Not at all. I used these seasonings because I love the spice blend together, but if you have other favorites or want to amend this recipe like adding more or less garlic powder, more or less black pepper, etc, go ahead and make it your own. You could even add your favorite bbq sauce in the last few minutes of air frying or simply serve the sauce on the side for dipping. I do recommend keeping the smoked paprika in the list of seasonings because it adds a nice smoky flavor, almost like they were grilled.