Give Meatballs 10x The Flavor With A Sprinkle Of This Seasoning

Meatballs make for a hearty, comforting weeknight meal, but if they're in your regular rotation, they can start to taste a little bland by the third week. One way to spice up your meatballs is to literally use more spice. While several spices can boost the flavor of your meatballs, Cajun seasoning will bring a bayou-inspired kick. A sprinkle of Cajun seasoning will add a punch of smoky, spicy flavor that works especially well with slow-cooked meatballs. 

If you want to try it for yourself, start with our recipe for slow cooker Cajun Buffalo meatballs, which combines Cajun seasoning with the tangy heat of Buffalo sauce. Cajun seasoning blends paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper, in a combination that's traditionally associated with Louisiana, where Cajun cooking grew out of French Acadian traditions. It's commonly used to season seafood like shrimp and fish, but it also works well with chicken, pork, and meatballs.

If you want to switch up your usual meatball recipe and try something more adventurous, you can combine the spice blend with brown sugar and honey to get a sweet-and-spicy glaze. The sweetness will balance the heat from cayenne pepper. For an even more exciting, rich take, you can stir Cajun seasoning into melted butter with minced garlic and toss it with cooked meatballs before serving. 

If you want to go the traditional Louisiana route, you can try Cajun meatballs over rice with sautéed bell peppers and onions. Alternatively, for a creamier sauce, add Cajun seasoning to a little cream and Parmesan to balance out the heat with the savory coating. The majority of store-bought Cajun seasoning blends already contain a generous amount of salt, so taste the sauce before adding extra. It's wise to always be careful when adding salt, because while tou can always add more, what you cannot do is take it out.