Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ditch the store bought taco seasoning packet and make your own! This Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe comes together in minutes with ingredients that you already have in your pantry so it’s much more cost effective. You control the sodium and it keeps in the pantry for months!
I’m a huge fan of Mexican food, and make it in some form at least once a week. This Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe is my go-to to season everything from ground beef tacos to chicken breast for my Santa Fe chicken salad.
It was important to me to create my own seasoning because every store bought taco seasoning packet that I’ve used in the past were full of preservatives and sodium.
I quickly discovered that I could make my own taco seasoning from scratch in mere minutes with herbs and spices that were already in my pantry, and it was every bit as good without all of the added salt!
Now I always have a batch prepped and ready to go to so that I can use it whenever we have Mexican food cravings.
And those cravings are often. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- This homemade taco seasoning is packed with flavor and is perfect for tacos, fajitas or any Mexican recipes.
- It includes simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry and you control the sodium.
- It comes together in minutes and it keeps for up to 3 months in the pantry.
Recipe ingredients
The glory of this DIY taco seasoning is that you control the sodium and you can customize it to suit your tastes.
Ingredient notes
- Chili powder. This is a spice blend that includes a combination of dried, ground red chilies and other spices such as cumin and garlic powder.
- Ground cumin. This spice is essential to this taco seasoning for it’s warm, earthy flavor.
- Smoked paprika (or regular). Like chili powder, paprika is made from dried ground chili, but it typically only includes one variety and there are no other spices or seasonings added. Smoked paprika will add smokiness to your taco seasoning, but plain paprika may be used as well.
- Onion and garlic powder. The onion powder and garlic powder are made from dehydrated ground onion and garlic, and add savory depth of flavor to the seasoning.
- Dried oregano. Oregano is often used in Mexican cuisine. It’s aromatic, earthy and pungent flavor compliments the deep flavors of the red chilies. It can be substituted with dried coriander.
- Cayenne pepper. This is ground red pepper and is very spicy. Use just a touch for mild taco seasoning or add more if you like your seasoning medium or spicy!
- Salt. This Mexican spice mix includes just enough salt because I prefer to add more salt when I’m preparing a recipe. The amount of salt can be customized to suit your tastes.
How to make this Mexican spice mix
This Mexican spice mix has so many uses and it couldn’t be easier to make.
Taco seasoning ingredients include basic herbs and spices that you no doubt have in your pantry, and the recipe comes together in mere minutes.
Pro tip: This taco seasoning includes just enough salt so that it doesn’t overpower a dish. Add more or less salt to suit your tastes.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Place the spices and salt in a small bowl.
- Stir well to combine.
FAQs
This homemade taco seasoning mix is a flavorful blend of chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, onion and garlic powder, dried oregano, cayenne pepper and salt.
The seasoning can be customized to make it mild or spicy by adjusting the cayenne pepper, and the best part is that you control the sodium and there are no preservatives.
Use roughly 2 tablespoons per every pound to pound and a half of meat or veggies for maximum flavor, adding additional salt as necessary.
This homemade taco seasoning lasts up to 3 months in an air tight container stored in a cool, dry place such as your pantry or spice drawer.
Serving suggestions
The good news is that this homemade taco seasoning isn’t just for tacos. There are so many delicious ways to utilize it as shown below.
- It’s guaranteed to make oven baked turkey tacos and fish tacos next level.
- Use it to season sheet pan chicken fajitas or vegetarian fajitas.
- It’s the perfect seasoning for Mexican rice casserole and Mexican quinoa.
- It adds a ton of flavor to slow cooker chicken tortilla soup and sweet potato black bean soup.
- This Mexican spice mix is also great to season the protein in chicken burrito bowls and fish taco bowls.
- It’s great way to amp up flavor in Instant Pot black beans, Mexican corn salad and Mexican rice.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: This taco seasoning includes just enough salt so that it doesn’t overpower a dish. Add more or less salt to suit your tastes.
- I normally use 2 tablespoons of the spice blend for every 1 – 1 1/2 lbs. of taco meat or veggies.
- Use seasoning as taco meat seasoning or for fajitas or your favorite Mexican recipes.
