Make this homemade taco seasoning in minutes. It's easy to customize to your taste—mild or spicy. Use it in taco meat, soups, fajitas, and casseroles. Bonus, it's cheaper than buying pre-made packets!
Who doesn't love Mexican food and taco night? But the real star of the show is the flavorful taco seasoning.
Store-bought seasonings are fine but may contain additives or preservatives. So, if you want your taco meat to be next-level delicious, you need to make your own seasoning mix from scratch.
With this simple mild recipe, you can whip up the best taco seasoning in minutes with what you have in your kitchen already.
So go ahead and ditch the packet mixes - taco Tuesday (and your family) will thank you for it!
Why you should make your own
- You can customize the flavor to your liking. Don't like paprika? Leave it out! Like things extra spicy? Add more chili powder and cayenne pepper.
- You control the amount of salt that works for you.
- It saves money and is cheaper than buying packets of taco seasoning at the grocery store.
- It’s kid-friendly since it’s mild in flavor.
Oh, and It's fresher and tastes better than store-bought seasoning mixes.
Ingredient Notes
One of the best things about this homemade taco seasoning recipe is that it contains no MSG. It's also gluten-free, Whole30, and vegetarian. And you may have these spices in your spice cabinet right now!
For a mild version:
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Paprika
- Dried oregano
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Kosher salt or sea salt
Find the measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card below.
For a spicier mix, add the following:
Add Black pepper, Cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes to adjust the spice level.
Variations
Feel free to add any of the following to further customize the ultimate seasoning mix.
- Dried cilantro
- Chipotle pepper
Or try one of these when making your taco meat:
Cornstarch - to thicken the sauce if you're adding liquid to your meat.
Brown sugar or maple syrup - a great way to balance any heat.
Ketchup or tomato paste - if you want tomatoey flavor or cut any heat in the final dish.
How to make
- To make the dry spice mix, start by measuring your spices and placing them into a jar (or small bowl).
- Either stir with a spoon or cover and shake the ingredients to mix them together.
- Place them in an airtight storage container until ready to use.
If making tacos or burritos, take a pound of ground beef (chicken or ground turkey), cook it in a skillet over medium-high heat, drain any excess fat, and add three tablespoons of your homemade taco seasoning and mix in ⅔ cup of water or stock. Simmer for about 15 minutes, and you're done!
Recipe Notes
- It may settle while stored, so give your seasoning mix a good shake before each use.
- This seasoning blend uses American-style chili powder, a blend of chili spices. It is different than spicy cayenne pepper powder or other varieties sold internationally.
- This is a big batch recipe, so you can make it once and use it eight times in recipes. #kitchenhack
- Here are some glass jars we like with labels.
How much taco seasoning is in a packet?
If your recipe calls for one packet of pre-made taco seasoning per pound of ground meat, this equates to 2-3 tablespoons of your homemade mix. Each manufacturer is different, but this is a general guideline. You can always adjust the seasoning to your liking.
1 seasoning packet = 3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning.
How to store
You want to store your taco seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. You can use a zippered plastic bag, but we recommend a glass jar with a lid to keep it fresh longer.
Small mason jars work well.
Don't forget to label and date it!
How long does it last
If using fresh spices, your DIY taco seasoning will be good for about six months from when you make it.
PRO TIP: You may want to write an expiration date on the jar to make sure it's fresh when you need it!
Erin
More Mexican Recipes
Tell us how you like it
If you try this easy homemade taco seasoning recipe or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity, don't forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it went in the comments below. We love hearing from you!
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Printable Recipe
Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Equipment
- storage container 1.5 cups or larger
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- ½ cup chili powder
- ¼ cup onion powder
- 3 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon kosher salt (sea salt also works)
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika (we prefer sweet paprika, but smoky also works)
- 3 tablespoons dried oregano
Optional Spicy Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Start by measuring your spices and placing them into a jar. Either stir with a spoon or cover and shake the ingredients to mix them together. Store in a cool, dry place.
- If making tacos or burritos, take a pound of ground beef (chicken or turkey), cook it in a skillet over medium-high heat, drain any fat, and add three tablespoons of your homemade taco seasoning mix in ⅔ cup water or stock. Simmer for about 15 minutes, and you're done!
Notes
- It may settle while stored, so give your seasoning mix a good shake before each use.
- This recipe uses American-style chili powder, a blend of chili spices. It is different than spicy cayenne pepper powder or other varieties sold internationally.
- This is a large batch recipe, so you can make it once and use it 8 times in recipes.
Jennifer says
Love this taco seasoning! Will never buy store bought again!
Erin Henry says
That's exactly how we feel, Jennifer. We make this taco seasoning and never buy pre-packaged mixes.
April says
Homemade taco seasoning is the BEST.
Matt says
This is such a great homemade taco seasoning. All the spices I love when it comes to seasoning the ground beef. So yummy and aromatic.
Erin Henry says
It's the perfect recipe to customize to your taste, Matt. Glad you enjoyed it!