How to Make Taco Seasoning
on Oct 18, 2024
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Making your own taco blend is so easy and fast and will take your Taco Tuesdays to the next level.
This is probably the recipe I have made the most frequently in my decades of cooking, and it is one of the most popular recipes in my first cookbook The Mom 100. My family has some deep, old-school taco love, and I worked on my taco blend for a month before I got it to this perfect balance of herbs and spices. Skip the packet, take about 5 minutes, and make your own.
Homemade taco seasoning is so easy to make, economical, fresher, and better for you than those pre-made blends. Plus, it has much less salt than store-bought, which can be very high in sodium and often has unnecessary fillers like cornmeal. No MSG and no sugar, either; both are common additions to commercially made taco blends. You’ll never go back!
Every night can be Taco Tuesday, no matter what day of the week it really is. And know that this taco seasoning recipe doubles and triples easily, so you can make extra and keep it on hand for future taco nights. Then, head over to Turkey Tacos or Beef Tacos and put your homemade taco seasoning mix to work!
Table of Contents
Homemade Taco Seasoning: Making your own taco blend is so easy and fast, and will take your Taco Tuesdays to the next level.
Ingredients
Some of my favorite spice makers are Burlap and Barrel, Spicewalla, Penzeys Spices, and The Spice House. There are also good, commonly available supermarket brands like McCormick and Morton and Basset. This makes enough seasoning for 2 pounds of meat, but you can cut the recipe in half if you are making 1 pound of taco meat or save the other half for another taco night.
- Onion powder – Use powder and not flakes if possible.
- Kosher salt – I prefer kosher to table salt, and it will amplify the flavor of all of the other herbs and spices.
- Chili powder – Use your favorite brand.
- Cornstarch – Allows the spice blend to create a lovely sauce when combined with water and the ground meat, which coats the meat perfectly.
- Ground cumin – Adds a smoky, earthy flavor to the taco seasoning.
- Garlic powder – A lovely hint of garlic flavor.
- Dried oregano – If you can find Mexican dried oregano, use that, but any dried oregano will work.
- Sweet paprika – Adds nice color. You can also try smoked paprika for a deeper level of smoky flavor.
- Ground black pepper – Freshly ground is the best way to go.
- Pinch cayenne or red pepper flakes – This is optional but recommended!
How to Make Taco Seasoning Mix
- Mix the ingredients: In a small bowl or plastic container, mix together the onion powder, salt, chili powder, cornstarch, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne or red pepper flakes, if using. Blend well.
How to Use Homemade Taco Seasoning
You should use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning for every pound of ground meat.
After the meat has been browned and drained, stir in the taco seasoning over the heat. Stir until the seasoning is well blended into the meat, and you can smell the spices toasting. Then add 3/4 cup of water and continue cooking over medium heat until the spice blend mixes with the water to form a light sauce for the meat.
Substitutions and Variations
Make this taco seasoning recipe exactly as written the first time, and then if you decide you want to bump up the amount of one or another of the ingredients, go right ahead. It’s very customizable. Also, the brands of spices and the blends (like the chili blend you pick) will contribute to the overall flavor. So, find the brands you like for your DIY taco blend.
- This is a naturally gluten-free taco seasoning recipe, but do check to make sure your chili powder and all other ingredients are gluten-free.
- Reduce the amount of salt if you are on a low-sodium diet.
- To make a spicier taco blend, use hot chili powder or bump up the amount of cayenne pepper or chili flakes.
Storage
Homemade taco mix will last for up to 6 months (depending on how fresh your herbs and spices are). Store it at a cool room temperature in an airtight container.
More Homemade Taco Ingredients
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Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pinch cayenne or red pepper flakes (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- In a small bowl or plastic container, mix together the onion powder, salt, chili powder, cornstarch, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne or red pepper flakes, if using. Blend well.
- Use in your favorite taco recipes, such as Beef Tacos or Turkey Tacos.
Notes
- This is a naturally gluten-free recipe, but do check to make sure your chili powder and all other ingredients are gluten-free.
- Reduce the amount of salt if you are on a low-sodium diet.
- To make a spicier taco blend, use hot chili powder or bump up the amount of cayenne pepper or chili flakes.
- Homemade taco mix will last for up to 6 months (depending on how fresh your herbs and spices are) when stored at cool room temperature in an airtight container.
I have made this taco seasoning for dinner for literally over a decade at this point and it is by far the most requested item in the house when the kids come home for dinner. 5 stars without a doubt.