This Taco Seasoning Recipe is fresh, healthier, and tastes so much better than store-bought seasoning packets! Ready in just two minutes, ditch the preservatives and fillers and save money with this easy homemade taco seasoning.
Taco seasoning is a versatile seasoning blend that can be used in recipes including taco meat, taco spaghetti, taco salad, and more!
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Store-bought seasoning packets are convenient. I mean, who doesn’t love saving time in the kitchen? But look a little closer, and you’ll see that those cute little, time-saving packets are filled with more than dried herbs and spices. They also contain things like cornmeal, potato starch, natural colors, and various preservatives.
In other words, filler.
Why pay so much for a packet filled with junk when it’s super easy to make your own at home? Besides, homemade taco seasoning tastes so much better. You control the ingredients and quality, which also means that you get to control how hot or mild your taco seasoning will taste in recipes.
The result? A safe and delicious gluten-free, preservative-free, and msg-free taco seasoning perfect for ground beef tacos, taco soup, taco pasta, you name it!
Key Ingredients
Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
- Chili Powder: Chili powder is actually another blend of spices. Common ingredients include ancho chili powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, garlic, and cloves. Until I make my own, my favorite store-bought chili powder is made by Simply Organic.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic plays a significant role in many seasoning blends. You may want to play around with the overall amount and adjust it to your personal preference.
- Onion Powder: For a mild oniony flavor.
- Dried Oregano: This is a must-have in any homemade taco seasoning recipe.
- Paprika: Unless specifically labeled as “hot,” paprika is mild in heat. Use smoked paprika if you have it.
- Ground Cumin: Ground cumin is one of the more prominent spices in taco seasoning. Although it is absolutely essential, it can easily overwhelm the other flavors. As such, I tend to add a little less ground cumin to my homemade taco seasoning.
- Salt: Feel free to add more or less to suit your preference.
- Red Pepper Flakes: The best way to add a little heat on your own terms. Add as much crushed red pepper or as little crushed red pepper as your family likes!
- Black Pepper: I like to use freshly cracked black pepper, but any black pepper will work.
- Granulated Sugar (optional): Many homemade taco seasonings don’t include sugar. However, just a pinch helps balance the strong flavors of the chili powder, oregano, and cumin.
- Cornstarch (optional): Including cornstarch in the seasoning blend is helpful when using it to season recipes with higher liquid amounts (i.e., sauteed veggies, ground beef, blended soup, etc.)
Do you love spicy tacos? Add 1-2 teaspoons of cayenne powder or an additional teaspoon or two of crushed red pepper to your homemade taco seasoning.
How to Make Taco Seasoning
Stir all the spices together in a small bowl. Transfer the seasoning to a jar or airtight container and store it in a cool, dry place. Although there isn’t an exact “best by” date, I like to enjoy my spices within six months.
The recipe I’ve provided below equals approximately 34 teaspoons (11⅓ tablespoons) of seasoning.
How Much Taco Seasoning in a Packet?
Most store-bought taco seasoning packets contain 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix.
What to Make with Taco Seasoning
- Tacos: The most obvious answer is, of course, tacos! This homemade seasoning is perfect for ground beef tacos, ground turkey tacos, chicken tacos, shrimp tacos, veggie tacos, you name it.
- Soup: It’s also really delicious blended into soups, like this butternut squash and black bean soup, simple black bean soup, or this taco soup.
- Seasoning: Sprinkle a teaspoon or two over juicy baked chicken breasts or sweet potato fries, or use it to season the meat in this walking taco casserole and taco salad.
How Much Taco Seasoning Per Pound of Meat?
Per pound of ground meat, you will need approximately 1½-2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning.
More Homemade Seasoning Blends
- Homemade Ranch Seasoning
- Homemade Poultry Seasoning Recipe
- Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe
- Cajun Seasoning
RECIPE CARD
Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoon crushed red pepper - more or less, to taste
- 3 teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon sugar - optional
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch - optional
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl or mason jar and mix well to combine. Store in a small, airtight container in a cool, dry place. For best results, use within 6 months.
Jessica’s Notes
- For every 1 pound of ground meat, use 1½-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning. Try this easy Ground Beef Taco Meat Recipe.
- You can easily double or triple this recipe. Use within six months.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
How much seasoning would I use for just like a lb of ground beef?
Per pound of ground meat, you will need approximately 1.5 tablespoons of taco seasoning.
Lovely! Im enjoying your blend after just blending and tasting.
I added approx 2 tsp turmeric, 1.5 tsp white cumin seeds (plus the powdered), 1/2 tsp fresh milled black pepper (my tummy doesnt like it) and a half of one tsp of the chili powder substituted for a chunkier, mystery Korean version from the Asian mart that came in a HUGE bag yrs ago, lol. Surprisingly, it still has nice flavor!
Ive been making my own taco seasoning for a few years now. After it ran out last time, I just began eyeballing the spices into the pot so it’s a lil different every time.
Excited to see how it tastes w ground turkey and some diced tomatoes tomorrow, and on avocados. Thanks!
How much water do you add when making tacos?
Hi Kathy,
Great question – this post is for just the seasoning, my taco meat post doesn’t have any water added 🙂
I added a little more than a quarter of a cup and let it boil to reduce the liquid. Honesty probably should have started with 1/8th and added from there but I’m a bit of a risk taker when I cook. xD