Taco Seasoning
126 Comments
Nov 11, 2024
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Taco seasoning is really easy to make at home and it tastes much fresher than store-bought packets. Add this seasoning to a variety of meats, seafood, veggies, soups, and stews for your next taco night or when you want a tasty Mexican feast on your table!
Why You’ll Love This Taco Seasoning
Many of you know that I’m a big fan of Mexican food and regularly whip up shrimp tacos, birria tacos, carnitas tacos, pulled pork tacos, and carne asada tacos. And when I want to forgo the tortilla, I’ll make my taco salad or taco soup — Mexican cuisine is my favorite! So as you might imagine, I use a LOT of taco seasoning in my kitchen. And there’s truly no comparison between homemade taco seasoning and those store-bought packets. Here’s why you’ll love the homemade version better:
- The flavor is superior: Freshly mixed spices result in a bolder, more robust flavor. And making it at home allows you to tweak the flavor profile to your preference. Want it a bit hotter? Just add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a little extra kick.
- There’s no filler: If you read the ingredient list of packaged taco seasoning you’ll find unnecessary fillers ranging from whey (dairy) to cornstarch, potato starch, caramel color, natural colors, sugar, and various preservatives — no thank you!
- It’s easy to make and store: You can easily double, triple, or quadruple this recipe for a larger batch to store in your spice drawer. This is what I do! That way, I’m always ready to go when the taco cravings strike.
Taco Seasoning Ingredients
- Chili Powder: American chili powder (which I’m using) is a blend of spices and not a single ground chili. Though you could always use simple ground chili as well, for a stronger chili flavor.
- Cumin: I love the warm, earthy, and slightly sweet flavor of ground cumin. Fun fact – it’s one of the most used spices in my spice drawer!
- Garlic Powder: I’m using garlic powder that is pure garlic granules and not a blend with salt. If yours contains salt, you may want to reduce the added salt.
- Paprika: I typically use sweet paprika, but you can use sweet or smoky, it’s up to you.
- Oregano: While Mexican oregano is more common in taco seasoning, Italian oregano works just fine as well.
- Salt & Pepper: A little kosher salt and ground black pepper round out the other spices.
How to Make Taco Seasoning
- Mix the spices together. Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper to a small mixing bowl. Then stir it all together.
- Use immediately or store. Add the taco seasoning to your meals as you make them, or store them in an airtight container for future use. They will last for up to one year. And for storage, I usually quadruple this recipe and then store it in these glass spice jars. A kitchen funnel makes it easy to fill the jar without spilling, and I use an extra-fine paint pen to write the label.
How Much Seasoning To Use
This recipe makes about 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, which is equal to one packet of store-bought seasoning. That’s the perfect amount to season one pound of protein — whether that’s ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, flank steak, or shrimp.
For More Delicious Mexican Recipes
- Carnitas: The most juicy, tender, and crispy shreds of pork.
- Birria: A rich and spicy shredded beef stew.
- Carne Asada: A perfectly marinated Mexican steak.
- Guacamole: The best homemade guac hands down.
- Pico de Gallo: The classic chunky salsa.
- Ceviche: A light and fresh lime-marinated seafood appetizer.
- And if you’re whipping up chicken fajitas, shrimp fajitas, or steak fajitas, make sure to check out my fajita seasoning recipe!
If you make this taco seasoning recipe, I’d love to know how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration (and exclusive content), join my free newsletter.
Taco Seasoning (Better Than Store-Bought)
Description
Video
Equipment
- Glass Spice Jars My favorite jars for storing all my homemade seasonings.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika (or smoked paprika)
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, optional
Instructions
- Mix all the spices together in a bowl. Use immediately or store in an airtight container.
Lisa’s Tips
- You can easily double, triple or quadruple this recipe to make a larger batch. Then, in the future just use two tablespoons of your taco seasoning mix per one pound of ground beef.
- I don’t add any onion powder to this mix because I typically add freshly diced onions to ground beef recipes. But feel free to add that spice as well, if you’d like.
- This seasoning will last for up to one year.
- To see inside my own spice drawer, don’t forget to watch my spice drawer organization video.
- For another delicious homemade seasoning, check out my brisket dry rub.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally posted August 2017, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
This is my Go-To taco seasoning! It’s easy and I love that it doesn’t have any fillers like the store bought versions. I quadruple the recipe and store it in a large glass jar because we eat tacos at least once a week.
So smart to quadruple this recipe, Mandy! It always comes in hand when you want to whip up a taco night on the fly. Enjoy!
How much onion powder should I add to the homemade taco seasoning?
Excellent recipe. I started prepping for Taco’s and realized I was out of packaged seasoning, went to this recipe, had all the seasoning – and BAM – great tacos. I don’t think I’ll go back to packaged seasoning!
Hi Travis – This beats the store-bought packets any day! Glad you loved it.
Wanting to make as a family Christmas gift. My question is the season jar you suggest, is that amount for one batch? Next if I do want to add onion powder, what would the amount be? Thank you!
Hi Candy – I don’t remember off hand if one recipe fills a jar completely, it might take two batches. And if you’d like to add onion, I’d recommend about a teaspoon or so. Merry Christmas!
I have always used a packaged taco seasoning but wanted to try making my own. I have all of tese ingredients in my pantry and can’t wait to try it.
Thank you! Love the taste of taco seasoning mix!
Hi Anita – I’m so glad you love this homemade taco seasoning!
Searched this up because I forgot to buy a packet. This was better than the packets for sure. Going to just make this every time from now on.
Homemade taco seasoning is always so much better! Enjoy!
How spicy is this?
Hi Sherri – I don’t think it’s overly spicy, just flavorful.
It is my understanding that “chili powder” is actually made from all the other ingredients in this recipe, plus some ground, dried ancho chili, so question is why not delete chili powder and increase all the other? Also, Mexican Oregano, dried chopped leaves, is available bulk online.
That’s exactly right re: “chili” powder. But I’ve substituted chile powder (ground guajillo chiles) for the chili powder this recipe calls for, and it’s great!
What a great recipe! Made several batches for a large amount of ground beef. It smells soooo good, and tastes good as well. Mahalo nui for a great recipe.
I’m so glad you love this taco seasoning, Debbie!
I made this because I was out of taco seasoning. Best stuff ever! I use it on much more than tacos. Going to make a big batch and store it.
Nothing beats homemade taco seasoning!
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for this wonderful recipe!! Finally a simple and healthier way to feed my family. I just have one question, how much water is needed for the seasoning mix per one pound of meat? I didn’t see it listed.
There’s no water needed for this taco seasoning! But my general rule is to use two tablespoons of your taco seasoning mix per one pound of ground beef.