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Cooking with Sazón: Top Meals to Try at Home
Great food starts with great seasoning, and nothing brings out Latin flavors like all natural Sazón seasoning. This bold spice mix adds color, warmth, and deep flavor to our favorite dishes.
Growing up, Sazón was always in our kitchens. My family used it in everything—rice, beans, soups, you name it. But as I got older, I realized many store-bought versions contained artificial additives, preservatives, and too much sodium. That’s when I started making my own Sazón seasoning mix using simple, natural ingredients.
In this post, I’ll show you how to use Sazón in everyday meals and some of the best dishes to try at home. If you’re looking for a cleaner way to enjoy these classic flavors, this guide will help you bring the taste of the Caribbean to your kitchen—without the unnecessary extras.
What is Sazón Seasoning and Why Is It a Must-Have?
If you’ve ever had Puerto Rican food, you’ve probably tasted Sazón seasoning without realizing it. This spice blend gives classic dishes their deep color and signature flavor. It’s a must-have in my kitchen, and I can’t cook without it.
Sazón seasoning is a mix of bold, earthy spices. Traditional blends include annatto (achiote) for color, garlic for depth, cumin for warmth, and oregano for freshness. Some versions also add coriander, salt, and black pepper. It’s the secret behind the golden hue in arroz con pollo, the rich depth in stews, and the extra layer of flavor in rice and beans.
Conventional Store-Bought vs. All Natural Sazón: What’s the Difference?
Growing up, we always had little packets of Sazón in the pantry. But when I started checking labels, I realized many brands contained MSG, artificial colorants, and preservatives. That’s when I switched to making my own Sazón seasoning mix—and I never looked back.
Making an all natural Sazón lets you control what goes in, by keeping it additive-free. It’s easy, it’s natural and the flavors are fresher. I feel much better knowing exactly what I’m adding to my food.
If you want authentic Sazón flavor without necessary additives, all natural is the way to go. Plus, you can tweak it to fit your taste—add more garlic, add salt if needed, or add a smoky touch with paprika.
How to Use Sazón Seasoning in Your Cooking
Sazón seasoning can instantly elevate any dish. Whether you’re making rice, beans, soups, or grilled meats, just a tiny amount adds deep color and savory flavor.
I grew up watching my family use Sazón in almost everything. My mom seasoned chicken with it before roasting, while my abuela added it to every pot of beans she made. Now, it’s a staple in my own kitchen.
Best Ways to Use Sazón
1. Stews & Soups
A teaspoon or two of Sazón seasoning enhances the depth of pollo guisado (stewed chicken), asopao (Puerto Rican rice soup) and Sancocho.
2. Rice & Beans
Arroz con Habichuelas (beans) or Arroz con Gandules (rice with pigeon peas) gets its golden color from Sazón. It also brings out the rich flavor of beans.
3. Marinades for Meats & Seafood
Rubbing homemade Sazón seasoning on chicken, pork, or shrimp before grilling or roasting adds bold, smoky depth.
4. Root Vegetable Masa
Masa (dough) to make pasteles, alcapurrias and other Puerto Rican fritters.
Cooking Tips for Authentic Puerto Rican Flavor
- Use it sparingly. A little goes a long way, so start small and adjust as needed.
- Pair it with fresh ingredients. Garlic, onions, and lime juice balance the seasoning’s boldness.
- Toast it in oil. Heating Sazón before adding other ingredients enhances its flavor.
Once you start using it, you’ll reach for it repeatedly. Now, let’s look at the best meals to make with homemade Sazón seasoning.
Top Meals to Make with Sazón
From rice and beans to slow-roasted meats, Sazón is the key to deep, rich Latin, Caribbean and Puerto Rican flavors. Here are some of my favorite dishes where Sazón truly shines.
1. Arroz con Pollo (Rice & Chicken)
This one-pot meal is a staple in many Latin & Caribbean kitchens. The all-natural Sazón seasoning gives the chicken and rice a rich color and bold taste. Full recipe here.
2. Puerto Rican Pernil (Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder)
A holiday favorite, pernil is all about deep, slow-cooked flavor. Using homemade Sazón seasoning in the marinade makes all the difference. Find this and other holiday recipes on our blog.
3. Habichuelas Guisadas (Bean Stew)
The perfect side for white rice! Habichuelas guisadas is a bean stew also highly popular in Puerto Rico. Full recipe here.
4. Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas)
Arroz con Gandules is Puerto Rico’s national dish and a symbol of the island’s rich culture, community, and pride. This savory dish is made with rice, pigeon peas, and tasty seasonings. It is a staple of Puerto Rican cuisine and is often shared during holidays and family gatherings. Find the full recipe here.
Try these recipes and bring the authentic Sazón flavors into your kitchen!
Elevate Your Cooking with All Natural Sazón
Choosing all natural Sazón seasoning is a small change that makes a significant impact. It’s fresher, free of additives, and gives you control over what goes into your food.
Once you use all natural Sazón, whether it’s homemade or our signature Healthy Rican blend, you’ll never want to return to store-bought packets.
Yellow Rice with Sazon
Ingredients
- 3 cups jasmine rice
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 heaping tbsp sofrito
- 1 tbsp sazón
- 3 cups broth of choice or 3 cups of water with 1-2 bouillon cubes
- 1 or 2 tbsp spanish olives (Optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
- Choose an ingredient to mix in:
- Gandules - 1 can of organic gandules (pigeon peas) or better yet, 2 cups of fresh gandules (soaked, rinsed and pre-cooked).
- Chicken - 1 pound of chicken cut into small chunks.
- Beans or Chickpeas - 1 can of organic any kind or your favorite beans or chickpeas. Better yet, 2 cups of fresh beans (Soaked, rinsed and pre-cooked.
- Corn or Mixed Vegetables - 1 cup of frozen organic corn or mixed veggies.
- Sausages - (1 pound) Choose your favorite, just make sure it's good quality meat from a local butcher and/or organic.
Instructions
- If preferred, soak the rice in water overnight or at least 2 hours before cooking.
- Add the oil into a dutch oven pot on high to medium high heat.
- Sauté the sofrito for about 30 seconds (if adding meat you can add an additional 1 tsp of sofrito as the meat will absorb some of the flavor).
- Add the sazón, (and optional olives) while sautéing the sofrito.
- If making with meat:
- If making meat like raw chicken or sausage, you can add the raw chunks at this time while mixing it in with the sofrito and sazón.
- Add little bits of water to avoid sticking or burning.
- Allow the meat to cook for about 10-15 minutes (depending on the meat) while continuing to mix/sauté. Continue to add water or broth to avoid sticking or burning.
- To make with Beans, legumes or vegetables:
- After sautéing the sofrito you can mix in the beans, legumes or vegetables.
- Add the rice and mix in well with everything.
- Add enough broth (or water) to reach 1⁄2 inch above the rice.
- Add salt and pepper, mix and taste to see if the flavors are good to your liking.
- Allow the water to boil between 5-10 minutes, until water slightly disappears. Continue to mix to avoid the rice from sticking to the bottom.
- When the rice expands and there is only a bit of water left, mix everything again starting from the bottom of the pan. Turn down the heat to low, cover and allow the rice to cook completely (about 20 minutes). Do not uncover it until 20 minutes have passed. You can then uncover and verify if the rice is fully cooked.
- Cooking time varies depending on the type of rice. For more reference on cook times, follow the instructions on the package.
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