46
One flavor that has recently caught the spotlight is the McDonald’s Dill Pickle Seasoning, famously featured in limited-time menu items like the Dill Pickle McShaker Fries. It’s bold, zesty, and downright addictive! But here’s the best part: you don’t have to wait for a promotional menu to enjoy this crave-worthy seasoning.
Advertisements
Table of Contents
How to make McDonald’s Dill Pickle Seasoning
McDonald’s Dill Pickle Seasoning is a tangy, pickle-flavored powder that McDonald’s uses to coat their Dill Pickle McShaker Fries. It’s a dry seasoning blend made to taste like classic dill pickles — salty, sour, and herby.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to whip up your version of McDonald’s Dill Pickle Seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons maltodextrin or powdered vinegar (optional, but adds that authentic tang)
- 2 tablespoons dried dill weed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar (or dextrose)
- ½ teaspoon citric acid (for extra zing; can be found in baking aisles or online)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric (for color boost)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: If you’re using maltodextrin or powdered vinegar, ensure it’s fine and evenly textured. Measure out all your dry spices into a bowl.
- Mix Your Seasoning: Combine the dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, sugar, citric acid, black pepper, and turmeric in a small mixing bowl. Stir until everything is well incorporated.
- Check for Taste: Taste a pinch of the seasoning mixture and adjust to personal preference. For more tanginess, add a touch more citric acid or powdered vinegar. For sweetness, increase the sugar slightly.
- Store It Properly: Place your homemade seasoning in an airtight container or spice jar. It can be stored for weeks in a cool, dry place.
Tips for Getting It Just Right
- Authentic Tanginess: If you can find powdered vinegar or maltodextrin, they’re excellent for recreating the tangy base of McDonald’s Dill Pickle Seasoning. They help give that signature acidic burst you love on fries.
- Consistency: Blend the mixture with a spice grinder or food processor for a finer texture that mimics the smoothness of the original seasoning.
- Customization: If you prefer spice, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika for a unique twist!
- Perfect Pairings: Toss the seasoning on fresh, hot fries, sprinkle it over popcorn, or use it as a topping for roasted veggies. You can even rim cocktail glasses for a fun, savory finish!
Ingredients Substitutes
If you’re looking to recreate McDonald’s Dill Pickle Seasoning but don’t have all the listed ingredients on hand, don’t worry!
Advertisements
1. Maltodextrin or Powdered Vinegar (Adds tang and acidity)
Substitute:
- White vinegar powder: It’s similar to powdered vinegar and can easily replace maltodextrin in recipes.
- Apple cider vinegar powder: Use it if you prefer a slightly sweeter tang.
- Lemon juice powder: This can provide acidity with a citrusy twist.
- Skip it: If powdered vinegar isn’t available, you can omit it entirely but increase the citric acid (explained below) for more tang.
2. Dried Dill Weed (Key ingredient for the dill pickle flavor)
Substitute:
- Fresh dill: If dried dill isn’t available, finely chop fresh dill and dry it in the oven or at room temperature before use.
- Dill seed: Ground dill seeds can work in place of dill weed, but the flavor is slightly more concentrated, so use a smaller quantity.
- Chervil or parsley: These herbs have a mild, grassy taste that can substitute for dill in a pinch, but they won’t provide the exact dill flavor.
3. Garlic Powder (Adds savory, umami depth)
Substitute:
- Fresh garlic: Mince and dry finely chopped garlic at low heat in the oven until crispy, then grind into powder.
- Dehydrated garlic flakes: A great alternative for garlic powder, which can be ground into smaller flakes for a finer consistency.
- Skip it: If garlic isn’t your thing, you can leave it out—but the seasoning may feel less rich and robust.
4. Onion Powder (Adds mild, sweet, onion notes)
Substitute:
- Dehydrated onion flakes: Similar to the garlic flakes, grind them into a finer texture for use as seasoning.
- Minced fresh onion: Dry it in the oven at low heat (similar to garlic).
- Shallots: Ground or dried shallots make a great substitute with an added sweetness.
5. Kosher Salt (Enhances all the other flavors)
Substitute:
- Sea salt: Works perfectly as a replacement for kosher salt, though you may need to adjust the quantity based on its fineness.
- Table salt: A finer, more processed option; use less, as it’s saltier than kosher salt.
6. Sugar or Dextrose (Balances the tanginess with a touch of sweetness)
Substitute:
- Brown sugar: Adds sweetness with a mild molasses undertone.
- Honey powder: Works well as a dry sweetener if you have it on hand.
- Skip it: If you’re not a fan of sweetness in your seasoning, you can omit this altogether.
7. Citric Acid (Boosts the tangy “pickle” flavor)
Substitute:
- Lemon juice powder: Works as a great alternative for citric acid.
- Fresh lemon or lime juice: If you don’t mind liquid, use citrus juice during cooking, but avoid it in dry seasoning blends.
- White vinegar: Another liquid option that adds tanginess, though you’d need to adjust texture if used in recipes.
8. Black Pepper (Adds mild spice and sharpness)
Substitute:
- White pepper: Milder than black pepper but works well for the same flavor function.
- Smoked paprika: For a slightly smoky flavor to enhance the seasoning.
- Skip it: Black pepper is optional and can be left out if it’s not your favorite.
9. Turmeric (Adds subtle earthiness and color)
Substitute:
- Curry powder: Contains turmeric and can optionally be used if you don’t mind an added hint of other spices.
- Paprika or smoked paprika: Doesn’t match the turmeric flavor exactly, but provides color and a complementary savory note.
- Skip it: If the color isn’t essential, you can leave out turmeric altogether without heavily affecting the flavor.
Final Thoughts
With this easy DIY Mcdonald’s Dill Pickle Seasoning recipe, you’ll have McDonald’s Dill Pickle vibes in your pantry any time you want.
More McDonald Recipes:
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons maltodextrin
- 2 tablespoons dried dill weed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon citric acid
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: If you’re using maltodextrin or powdered vinegar, ensure it’s fine and evenly textured. Measure out all your dry spices into a bowl.
- Mix Your Seasoning: Combine the dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, sugar, citric acid, black pepper, and turmeric in a small mixing bowl. Stir until everything is well incorporated.
- Check for Taste: Taste a pinch of the seasoning mixture and adjust to personal preference. For more tanginess, add a touch more citric acid or powdered vinegar. For sweetness, increase the sugar slightly.
- Store It Properly: Place your homemade seasoning in an airtight container or spice jar. It can be stored for weeks in a cool, dry place.
previous post