This homemade Flamin Hot Cheetos Seasoning is an essential addition to any spice rack for those who appreciate a touch of cheesy spiciness in their creations.
Inspired by my son's love for my Homemade Takis Seasoning, he threw down the gauntlet and challenged me to create a Flamin' Hot Cheetos seasoning. Challenge accepted!
After carefully examining the Flamin' Hot ingredients label and testing many versions, I believe I found the perfect homemade blend. Now you can create your own seasoning to elevate your mac and cheese, popcorn or any other dish you desire.
We love making our own homemade seasonings. They're often better than you can buy and they're definitely cheaper. Two of our favorites include our versions of Tajín seasoning and blackening seasoning. And definitely don't miss our absolute favorite: lemon pepper seasoning (it's incredible on these lemon pepper wings)!
What Are Flamin Hot Cheetos Made Of?
While the exact ingredient measurements of Flamin Hot Cheetos is a brand secret, the CHEETOS® Crunchy FLAMIN' HOT ingredients are not. Here are the ingredients you'll find on the package label:
Cheetos: Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil).
Flamin' Hot Seasoning: (Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Salt, Sugar, Monosodium Glutamate, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 6, Yellow 5], Sunflower Oil, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Onion Powder, Whey, Whey Protein Concentrate, Garlic Powder, Natural Flavor, Buttermilk, Sodium Diacetate, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate), and Salt.
Note: Contains milk ingredients
Homemade Flamin Hot Seasoning Ingredients
- Cheddar cheese powder: The base for any Cheetos product. I use Hoosier Hill Farm cheese powder.
- Cayenne pepper: The foundation for the spiciness.
- Ghost pepper: Ghost pepper adds an extra spicy kick that you won't get from cayenne pepper and similar to what you'll taste with Flamin' Hot Cheetos.
- Kosher salt & white pepper: The salt enhances the flavor while white pepper adds a milder pepper flavor than black pepper. Black pepper can be used in a pinch.
- Garlic & onion powder: Two classic ingredients that balance and enhance each other.
- Buttermilk powder: I used Hoosier Hill Farm and you can also find it in most baking sections at the grocery store or near the powdered milk.
- MSG (monosodium glutamate): The not so secret taste enhancer in so many snack products.
- Citric acid: As the name suggests it will add a bit of an acidic, sour taste plus it also acts as a natural preservative.
- Maltodextrin: Helps dilute and balance the other flavors.
- Red dye #40 (optional): To achieve a similar vibrant red color, you can use the same red color #40 in the original recipe or a comparable red color powder.
How Spicy Is This Seasoning? (Scoville Comparison)
There's no official Scoville rating for Flamin' Hot Cheetos that I could find. But some food writers have estimated that it lands around 50,000 SHU, which is roughly the same heat range as a cayenne pepper. That's the information I was able to find publicly, so consider this a best guess, not a confirmed number.
This homemade version is similar to the commercially sold version: cayenne pepper that also uses a tiny amount of a hotter pepper. We use ghost pepper, which measures 800,000-1,000,000+ SHU (much hotter than cayenne)! But because we use ghost pepper in such a small amount, it just adds a bit more heat instead of overpowering the entire recipe.
How to adjust the heat:
Milder: Cut the ghost pepper in half, or leave it out and just use the cayenne.
Hotter: Add more ghost pepper in ⅛-teaspoon increments (small changes go a long way and you can always add more). Or you can add an extra pinch of cayenne.
How To Make Flamin Hot Powder Seasoning
This DIY seasoning is incredibly easy to make!
- Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, combine all the ingredients.
- Grind: Balance out the flavors and reduce to a powdery consistency with a mortar and pestle or an electric or manual grinder.
Quick Hack For Flamin Hot Cheetos Seasoning
- Buy a box of CHEETOS Mac 'n Cheese FLAMIN' HOT and use the Flamin' Hot cheese packet. Save the pasta for another use.
- Use equal parts cheddar cheese powder and cayenne pepper. While not the same thing, it's similar.
- Follow the recipe and omit the more difficult to find ingredients such as maltodextrin, citric acid and red dye #40.
