This easy Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe is the perfect way to spice up your chicken or beef!
Making your own taco seasoning mix allows you to control what ingredients go into it (and control the salt and spice levels). It takes just minutes to make and you likely have all of the ingredients you need on hand!
A Homemade Seasoning (for More Than Just Tacos)!
- Store-bought seasoning is easy and tastes delicious, but it can be loaded with additives and can be too salty (and the flavor can’t compare to homemade taco mix)!
- It is easily customizable to suit your family’s tastes. Reduced the salt or add extra heat if you’d like.
- This homemade taco seasoning recipe is really fast to make and can be doubled or tripled.
Ingredients in Taco Seasoning
So, exactly what is in taco seasoning? It’s a blend of spices, most of which you likely have in your pantry.
Chili Powder makes up the largest portion and adds a southwestern flavor. It’s great in the mixture but also for soups and of course chili recipes.
Ground cumin adds a slightly nutty warm flavor while onion and garlic powder are the aromatics in this recipe. A pinch of cayenne pepper adds heat.
Dried oregano, salt, and black pepper are included in this taco seasoning. I sometimes add a little sweet paprika or smoked paprika (1/2 teaspoon) if I have it on hand.
Variations
- Add less salt (or no salt) based on your dietary needs.
- To make mild taco seasoning, leave out the cayenne pepper and/or chili flakes.
- To make it spicy, double the cayenne or add other dried chili peppers to your liking.
Since this is made from spices, it’s naturally gluten free (just make sure your chili powder and all spices are GF).
How Much Taco Seasoning to Use
Once you make it, you will never want to go back to store-bought taco seasoning.
- 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning is equal to one packet of taco seasoning.
- Use 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning for 1 pound of ground beef. Add 1/2 cup of water with the seasoning and let it simmer.
- Options: Add 1/2 diced onion to the meat while browning. Once browned, stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste or a diced tomato if you’d like.
Other Way to Use Taco Seasoning Mix
This spice blend is perfect for your Mexican-inspired dishes (like tacos) but it can be used for so many other dishes in the kitchen. Whether it’s weeknight chicken tacos, or fajita Friday, skip the seasoning packet and make your own.
Use it on any of the following:
- 1 pound of ground meat: ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey
- Pork or chicken cutlets. Try it on shrimp before grilling.
- Stir it into sauteed veggies.
- Add it to creamy pasta sauces
- Use it as popcorn seasoning for a delicious treat!
I love using this recipe to make Dorito Taco Salad and Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos.
Storage
Homemade taco seasoning will last 6 months stored in a cool, dry place like your spice cupboard! I use cute little spice jars found on Amazon to keep my spices, but check the dollar store or use a small mason jar.
I usually make a triple batch so it’s ready to go whenever I need a little taco mix!
Favorite Recipes made with Taco Seasoning!
Did you enjoy this Homemade Taco Seasoning? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ½ tablespoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Store in an airtight container. for up to 6 months in a cool dry place.
To Use:
- For tacos add 2 tablespoons (or more taste) to 1 pound of cooked ground meat (optional, add diced onions) in a large pan or skillet
- Add ½ cup water and simmer until most of the water has evaporated.
Notes
- 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning is equal to one packet of taco seasoning.
- Use 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning for 1 pound of ground beef. Add 1/2 cup of water with the seasoning and let it simmer.
- Options: Add 1/2 diced onion to the meat while browning. Once browned, stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste or a diced tomato if you'd like.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner
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Hi Holly,
Just wanted to say that I belong to many groups that have different dietary issues and most of us have to buy exclusive foods. For me it is no onion, no garlic, and lactose free milks. Your recipes are so easy without much alteration for me. I use powders and salts that are onion and garlic free without changing the flavor of your wonderful recipes. Thank you! Happy Holidays to you all.
I’m so glad you’ve loved the recipes Susan!
chillies to 1oz, pepper to 1 tsp. Adjust onions to your liking.
Personally for me
Every recipe I try is excellent! Thanks
Made this for the 4th of July, substituting dried&minced onion for the onion powder (3x the quantity, per substitution recommendations elsewhere).
The seasoning came out amazing, with many positive comments!
Holy heartburn! Had to leave the black pepper out entirely, or quarter it. But otherwise we really like this. (We love spicy, but all that black pepper throws a weird acidity in that killed me…stupid weak stomach!)
Does the recipe call for cumin leaves or ground cumin?
For this recipe, we use ground cumin.
Cumin is a seed, not a leaf. You should use ground cumin.
Your taco seasoning recipe beats any store bought product. I think I’ve tried them all.
Thank you!
Thank you so much, Jo! Glad you enjoyed it.
Can I make this in a larger batch? Perhaps a triple/quadruple batch?
We love doing that, Asha! Make a little extra to have some in the cupboard at all times.
home made is the best made for me!… im not really fond of cumin, so i only add a few shake-a-shake-a’s to the mix… i keep this taco seasoning handy and also add this entire recipe to a rib eye rub recipe i found online… fantab… use both any and evywhere… actually have a pork chop marinating in the taco and rib eye rub recipe now… tyfs :)
Oh please share. We love rib eye. A rib eye rub sounds delish.
Cheers
I love this recipe because some of the packaged taco seasoning is quite salty. I substitute dried cilantro for the oregano.
Holly, Call me amature, but does this recipe use “chile powder” (powdered chilies), or “chili seasoning”?
Hi Mark, great question! This uses chili powder that is a mix of chilies. You can see my homemade versions of the chili powder here. Enjoy it!
Mixed correct amounts and types of spices. This seasoning is far too spicy. Would not recommend it.
You can easily adjust the spiciness to your liking, which is one reason I love this homemade seasoning recipe! Simply leave out the chili flakes and cayenne pepper. You can then add chili powder until it is as much as you like. I’d suggest adding a double batch of the other seasonings to your existing batch to reduce the spiciness.
Am having a problem printing the recipes out. Please sign me up. Will be using the Italian seasoning for a church get togathing this weekend.
Welcome Kathy! You will find a Print Recipe button right above the full Ingredients list by the recipe. To receive emails with new recipes, you can click here to sign up to receive emails. Look forward to sending you recipes!
I am delighted to find the Italian seasoning recipe. I bake my Spelt bread with lots of Italian seasoning. The result is heavenly.
Sing me up please!
Welcome Tete! To receive emails with new recipes, you can click here to sign up to receive emails. Look forward to sending you recipes!
I normally buy a blend from my local spice store. I noticed it had lactose in it and I’m diary intolerant. I found this recipe and made it today. I added a little chipotle for added flavor. It was spicy, because we like it that way, but you can definitely tone if down with milder chili powder, no cayenne…Love it. Will use this blend from now on. Thank you. Great job. We used turkey, but I be it would be good with all meats. Am going to try it in my Taco Soup recipe next.
Love love love this recipe!! Thank you for sharing it!
Can anyone give me the measurements you used of the ingredients to make a larger amount? I’d gladly appreciate your sharing!
When you go to the print page, you can change the number of servings to a large amount and it will automatically increase the amounts in the recipe. Hope that helps!