Copycat Goya Sazonador Total

**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 Adobo or Goya Sazon con Asafran (with Saffron)

Copycat Goya Sazonador Total Seasoning

by Lana Horruitiner Perez

  • 2 Tbl Garlic powder
  • 1 Tbl Dehydrated Garlic
  • 1 Tbl Onion Powder
  • 1 Tbl Dehydrated Minced Onion
  • 1 Tbl Salt
  • 1/4 tsp MSG (you can leave this out)
  • 1 Tbl Dried Parsley
  • 1 Tbl Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin

Equipment (optional):

Krups Coffee/Spice Grinder


In a bowl, add 2 Tbl Garlic Powder, 1 Tbl Dehydrated Garlic, 1 Tbl Onion Powder, 1 Tbl Dehydrated Minced Onion, 1 Tbl Salt, 1/4 tsp MSG, 1 Tbl Dried Parsley, 1 Tbl Dried Oregano, and 1/2 tsp Cumin.

Mix well.

Add into a coffee/spice grinder in batches and pulse 5 times. You want to have larger pieces!

Store in a jar or spice shaker.

Buen Provecho!

My homemade seasoning on the left, and the Goya brand on the right.

Copycat Goya Sazonador Total

  • 2 Tbl Garlic Powder
  • 1 Tbl Dehydrated Garlic
  • 1 Tbl Onion Powder
  • 1 Tbl Dehydrated Minced Onion
  • 1 Tbl salt
  • 1/4 tsp MSG
  • 1 Tbl Dried Parsley
  • 1 Tbl Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin
  1. Place all ingredients into a bowl.

  2. Mix well.

  3. Add in batches, to a spice or coffee grinder. Pulse 5 times. You want to have larger pieces so don't over grind.

  4. Store in a jar or spice shaker. Buen Provecho!

4 Comments Add yours

  1. Frank Sisto says:

    I tried it. Not perfect but pretty good! Thank you, think I'll follow your recipe now

    Like

  2. Katye says:

    Amazing! I’m a Goya supporter but can’t find sazonador at Kroger anymore. Good thing cuz I won’t eat msg and had no idea that was an ingredient. My bad. You nailed it, Lanaunderpressure!

    Like

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