**If you prefer to skip and watch my tutorial video, it gives you step by step instructions. Or you can scroll down for the recipe.**
I use Goya Adobo in just about every one of my Cuban recipes. It’s been a staple of Latin, South American, Hispanic, and Caribbean cooking for decades and it’s products have always been a staple of my pantry and my family’s pantry.
Ever since I started my blog and began sharing my recipes, I have been asked by a few followers if I had a recipe for homemade Goya seasonings. Usually it’s because they don’t want the additives or the MSG , but sometimes it’s because it can be hard to find depending on where you live, especially outside of South, Central, and North America. I have a spice mix substitute on my Black Beans recipe and I usually just tell them to head on over there and check it out. However, I never had the time to actually work on recreating a true copycat recipe…until now.
There is no doubt that due to the events in the news, lots of people are looking for a substitute for Goya products. It breaks my heart that a large majority of my fellow Latino and Latina brother’s and sisters, feel like they have been let down by a product that they so loved and made their meals feel like home. I know how important cooking traditional family dishes are and it’s the sole purpose of why I started my blog and my YouTube channel. So, I decided to take this time and share my recipes for the 3 most widely used seasonings by Goya: Goya Adobo, Goya Sazonador Total, and Goya Sazon con Asafran.
So whether you are boycotting Goya or just want a homemade option for your health, here are my recipes that will not only replace these Goya seasoning, but I bet you won’t even know the difference! How do I know that? Well, it started with me researching and analyzing the ingredient list on the back of the bottles. Thankfully Goya is very specific about what herbs and seasons they use.
Then I analyzed things like, grain size, look, and smell of each season blend. Then came the taste tests.
I subjected my family to a full battery of taste testing. My poor family were blind testing samples straight out of jars and on endless pieces of chicken, all while I kept asking over and over…which do you like better A or B? Do they taste the same? Why? Which do you think is the Goya brand and which is mine?
Finally, I came up with 3 recipes that I think are indistinguishable from the real thing!
Below is the recipe for Copycat Goya Adobe. Click on the links here for the recipe for
Goya Sazonador Total or Goya Sazon con Asafran (with Saffron)
Copycat Goya Adobo Seasoning
by Lana Horruitiner Perez
- 3 Tbl Garlic Powder
- 3 Tbl Table Salt
- 1 tsp dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Tumeric
Equipment (optional):
Mortar and Pestle
Krups Coffee/Spice Grinder
First, grind the 1 tsp dried Oregano into a fine powder. I use a mortar and pestle, but you can place it in a Ziploc bag and crush it with a mallet or a rolling pin.
Add the Oregano to a bowl and add 3 Tbl Garlic Powder, 3 Tbl Salt, and 1/2 tsp Tumeric. Mix well.
Pour into a spice grinder and pulse about 5 to 6 times.
Pour into a mason jar, spice jar, or any air tight container.
Buen Provecho!
Copycat Goya Adobo
- 3 Tbl Garlic Powder
- 3 Tbl Salt (I used Table Salt. If you are using Kosher Salt, increase by a 1/4 Tbl and grind longer.)
- 1 tsp Oregano (dried)
- 1/2 tsp Tumeric
Pulverize 1 tsp dried Oregano in a mortar and pestle (or crush in a Ziploc bag) until a fine powder.
Strain Oregano through a strainer and into a bowl, so you don't have any large pieces.
To bowl, add 3 Tbl Garlic Powder, 3 Tbl Salt, and 1/2 tsp Tumeric. Mix well.
In small batches, add the mix to a coffee/spice grinder. Grind for 5 -7 pulses until a fine powder consistency.
Store in a jar or spice shaker. Buen Provecho!
Lana Under Pressure 
Really Lena. This is quite disappointing. I will be u subscribing from tour blogs and emails since you had to go political.
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Thank you for your input. I would respectfully disagree however, because I did not make anything political. I did not express my views politically at all. Had you taken the time to read my blog you would see that I posted this so everyone could continue cooking the food of my culture whether it’s because they don’t want to buy Goya anymore or because they don’t want MSG or because they prefer to make their own seasonings so they won’t have any additives. That to me makes cooking more inclusive of all views and needs. I am sorry you feel it necessary to leave a food blog because you assume and feel attacked just by a recipe, but you need to do what you need to do. – G-d Bless, stay safe, and happy cooking. Sincerely Lana (not Lena)
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Your own words. “a large majority… have been let down by a product”. So this is in reference to MSG?? Come on. At least be honest and admit you are upset that the CEO of GOYA was at the White House. Amazing that you had no issue when he was at the White House visiting the Obama administration. Don’t be a two face.
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Lana,
I love this idea. I often want to make recipes and I don’t have the “brand or specific ingredient” I love that I can use stuff I almost always have to add lib. Don’t worry about small minded people that can’t see your genius. I think your great!
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Thank you so much. You have no idea how much a little kindness can help brighten sometimes day. You brightened mine and I really thank you for that.
