Sazon Seasoning
This Homemade Sazon Seasoning is versatile and flavorful, all without any MSG, artificial colors, and anti-caking agents that you often find in storebought versions. I use this 6-ingredient rub once a week for pulled pork, fish, chicken, beef, beans and rice, and more!

I had no idea Sazon Seasoning was a thing until my foodie trip to Columbus several years ago, when North Market Spices sent me home with a packet of sazon to try. At first I had no idea what to do with it, but I decided to rub it onto some pork shoulder, popped into the slow cooker, and became hooked forever.
Since then I’ve sure been making up for lost time. No joke, this seasoning is always in my pantry now, and I make pulled pork with it at least once a week. I literally have some sazon seasoned pork in the slow cooker cooking right now, and I also enjoy it with other meats, potatoes, rice, and more. The flavor is incredible!
Tips for Best Results
Use fresh spices – Spices, especially ground spices, tend to lose their flavor rapidly as they sit in the pantry. The general rule of thumb is that they will stay potently fresh for 3 to 6 months after opening. They won’t necessarily be “bad” at that point, but less flavorful. So try to use freshly purchased spices here for optimal flavor.
Store in an airtight container – A glass jar or container is my favorite for keeping air and moisture out of the sazon seasoning. I don’t recommend a ziptop plastic bag, because they tend to puncture easily and can be too breathable.

If you’re not familiar with this magical spice mix, it’s a staple of Latin cooking. North Market Spices’ ingredients list for it is: Annatto, Garlic, Salt, Cumin, Black Pepper, Coriander, and Oregano. For my final version after many rounds of tweaking and testing, I mostly stuck with this mix of spices, with a few minor changes.

I found I like adding a little bit of onion powder to the mix, and I also like making the actual sazon seasoning without salt or pepper. This comes from a personal preference of seasoning the meat separately since it’s hard to tell how much salt is going on when there’s salt already mixed in. I do this with all my homemade seasonings, whether it’s Cajun Seasoning, Fajita Seasoning, Taco Seasoning, or Everything Bagel Seasoning.
I’ve developed a knack for knowing how much salt and pepper to add to meat just by eyeing it, but a good rule of thumb to start with is 3/4 tsp of salt per pound of meat. That number will vary based on the salt you’re using, and personal taste. But it’s easiest to calculate when you know you don’t have to factor in extra salt in the seasoning.

Ingredients Needed
The six Sazon seasoning ingredients you’ll need are ground coriander, ground cumin, ground annatto seed, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried oregano.
If you’re not familiar with it, annatto is a seed from the fruit of the achiote tree, that’s ground and often used as a dye. I first discovered it a few years ago when I noticed it as a common ingredient in cheddar cheese. But annatto isn’t just for color. It has a distinct flavor too, that has a warm and earthy taste.
As far as using the sazon seasoning for pulled pork, I simply rub a few tablespoons all over a boneless, tied pork shoulder, season with salt and pepper, then throw it into the slow cooker on low for about 8 hours, per my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork method (or I add it to this Smoked Pork Butt).
Then you can shred the meat and toss it back into the juices.

Ways to Use It
Sazon Seasoning is incredibly versatile. Here are some of the ways I use it in my own kitchen.
Meats: It’s great not just for pork of any kind (try it on Carnitas), but also pretty much all other meats, but especially steaks like Grilled Ribeye. Also try rubbing it on Santa Maria Tri Tip or a Reverse Sear Prime Rib. Sazon spice also works well for poultry like Spatchcock Chicken and Crockpot Chicken Breast.
Potatoes: Sprinkle sazon onto Steak Fries, Crispy Smashed Potatoes, or any other potato preparation.
Eggs: Add sazon seasoning to eggy breakfast preparations like a Potato Frittata, Breakfast Burritos, and Omelettes.
Rice: Add a tablespoon to your next batch of Mexican Rice or even Arroz Con Pollo.
I hope you give this magical seasoning mix a try. I really love keeping it on hand!
For those who would rather buy it than make it, I saw that North Market Spices has an online shop to buy it. I don’t recommend the typical grocery store brands, which have MSG and artificial colors and ingredients in them. It’s so easy to mix some up yourself.
Recipe FAQ and Tips
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months. It won’t necessarily be “bad” after this, but the flavors will not be as potent. I recommend a glass jar or container.
It isn’t always available in grocery stores, though groceries with Latin foods tend to have it. I order mine online. Amazon has plenty of choices for only a few dollars (like this one – affiliate), and I usually get Badia brand. Ground annatto sometimes goes by the name “achiote.”
Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

