Whether for Taco Tuesday or any time you’re craving tacos, this Homemade Taco Seasoning is always good to have on hand. You won’t believe how easy it is to make your own at home!
What's In This Article
If you’ve ever wondered how to make taco seasoning, this easy Homemade Taco Seasoning is for you! Made with simple ingredients you already have on hand.
I’m not going to sit here and tell you that buying packaged taco seasoning at the store isn’t easy or cheap, but I will tell you that homemade taco seasoning is also easy and even cheaper and this is a great recipe for it.
Make sure you PIN Homemade Taco Spices!
There are two types of people in this world. Those who prefer a soft taco and those who like a hard, crunchy taco. I am taco ambidextrous, I like both, but hubby, he likes soft tacos.
In fact, on this date I only got hard taco shells and you could see he was a little disappointed. It’s good to get out of your comfort zone sometimes! So what are you… and soft or hard taco kind of person??
When making this homemade taco seasoning, you can either double the recipe and make a big batch all at once, or make it each time you need it.
Either way works perfectly fine, but having a big batch on hand is always nice since my family loves it.
PRO TIP: For a smokey taco seasoning, use chipotle or ancho chile powder. If you like spicy food, use 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and then cut it back by half for a milder taco seasoning.
The best part about it? There are no preservatives, no crazy ingredients you can’t pronounce, and it is so much cheaper than buying a bunch of packets!
PRO TIP: For a smokey taco seasoning, use chipotle or ancho chile powder. If you like it hot, add more or cut it back by half for a milder taco seasoning.
More than likely, you already have all of the ingredients in your spice cabinet! This taco seasoning mix is a simple blend of: chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper – that’s it!
If you are watching your salt intake, cut the salt by 25% or 50%.
When I think of tacos, I automatically think of ground beef. However, you can turn just about any type of meat into a delicious taco! You can even turn you meat into a taco salad.
PRO TIP: Store bought taco seasoning packets are usually a super smooth mixture, but with homemade you might see the little flakes of oregano. You can take the mixture for a spin in a spice grinder to make it super smooth!
How to make ground beef with taco seasoning:
Heat 1 pound of ground beef in a large skillet with a minimal amount of vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Break into pieces as you cook it.
When beef is nearly cooked or fully cooked, drain excess fat using a colander or a slotted spoon on a paper towel lined plate.
For every 1 pound ground beef, use 2 tablespoons taco seasoning. You can use less if you’d like, but I like a lot of flavor. Add homemade taco seasoning with 2 tablespoons of water and toss to combine. Your taco meat is now ready!
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.
How to make chicken breasts with taco seasoning:
You have two choices here, you can either use the seasoning as a seasoning or as a marinade. If using as a marinade, add 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts to an airtight plastic bag along with 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons taco seasoning.
Marinate for 2-24 hours. From here you can bake, fry or grill the chicken.
As a seasoning, add raw chicken breasts to a large skillet with 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Heat over medium high heat. Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning over chicken.
Cook for 6-7 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer registers at 165 degrees. You can use this same process with cut up chicken as well.
PRO TIP: For super spicy taco seasoning, add 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or ghost pepper powder.
How to make vegetables with taco seasoning:
Add chopped vegetables to a large skillet with 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Heat over medium high heat. Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning over vegetables and cook until desired texture. Commonly used vegetables include onion, bell pepper, mini corn ears, cilantro, squash and tomatoes.
More Mexican inspired dishes:
- Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole
- Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
- Mexican Refried Beans
- Tacos for Taco Tuesday!
- Walking Tacos
Tools you might need for making taco seasoning:
Spice Grinder– Blend this mix together really well and uniformly by using a spice grinder. You can also just mix it together with a spoon.
Airtight spice container– Make a double, triple, even quadruple batch and store it in your pantry!
Questions you might have about how to make taco seasoning:
Can I omit the salt? Yes, you can omit the salt. Salt enhances the other flavors, but it is will still pack a punch as a low sodium taco seasoning.
How much taco seasoning comes in a packet? There is roughly 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning in a packet. This recipe yields about the same amount.
How long does taco seasoning stay good? This easy taco seasoning will last for 6 months to 1 year when stored in an airtight container in a dry place.
Can I use taco seasoning for fajitas? 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!
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients including chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, paprika, ground cumin, fine sea salt and ground black pepper in a small bowl.
- Use as desired. See suggestions above!
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!
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.