I can get my kids to eat almost anything with ketchup or homemade ranch dressing on top… or if I season it with taco seasoning! In fact, I know many moms who keep taco seasoning packets on hand to use in the thousands of kid-friendly ways suggested by Pinterest.
I lived in Texas for much of my life and I fell in love with the flavors of both Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican cuisine. This taco seasoning mix is a family favorite recipe we’ve carefully perfected over many years.
Ground beef, chicken, eggs, or even a veggie scramble… it’s all better with this taco seasoning on top!
Why Make Homemade Taco Seasoning?
Why go through the trouble of making your own seasoning mix when you can buy it at the store? Here are a few reasons I like doing it:
- Perk #1: You get more for your money. If you’ve ever bought taco seasoning packets from the grocery store, this is a simple and cost-effective switch you can make right away. Store-bought taco seasoning is crazy overpriced for the two tablespoons of actual spices it contains. It also often contains things like MSG, anti-caking agents, and artificial colors or flavors. Buying spices in bulk saves money and skips the cheap fillers and harmful additives.
- Perk #2: It’s easy. This homemade version is so easy to make with almost no prep time! The total time to make up a big batch is about 5 minutes. Store in an airtight container (I love my mason jars for this) and store away from heat and light to have it on hand for months to come. No more running to the store because you’re out of taco seasoning!
- Perk #3: You can control the spice level. Add cayenne pepper for heat or double down on the cumin for a more smoky and savory approach. The gentle blend of flavors is great with much more than just tacos though. Add it to scrambled eggs, mayo, stir-frys, soups, and even salad dressings! Since kids usually don’t love spicy foods, I make this a mild taco seasoning and give the adults a grinder with red pepper flakes or bottle of hot sauce at the table.
How to Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Recipe
When you make taco mix yourself, you’ll find it is incredibly easy! You only need a few basic spices:
- chili powder (here’s how to make your own)
- cumin
- garlic powder
- onion powder (here’s how to make your own)
- oregano leaf
- paprika
- Himalayan salt or sea salt (optional)
- black pepper
Measure in the ratios below, mix in a small bowl or mason jar, and store for use! It’s that easy. This recipe should give you a starting point but feel free to adapt it to your family’s tastes and make your own “secret” recipe.
Taco-Inspired Recipes to Try
I use the spices above in many other recipes, so it’s great to have the option of using them on their own or combining them into various homemade seasonings (see the whole list of my favorite spice mixes below).
We use our DIY taco seasoning the most in:
- taco meat (obviously) – because we love tacos!
- as a sub for fajita seasoning
- sprinkled over eggs
- with ground turkey or beef in a meat and veggie scramble
- in an easy taco soup (taco meat + leftover veggies + broth + squeeze of lime)
- to season chili
- with ground chicken and veggies in a lettuce wrap
- as a tasty addition to this Crock Pot chicken recipe
- to season fish tacos
I’m sure the options are endless (not all of them good… I’ve seen some of the kitchen experiments my kids come up with!). If you have other ideas, please drop a comment and let me know!
How to Substitute Homemade Taco Seasoning for Packets
Use 2-3 tablespoons of this spice + ¼ cup of water per pound of meat. Add the spice and water while the meat is browning and cook on medium-high heat until the water has evaporated and the meat is fully cooked.
Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup chili powder
- ¼ cup cumin
- 1 TBSP garlic powder
- 2 TBSP onion powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 TBSP Himalayan salt (or sea salt, optional)
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the spices in a jar and shake well.
- Store in an airtight jar for up to six months.
Notes
Nutrition
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Want to make other spices too?
Check out my full list of spices you can make at home with basic ingredients to overhaul your spice cabinet today! You’ll love it because the flavor of fresh, homemade spice blends is incredible and you’ll save money too!
What are your favorite seasonings?
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This blend is a very good mix. However, please update the Salt measurement. 2 tablespoons is WAY TOO MUCH SALT!
This Louisiana Lady’s family loves your taco seasoning. I’ve used it along with marinades for chicken and other meats, in smaller amounts of course. Adds great flavor. Love it!
Thank You, I will never buy a taco packet again!!
Just made homemade taco seasoning – recipe calls for 1/4 cup sea salt. WAY TOO MUCH! Seasoned meat is not edible. Suggest no more than 1 T sea salt.
I made this with a sprinkle of salt and smoked paprika. It was amazing! (I’m not a fan of salt and I probably could have done without it altogether. I was looking to make my own after the cumin/peanut contamination scares. I loved it! Thank you so much!
Way too salty! Is the amount correct?
I used less then recommended paprika and salt and everyone ( my family ;I can’t have beef) said it was way to over powering to all of the other seasoning.
is it possible to add arrowroot so that it creates a sauce like the store bought packets? I made this and the taste is good, but it’s still just crumbly ground beef with taco flavor, I want the saucey texture of the store bought taco seasoning. If so, how much would you add to this recipe?
I found that if you just add about 3 oz of tomato paste and a small amount of either water or broth, it achieves the sauce-like consistency you’re talking about.
I add canned pintos with the liquid to all my mexican meat. You could add some cornstarch to thicken. I also add a can of diced tomatoes now too, with the liquid. Nice and saucy, but again, I thicken it cuz I dont want to strain off the nutrients of TASTE.
Dare I say I add alot of chopped onion and grn pepper to all my mexican meat too??? Raw onion and pepper is great on top of the meat too! But gotta have them!
Tasty except for the salt. Beyond way too much. Great taste on the rest of it though
Wish I had read the comments before making this. WAY too much salt. The meat is borderline inedible.