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Girl yessss!!!! Your energy I love it. Well for Carmen unsubscribing to your blog, I will be subscribing. You lose one and gain more . I will be telling my girls to come follow you! Don’t ever lose vision because of people like that. Talk to you soon LANA 😁
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Thank you so much Angelica! You have no idea how much your words mean to me. I knew I was going to get push back by posting this recipe, but I didn’t prepare myself for the amount of hate over seasoning. Thank you again and stay safe and happy cooking!
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You lost one and another a couple more! I’ve been watching your YouTube videos… And just stumbled across your blog! Keep up the good work… We appreciate ya!
You’re like the only person doing Omni Plus videos lol!
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Awe thank you so much! I’ll be posting a few in the next week.
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Same here. As soon as boycott was mentioned, I immediately went to Goya and ordered the real product.
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Thank you for coming here to tell me that. Happy cooking and stay safe.
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For the Saxon con Azafran, do you just add saffron? Are you still working on it?
Thanks for doing this. I like Sazon, but not all the salt and “stuff”
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Yes, you can just add a tsp of Saffron if you want and lessen the amount of Bijol by 1/2 Tbl. Stay safe and happy cooking.
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Thanks!
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Also, ignore the haters. I really enjoy your cooking and your replies and feedback! 😀
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¡Hola! Let me start off by saying thank you! I was hesitant to try, but so happy I did. I’ve used Goya my entire life, and I will no longer buy their products. I followed your recipe and it tastes better than the original. It’s less saltier. ¡Mil gracias! Bendiciones.
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This makes me so happy! I would say 90% of my cooking had some Goya product in it. But like you, i just wanted a homemade option. Now it’s all use. Thank you so much for your kind words.
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Ooh. I appreciate you going making a recipe and sharing.
I am not fond of additives, and a live in a rural setting with no grocery store.
Thank you!
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You are so welcome!
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Oh yes, for all those unsubscribing, wish you all well. I am now subscribing. And I sent this recipe to several friends so I’m sure they will subscribe as well. Blessings to you
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I am honored and humbled by your kindness. Thank you!
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Thank you for posting this. You were delicate with your words and you never pushed personal views on anyone. It is a fact that many in our community feel a certain way about the brand now. It is also a fact that Goya has msg and tcp in it, both are bad for your health. I have been making my own for years because I cut the salt i half in mine and I also cut the oregano in half because hubby doesn’t like oregano as much. I appreciate your blog and I thank you for this post.
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Thank you so much. Even though in my personal life I am very vocal about my social and political views, I want everyone and anyone to enjoy cooking and especially Cuban cuisine. Cooking and food bring people together and that’s my goal. I want everyone to be able to enjoy good food with their family and friends. Happy cooking and stay safe!
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Thanks for the homemade version! You love to cook and your heart is in the right place. Keep sharing!
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Thank you so much! Happy cooking and stay safe.
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Thank you for this video I’ve been looking for replacements for these products. Some of my reasons are political others because my family can’t have MSG. How dare anyone come on your page and act so rude! They made it political. Your video is your video, If people don’t like what they are watching just leave. No need to announce your departure this is not an airport! Thank you, and keep up the amazing work. I’ll be replacing the msg with yeast extract or shiitake powder.
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Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so glad you found this recipe helpful and that’s always been my intent 100% regardless of anyone’s reasons for making it. Abs i think it’s a brilliant idea to replace the MSG with shitake powder. Let me know how it turns out. Happy cooking and stay safe.
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hey what’s the serving size of this? 1 TSP?
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1 TBL
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Thank you so much! I was looking for a substitute recipe for adobo since I’m boycotting Goya. I will try it. 🙂
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Ive always loved your recipes but since this post……. really?? Ill go out and buy xtra goya. latina here for Trump wake up maam im not unsubbing but you truly need to do more research
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I guess we will have to agree to disagree. Stay safe and happy cooking.
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you’re pathetic, Estephania 😬
Don’t claim to be Latina… you’re far from it. Que lastima.
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I rarely comment to blog posts or anything else (they always say never read the comments!) but just adding one more to the “yay!” pile because I’m glad you made this and am happily sharing with folks in my network 🙂 Especially after Goya’s CEO continues to make a fool of himself spreading conspiracy theories. We don’t need that in our community or our world and certainly not in our kitchens. Keep up the good work!
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Oh wow thank you so much! You really made my day. Happy cooking and stay safe. 🙂
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Hey Lana, my first visit to your site and I'm thrilled to find this recipe! I had no idea adobo seasoning is mainly used in Cuban cuisine. I grew up a poor farm girl and we are only what we grew, and an exotic seasoning was garlic! Lol. Since that time, I have searched out new foods and seasoning options. I bought Goya adobo at a discount store. Tried it, loved it, and since I make as many of my own seasoning mixes as I can (ultimately cheaper in the long run), I tried a few recipes and was disappointed. Now I have tried yours and am hoping it really does taste like the first one I bought. There is nothing political in my interest, just simple copycat recipes I can share with others to expand their cultural palettes, whether they realise it or not 😊 thanks again, Deborah
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Wow that's fantastic! I would love to know what you think if you made it? I agree homemade is cheaper but always tastes much better. I have a small container garden on my deck with herbs and I am going to try and dry them in my air fryer oven to use in my seasoning.
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Puerto Rican cuisine as well.
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