Where To Buy Flamin Hot Cheetos Powder
Although Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, and the producer of Flamin Hot Cheetos snacks, does not sell Flamin Hot Cheetos Powder, there are several online companies that strive to create their own copycat Flamin Hot Cheetos powder including La Heladita Paleteria Y Neveria. This is not an endorsement of either one and plus, this homemade version is close to the real thing!
Uses For Flamin Hot Cheetos Seasoning
The applications for homemade Flamin' Hot Cheetos seasoning are diverse, offering a spicy, tangy, and savory kick to a variety of dishes. Consider these creative ways to incorporate this flavorful blend into your culinary ventures:
- Seasoning for Chips:
- Turn ordinary tortilla or potato chips into a fiery and flavorful snack by dusting them with Flamin' Hot seasoning.
- Snack Mix Addition:
- Dust popcorn, pretzels, crackers, seeds, nuts, biscuits, or cereal with Flamin' Hot Cheetos seasoning.
- Seasoning for Meat and Seafood:
- Use the seasoning as a mix, rub or coating for chicken, steak, chicken wings or nuggets, hamburger, shrimp, or fish.
- Dips, Dressings, Marinades, Soups:
- Infuse your favorite dips, dressings, soups, sauces, and marinades with a unique twist.
- Creamy Sauce
- Blend with milk for a white creamy sauce for pasta dishes.
- Scalloped or Au Gratin Recipes
- Use with any cheesy potato dish.
- Sandwich or Wrap Enhancer:
- Sprinkle Flamin' Hot seasoning on sandwiches or wraps.
- Roasted Vegetable Seasoning:
- Add a touch of magic by dusting Flamin' Hot Cheetos seasoning on roasted vegetables like corn, baked potatoes, or cauliflower.
- Fruit Enhancer:
- Create a sweet and spicy contrast by sprinkling the powder on fruits such as mango, pineapple, dragon fruit, avocado, watermelon, fruit cups, apple chips, or your favorite fruit.
- Mexican Dishes:
- Spice up your favorite Mexican dishes by sprinkling Flamin' Hot powder on tacos, nachos, taquitos, burritos, tostadas, and more.
- Drink Liner:
- Rim your glasses with the seasoning for a unique twist on cocktails like Bloody Marys, margaritas, or frozen cocktails.
- More Seasoning Ideas:
- Explore more possibilities by experimenting with Flamin' Hot Cheetos seasoning with eggs, yogurt, grilled cheese, mac n cheese, rice, beans, pasta, pizza, mashed potatoes, French fries, ice cream, wings, cheesecake, and even candy. Let your creativity run wild!
How to Store Homemade Flamin Hot Cheetos Seasoning
This seasoning won't last quite as long as the commercial blend, but it will still keep well if you store it right.
- Use an airtight container: A small mason or spice jar works best but any resealable container will do.
- Keep it in a cool, dry location: Store it in your pantry or spice cabinet for the best results. Don't keep it in the fridge as that can cause condensation every time you open the container. Room temperature in a sealed jar is the best!
- Label it with the date: This seasoning is best used within 2-3 months. It's still safe to use for up to 6 months if stored properly, but the flavor and spice level will gradually mellow.
- Watch for these signs it's time to make a fresh batch: hard clumping that won't break up, a stale or "cardboard" smell, or noticeably faded color and heat.
- Quick tip: Make a half batch if you don't use spicy seasoning often. It's an easy way to always have a fresher jar on hand.
Flamin Hot Cheetos Seasoning Recipe
This homemade Flamin Hot Cheetos Seasoning seasoning is an essential addition to any spice rack for those who appreciate a touch of cheesy spiciness in their creations.
Ingredients
- 2½ tablespoons cheddar cheese powder
- 2½ tablespoons cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ghost pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon buttermilk powder
- ¾ teaspoon MSG (monosodium glutamate)
- ½ teaspoon maltodextrin
- ½ teaspoon citric acid
- Red 40 food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all the ingredients.
- Balance out the flavors and reduce to a powdery consistency with a mortar and pestle or an electric or manual grinder.
Notes
- Red dye #40 is to match the color, it is not needed for flavor.
- Add more ghost pepper, if you prefer and can handle the heat!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 74Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 664mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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