Sazon Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp ground annatto seeds*
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix until the spices are evenly distributed.
- Or, place all ingredients in a resealable plastic bag or jar, and shake.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
40 Comments on “Sazon Seasoning”
very tasty.
What other ideas do you have to do with cooked pork.
I used some in a bbq sauce.
ideas welcome
I just purchased Achiote seeds. I guess I can just put it in a blender to grind it for this recipe.
Hi Joanne, Can I use Goya Sazon for my pulled pork?
Sure!
If you then use the Sazon to make a Safrito seasoning mix eg. Recipe on Dr Oz anti breast cancer show. It is more zesty for those who like a bit more. Sazon Scotch Bell Red Pepper Garlic Onion Cilantro if u like puree with olive or grapeseed oil
made my pork last night with your seasoning mix. I had to use the substitution of tumeric. Although my pork came out very tender I was disappointed with the seasoning. It was very bland. So Sorry but will not be repeating.
I’m curious, did you salt and pepper after applying the Sazón? It would be so easy to forget (or maybe you didn’t see) that this recipe has salt and pepper omitted so that you can add it yourself to your liking. I hope that helps!
The recipie for sazon is absolutley fantastic!!!!
I use it on everything including eggs!
The only subsitution I made was tumeric for the annatto.
Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic!!! I can see why you would make this each week 🙂
I had a ten pound bone-in pork shoulder, so doubled the spices.
Some additions:
1. Added 1/2 T of cinnamon powder to the mix (1 T for a double batch).
2. Added 1 T coriander seeds, 1 T cumin seeds and 1 T peppercorns (2 T each for double batch) to skillet and toasted for 2 minutes (no oil).
Followed all instructions, but added the whole spices onto the outside of the meat after adding the dry rub.
Cooked the 10 pounder for 4 hours on high, then switched to 10 hours on low.
After cooking, I tested the meat with and without the whole spices – seemed too much, until after I shredded and added the liquid back. Then I added the spice to the shredded pork and it was magnificent! Even my spice-averse parents were pleased.
Separated pork into 5 meal-size portions, with 4 in the freezer for future use.
Thanks for an excellent and easy recipe!
The added Coriander, Cumin and Peppercorns were in addition to the recipe as is?
This Sazon works perfectly in making Shrimp (or chicken) Mozambique.
Hi has anyone added fresh rosemary to this rub? Just that rosemary goes so well with pork thought it maybe nice in the rub or a sprig put in while cooking. Also can you still sear the pork input on the rub ?Thoughts anyone. Thanking you in advance
BEST EVER! I have made this several times and it turns out PERFECT — EVERY TIME!
Hi there,
Thanks for sharing your recipe. How much salt and pepper should i add if i were interested in including it to the spice mix?
It’s not Mexican. Sazón seasoning is used in Latin (as in Carribean ) countries. Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Dominican Republic. Great recipe though!
Yes, Anatto gives good flavor to the pork.
It’s not just Mexican. Puerto Ricans, and other Caribbean islands also use it…
How much of this sazon seasoning is equal to a packet of sazon?
I think this is the exact amount…I’m looking to fill up a jar of this stuff.
1 1/2 tsp = 1 commercial sazon packet