This homemade taco seasoning is quick to make with common pantry spices and adds bold flavor to tacos, enchiladas, soups, salads, and more.
You don’t need to buy pre-mixed packets when you can make a fresh, customizable taco seasoning at home. This blend works great for tacos, enchiladas, flautas, taco soup, taco salads, and any recipe that needs a bright, savory Mexican-inspired boost. Making it yourself lets you control heat and salt to suit your family’s tastes.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
If you’ve never mixed your own taco seasoning, it’s easier than you might think. I tried this for a batch of taco soup when I was out of packets and short on time — the result was flavorful and nearly indistinguishable from store-bought mixes. The advantage of a homemade blend is freshness and the ability to tweak the spice level or reduce sodium.
Most of the ingredients are pantry staples so you can whip this up in minutes. It’s a handy staple for all your favorite Mexican recipes and makes a thoughtful, useful gift when jarred and tied with a ribbon.
How to Make Taco Seasoning
This blend is quick and versatile. Any chili powder will work; a medium-mild chili powder keeps the mix approachable, while a hotter variety will boost the heat.
Mix & store: Combine the spices in a small bowl and transfer to an airtight container. Store the mix in a cool, dry place. The recipe makes about 10 servings (each serving equals roughly 2 tablespoons, the amount typically used for 1–2 pounds of meat).
Tip: If you prefer a finer texture, give the combined spices a quick grind with a mortar and pestle before storing to ensure an even consistency.
Tips + Storing Info
This homemade taco seasoning stores well and holds its flavor when kept dry and sealed.
Packet portions: A typical store-bought taco seasoning packet contains about 2 tablespoons, which is enough to season 1–2 pounds of ground meat depending on how seasoned you like it.
Adjust heat: This homemade mix uses a moderate amount of chili powder. For a milder blend, reduce the chili powder and increase onion or garlic powder; to make it spicier, add more crushed red pepper flakes, chili powder, or cayenne.
Storage: Keep the seasoning in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months. A mason jar with a tight lid works well and makes the mix easy to measure from.
Recipe FAQ
Use about 2 tablespoons of this seasoning per pound of ground beef, chicken, or turkey. Brown the meat in a skillet, drain fat if needed, add 1/2–1 cup water and the seasoning, bring to a simmer, and cook until the liquid reduces and coats the meat.
Increase crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne, or use a hotter chili powder to dial up the heat. For a milder mix, reduce those ingredients and boost the milder spices like onion or garlic powder.
Stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, it will stay flavorful for up to 6 months.
For Some Recipes That Use this Seasoning, Try:
- Taco Casserole
- Crock Pot Taco Soup
- Taco Pizza
- 7 Layer Bean Dip
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Cream Cheese Bean Dip
Easy Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
-
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Transfer to an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.
Notes
Storage: Keep the mix airtight and dry for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
,
Sodium: 247mg
,
Potassium: 20mg
,
Vitamin A: 310IU
,
Calcium: 5mg
,
Iron: 0.4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.