Taco Seasoning Recipe
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Looking for a way to elevate your taco nights without relying on store-bought packets? This homemade taco seasoning recipe is made with basic spices you likely already have in your pantry.
Perfect for ground beef tacos, ground turkey, or even carne asada tacos, this seasoning blend delivers bold flavor with none of the cheap fillers or excess salt found in many store-bought options.
Like my Greek Seasoning Substitute blend and my All Purpose seasoning mix, this recipe is one of my make-your-own homemade spice blends recipes. Making your own seasonings is a great way to save some cash.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Customizable spice level: Adjust the heat by adding cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to suit your preference.
- No unnecessary additives: This seasoning mix is free from food colorings and artificial fillers.
- Versatile seasoning: Use it for taco meat, taco dip, chili seasoning, or even as a rub for birria tacos.
- Pantry-friendly: Made with common spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.
- Easy to store: Keep it fresh in a mason jar or airtight container in a dark place.
- Cost-effective: Making your own spice blends saves money compared to store-bought taco seasoning.
- Great for big batches: Perfect for meal preps or taco nights with family and friends.
Save Money! Making your own seasoning saves you money. Be sure to try my Best Italian Seasoning. Lemon Pepper Seasoning, Homemade Fajitas Seasoning and All Purpose seasoning mix.
This homemade taco seasoning works great in my Walking Tacos with Fritos.
Ingredients for taco seasoning
- Chili Powder: Brings a tiny bit of heat and a punch of flavor.
- Garlic Powder: Almost everything needs garlic. So much flavor!
- Onion Powder: Bumps the flavor. Onions form a kind of base for flavor. Also, you can add diced onions with the ground beef as you cook it to add even more flavor.
- Dried Oregano: Adds a refreshing brightness.
- Black Pepper: Adds depth and a hint of spice to any dish.
- Paprika: Forms the base of the taco seasoning flavors.
- Salt: Less than store-bought, but just enough to be perfectly seasoned!
How to make your own homemade taco seasoning
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together
- Whisk until well combined
- Transfer and store in airtight container of your choice
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Tips for the Best Results
- Use fresh spices: Check your spice drawer or spice cabinet to make sure that the following spices are fresh for maximum flavor: garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
- Store properly: Keep your taco seasoning in a glass jar or airtight container in a cool, dry place at room temperature. This helps retain flavor and aroma.
- Consistency is key: Whisk the ingredients thoroughly in a small bowl to ensure the blend is evenly mixed.
- Portion control: Use two tablespoons of seasoning per pound of meat for the best tacos. Add a cup of water to your ground beef mixture for a saucy finish.
- Experiment with variations: Try substituting regular paprika for smoked paprika or using sea salt instead of table salt.
Time Saving Tips
- Make your taco seasoning in advance: Get a big jar. An old empty spice jar from your warehouse club days or maybe a glass canning jar will work. Mix up a recipe or two and add them to the jar. Keep mixing and adding until your jar is full or you run out of the required spices. Store sealed airtight and shake before using. You can keep the mixture for as long as you would keep the individual spices.
- Add some heat: You can up the heat in this recipe by adding a little sprinkle of ancho chili powder to your pan when you add the spice mixture. It doesn’t take much! You could also dice jalapeños or habaneros and add those when you brown the ground beef so they have time to get sautéed as the meat cooks.
- Make-ahead and freeze taco meat: You can go ahead and prepare your taco meat of choice and freeze it in dinner portions. This allows you to throw together a meal fast on busy weeknights! You can quickly thaw the cooked meat and serve tacos, quesadillas, taco pasta, or whatever you want a little taco meat for! I’ve listed some great recipes below.
Substitutions and Variations
- Salt content: Reduce the salt for a low-sodium version or use kosher salt instead of table salt.
- Paprika options: Swap smoked paprika for sweet paprika or regular paprika to adjust the flavor profile.
- Protein versatility: Use this seasoning with ground chicken, ground turkey, or even a pound of ground meat for various recipes.
- Spice level: Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes based on your desired heat.
- Batch size: Scale up the recipe to create a big batch, perfect for frequent taco nights or meal preps.
- Mexican oregano: Substitute with regular oregano for a milder herb flavor.
FAQs
Transfer your taco seasoning blend into a mason jar or spice jars. Keep it in a dark place like your spice cabinet or pantry to maintain its flavor.
Absolutely! Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a spicier blend or leave them out for mild taco seasoning.
When stored in an airtight container in a dry place, this blend can last up to six months. Make sure that the spices used are fresh for the best results.
I add ½ cup of water and the two tablespoons of seasoning per pound of meat once the meat is fully cooked. If you want a more “sticky” sauce, you can add a teaspoon of cornstarch when you add the spice mixture. You do not need a recipe. You can use our taco seasoning in whatever way it works best for you1
Yes, this recipe is flexible. Adjust the salt content or leave out certain spices to meet your needs.
You can use my homemade seasoning on chicken, beef, vegetables, or sausage for a variety of dishes. Anywhere you’d use a store-bought mix.
More homemade seasoning mixes
Homemade Seasoning Recipes
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
Instructions
- In a medium sized mixing bowl combine all ingredients together
- Whisk until well combined
- Transfer and store in airtight container of your choice
Notes
For taco seasoning use 2 tablespoons per 1 pound of meat
Nutrition
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That looks so good! We always get so frustrated with store bought taco seasoning. Some of them have bad additives or not the right spice combinations.
This is a winner!