazes me that you can get that deep, smoky mesquite flavor without a single drop of actual mesquite! Two pantry staples you'd never expect, and it tastes just like the bottle."
🔍 Recipe At-A-Glance
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1½ cups (about 60 servings)
- Flavor Profile: Smoky, savory, and slightly earthy with a touch of heat
- Make It Your Own: Use smoked paprika for more smokiness, or skip the mushroom and tomato powder if you don't have them on hand
- Difficulty: About as easy as it gets-just measure, grind, and store
- Dietary Info: Vegan and gluten-free
Mesquite seasoning is one of those things I never thought I needed to make from scratch. The McCormick's Grill Mates version is genuinely good and costs just a few bucks at any grocery store. But I'm constitutionally incapable of leaving a spice blend alone, so I set out to crack it.
After wayyyy too many test batches, I landed on a blend that tastes remarkably similar to the bottle! Without a drop of actual mesquite powder. Magic. ✨
The secret? Dried mushrooms and sundried tomatoes- both of which you can grab at a regular grocery store. I know that sounds unexpected, but ground up fine, they add that deep, earthy, slightly smoky backbone that makes mesquite flavor so distinctive. I use this on everything from mesquite chicken sandwiches to barbecue pork ribs to pulled pork, and it's become the seasoning I reach for more than anything else all grilling season.
If you don't know what "mesquite" is, it's actually a tree that lives in the desert. And to get that smoky, nutty, mesquite flavor in your food, you'd cook your ribs, chicken, or whatever over mesquite wood. I don't know about you, but we don't have any mesquite trees kicking around Southern Indiana. You can order mesquite powder and mesquite smoke extract online, and add it to your foods, but I wanted to see if there was a way to approximate the flavor without placing any special orders.
And I did! I was able to use dried mushrooms and sundried tomatoes.
Dried mushrooms and sundried tomatoes are standard in most major supermarkets, and after a little trip in the coffee grinder, they become an amazing powder that imparts a whole lot of flavor into many dishes! Just a few teaspoons of tomato powder added to soup or pasta sauce equals a few cans of tomatoes flavor-wise.
That being said: you could definitely leave our the mushrooms and tomatoes and still have a delicious grill seasoning.
Like I said, this stuff is absolutely delicious on pretty much everything that hits the grill, but my favorite way to use it is on a super yummy mesquite chicken sandwich recipe that was a staple in my house growing up.
FAQs
Traditional mesquite seasoning blends typically include paprika, cumin, garlic, onion, black pepper, and a touch of heat plus real mesquite smoke flavor or powder for that distinctive smoky depth. This homemade version approximates that flavor using pantry spices, with dried mushroom and tomato powder standing in for the mesquite smoke.
I always reach for smoked paprika. It adds genuine smokiness, especially if you're cooking indoors or don't have access to a smoker or grill. Regular paprika works, but smoked is the move if you want that true mesquite character.
My go-tos are mesquite chicken sandwiches, smoked pork ribs, and pulled pork, but honestly it works on anything hitting the grill. Roasted vegetables, burger patties, and even popcorn are all fair game.
It's primarily a dry rub, but you can absolutely mix it with oil for a quick marinade. For a more traditional liquid marinade, pair it with oil, something acidic like apple cider vinegar, and a little Worcestershire.
Stored in an airtight jar away from heat and light, it's safe indefinitely, but you'll get the best flavor within 12-18 months. I make a fresh batch at the start of every grilling season.
📖 Recipe
Copycat Mesquite Grill Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons tomato powder optional
- 2 teaspoons mushroom powder optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a coffee grinder or spice grinder.
- Pulse until finely ground with no large pieces remaining, about 30 seconds.
- Transfer to a pint-sized Mason jar or airtight container. Store at room temperature away from heat and light.
Notes
Nutrition
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How is this a mesquite seasoning if there's no mesquite smoke in it?
Hi Sky! This is a copycat blend using ingredients you can get right in the regular grocery store for folks who want to approximate the flavors without making an online purchases for specialty ingredients like mesquite powder or mesquite smoke extract. We also recommend swapping in smoked paprika if you'd like to up the smoky flavor of your mix!
Hi! If I were to use this as a marinade with oil, do you know how long it would be best to marinade it for to get the most flavor? Thanks!
Hi Tamara! That's definitely going to take some experimenting! The amount of time you'll need will depend on what you're marinating and how thick it's cut. A good place to start would be to take a similar marinating recipe and use it as a guide then adjust to suit your tastes. Let us know how it turns out for you!
Thank you Cassie! Appreciate your figuring this out for us!
God bless you!
have you ever seen the mesquite marinade? can this be used the same way? mixed with oil and let marinade?
Hi, Denise! You could definitely use this seasoning as a dry rub or as a rub mixed with oil as you suggest. It will give you lots of added flavor, but it's not quite the same as a marinade (which usually has a lot more liquid and some acidity to help tenderize things). Hope this helps!
Can you share the brands of dried mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes you used?
I made my own! From my own tomatoes and foraged mushrooms. 🙂
This is so great!! Does it matter what type of mushroom? I’m looking at getting some premodern powder, but didn’t know if one mushroom flavor is better than another?
I don't have a coffee grinder. Is there another way to grind mustard seed into powder? I have most of the other ingredients already.
You can try a spice grinder or mortar & pestle, or you can buy ground mustard instead!
Sounds amazing! Just wondering if you would use regular paprika or smoked paprika?
Thanks so much for sharing!
Either would be great, but I used regular paprika. 🙂
Where can I find dry mushroom powder? And is the tomato powder like the dry tomato sauce mix? Thanx for your response
Cassie made them by putting dried mushrooms and sundried tomatoes in her coffee grinder to create a powder!
I really love this one. I am also a big fan of dried herbs and spices.
Your recipe looks great. Right now I have several bottles of the McCormicks Mesquite seasoning, along with other flavors. Before I start making my own I'd like to use these up 1st. I asked my husband to get several bottles of "sweet mesquite" when it was on sale. But he got more of the regular mesquite. I'm assuming to make it "Sweet Mesquite" I would add brown sugar...am I correct & if so any idea of how much to put in a 2.5oz bottle? If not brown sugar what would you suggest? I'd like to have a bottle of it. Thanks...I can't wait to try my hand at making my own as soon as I'm in need of more.
I would start off with a teaspoon or two and then taste along the way. 🙂
Looks scrumptious. Very well done Can't wat to try it
What a great recipe. Thank you very much. We made it for dinner. I can not wait to add the optional ingredients of the mushrooms and tomatoes. I pinned it on Pinterest and shared it on my Facebook. Happy Day.
how about the chicken sandwich recipe
How about the recipe for the chicken sandwich
What if I nix the shrooms and maters for some mesquite-smoked salt? I live in Japan, so the last two are hard to get. However, I have already smoked some salt with mesquite. I'll try it and let you know.
Should work great!
It did work great! Thank you so much for your ingredient guide!
Holy crap. I love you. Thank you. This is my favorite seasoning EVER.
Never made my own seasoning mix before, this is definitely something I need to try out!
YUM! Pinning this now and sprinkling it on any and everything once I make it!