More homemade spice blends you’ll love:
- BBQ chicken rub
- Blackened seasoning
- Chai spice mix
- Homemade ranch seasoning by Sweet Peas and Saffron
- Homemade pumpkin pie spice
- Jamaican jerk seasoning
- Salmon rub
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika sub with regular paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano sub with dried coriander
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper use less or more according to the level of spice that you desire
- 1.5 teaspoons salt or to taste
Instructions
- Place all spices in a small bowl and mix well to combine.4 tablespoons chili powder, 2 tablespoons ground cumin, 2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1.5 teaspoons salt
- Place the taco seasoning in a small air tight container and store in a cool, dry area for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Pro tip: This taco seasoning includes just enough salt so that it doesn’t overpower a dish. Add more or less salt to suit your tastes.
- I normally use 2 tablespoons of the spice blend for every 1 – 1 1/2 lbs. of taco meat or veggies.
- Use seasoning as taco meat seasoning or for fajitas or your favorite Mexican recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This post was originally published in April 2018. The post has been structured for better readability and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.
17 Comments on “Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe”
I’m glad to hear that you had a good birthday and that your son got his driver’s license! I can imagine how scary that must be for you. There are so many crazy drivers on the road and I always cringe when I see someone texting and driving. This homemade seasoning looks perfect, Marcie! I’ve always wanted to make my own but have never gotten around to it. I’ve got to try this! Perfect for so many recipes and I love how easy it is, too!
Thanks Gayle — it’s bad enough worrying about my son driving without worrying about all the distracted drivers on the road! 🙂
I completely understand why you would be worried about your son. Every time I drive on a two-lane road, I hug the shoulder because I’m terrified someone isn’t going to be paying attention and then swerve into my lane and hit me head on. It sounds irrational but it’s actually not considering the number of people that are distracted while driving!
On a lighter note, you are a genius to think of posting a taco spice recipe for Cinco de Mayo. It’s one of those things that people usually buy but it’s so much cheaper and more delicious to make your own! 🙂
It’s not irrational at all…people are driving crazy all the time! Thanks Sarah — I can’t stand all the sodium in those packets so this is the way to go!
Well….happy belated birthday 🙂 yeah there is nothing better than making your own spice blend, so much better than store-bought and like you said, you control the salt intake, this is awesome!
Thank you Albert!
Mexican recipes are a favorite around my household too! In fact, I just got done eating a veggie quesadilla + rice dinner.
Hope that you enjoyed your birthday! And I can imagine that it’s tough when your kid first gets their license… it can be scary out on the road! But I’m sure he’ll be fine and you’ll get more comfortable with it as time goes on.
Thanks so much Nicole! I know I’ll get more used to the idea of my son driving as time goes by — he’ll be very experienced in no time!
Oh Marcie, my heart goes out to you. I will be terrified when my boys start hitting the road on their own! What a milestone you are going through! This taco seasoning though, this is some great stuff. I am always googling a new recipe every time it seems, so now I know exactly where to go!! Will be trying it soon. (AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY)!!! XO
It’s scary but I have to block it out or I’ll be a basket case. 🙂 I’m so glad I finally buckled down and wrote down a “recipe” for this instead of a few shakes of this and that. haha Thanks Katherine! 🙂
Happy birthday Marcie!! I freaking LOVE making my own taco seasoning and I’ve got to try your version! Looks a million times better than the packets!
Thank you Sarah! 🙂
Happy belated birthday Marcie!!! And congrats to you and your son! When my daughter started driving I was freaked out! It’s been almost 4 years and I still freak out because here in Athens GA (a college town) it feels like 80% of people are on their phones! GAH!
But – bac to this taco seasoning – thanks to it, I won’t be buying those store bought packages of taco seasoning that always seem to have a bit of a chemically taste! Thanks and happy birthday again!
Thank you so much Shashi! I’m glad you understand what I’m going through and I can imagine being worried sick about your daughter driving in a college town…that phone thing is scary! 🙁
Thanks Puja and making homemade masalas sounds wonderful!
Yes to making seasonings at home! I’m with you – pretty much anything from the store is WAY too salty for me!
I can’t stand it when I see people on their phones while driving. Like is checking your phone really worth getting into an accident and hurting someone??? Ugh. End rant. haha
I get so worked up when I see people on their phones while driving…the fines need to be WAY higher! 🙂