Whether for Taco Tuesday or any time you’re craving tacos, this homemade taco seasoning recipe is always good to have on hand. You won’t believe how easy it is to make and how many other uses it has well beyond tacos.
Gather This
Store bought packets can contain over 100 ingredients, some of them aren’t even listed because they have trace amounts. Yes, homemade taco seasoning is still a lengthy list, but I would bet you that most are already in your spice cabinet. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Chili Powder: A blend of ground dried chili peppers, it offers a rich, earthy, and slightly smoky flavor with a moderate level of heat, adding depth and warmth to dishes.
- Ground Cumin: Cumin boasts a warm and aromatic taste with a slightly nutty undertone. It is a key spice in many cuisines worldwide and provides a unique combination of earthiness and citrusy notes, adding a distinct and flavorful touch to various dishes.
- Coarse Kosher Salt: Less salty than table salt due to its larger crystal size. It offers a clean and pure salty taste without any bitterness, enhancing the natural flavors of the ingredients in a dish while providing a satisfying seasoning effect. It is also naturally preserves this blend so it is shelf stable for long periods. If you use a fine sea salt, reduce the volume by half to 1/2 teaspoon.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried oregano
- Paprika
- Ground black pepper
If you want a super fine blend, like you would get in a packet, place it all in the spice grinder (or clean coffee grinder) and give it a few whirls.
Put it to Good Use
While this homemade taco seasoning blend is perfect for ground beef tacos, it’s incredibly versatile and can be used to enhance a wide array of dishes; much more than just Mexican food. Try it in/on:
- Fajitas
- Burritos
- Enchiladas
- Soups like Taco Soup or Tortilla Soup
- Stews
- Roast potatoes
- Steamed shrimp
- Rice
- Salads and salad dressing
- Instant pot chili
- 7-Layer Dip (Taco Dip)
- Taco salad
- Roasted Vegetables
- Popcorn
- French fries
- Tater tots
- Scrambled Eggs
- Fish
- Crab boil
- Taco Pasta Salad
- Refried beans, pinto beans or black beans
- Chicken nachos
- Roast Sweet Potatoes
Amounts and Equivalents
Typically, a standard taco seasoning packet from the store contains about 2 tablespoons of seasoning. So, for a recipe that calls for one packet, you can use approximately 2 tablespoons of your homemade taco seasoning. The general rule is 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning for every 1 pound of meat.
- Ground beef – For every 1 pound ground beef, use 2 tablespoons of this DIY taco seasoning. You can use less if you’d like, but I like a lot of flavor. In fact, you can even make it in the Instant Pot or Crockpot! You can use this same procedure with ground chicken, ground turkey or even ground pork.
- Chicken breasts – Using two to three boneless chicken breasts, blend the spice mixture with 1-2 tablespoons or water, vinegar or hot sauce and then smother over the chicken pieces. Allow them to sit so the flavors can penetrate. Continue to cook how desired.
- Vegetables – Add your chosen chopped vegetables to a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of neutral oil, trying to keep them all in a uniform size so they cooked evenly. Heat over medium high heat. When hot, sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning over the vegetables and cook until desired texture.
Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Stir together the chili powder, cum, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika and pepper in a small bowl.
- Store dry in an airtight container or use immediately.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
Storage and Freezing
Homemade taco seasoning can last for several months when stored in an airtight container, small mason jar or glass spice jar in a cool, dry place. Remember than any dried and ground herb and spice starts to lose potency around 6 months and so will this zesty blend.
To extend its shelf life even further, consider storing it in the freezer, where it can stay fresh and flavorful for up to a year.
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes, you can omit the salt. Salt enhances the other flavors and helps to preserve the blend, but it is will still pack a punch as a low sodium taco seasoning.
There is roughly 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning in a packet. This recipe yields about the same amount.
This easy taco seasoning will last for 6 months to 1 year when stored in an airtight container in a dry place.
You can use taco seasoning for fajitas, as the recipes are very, very similar, but I also have a super easy homemade fajita seasoning recipe you can check out!
More Mexican Inspired Dishes
We love a good mexican night at our house! Here are some of our favorite Mexican recipes.
This is a great recipe, and I prefer it to my favorite packaged taco seasoning. I always quadruple the recipe as it goes quickly in our taco-loving family. You don’t mention that the oregano is Mexican oregano, so I will mention that as some newer cooks may only be familiar with the Italian/Greek version.
What a versatile recipe! Sure to add a ton of flavor to any dish!
We are making tacos tonight!!! Can’t wait to give this a try; sounds awesome!
This recipe is so simple and avoids all the junk usually found in store-bought mixes!
I love making my own taco seasoning! I will have to try your version!
I am glad I have stumbled upon this recipe – it is just what I have been looking for. Tacos are very popular among my friends, so it is great for me to have this recipe somewhere I can easily find it… just in case.