This homemade Taco Seasoning Mix has been a staple in our house for over a decade now! It’s my secret to giving all of our favorite Mexican recipes that extra level of flavor. It’s easily customizable, made with common pantry staples such as cumin, paprika, and garlic powder, and goes great in your favorite beef, chicken, shrimp or even veggie dishes!
London’s tip to make it a winner: Try not to substitute or leave out any of the ingredients. This exact mix of dried herbs and spices tastes absolutely incredible!
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Most of my friends know that I cook for a living. But what they don’t know is that I have a few very simple tricks up my sleeve that give my dishes that extra oomph!
And ya’ll… this homemade taco seasoning mix is probably my best kept secret.
Why Homemade is Better Than the Packets
We all know you CAN buy a packet of taco seasoning mix at the store. But let me tell you why you should take the extra 5 minutes and make this DIY version instead:
- Easy. You only need a few common Mexican spices.
- Balanced. I’ve tweaked and tested this recipe for YEARS to get the ratios just right.
- Customizable. If you have a pickier guest that doesn’t like a lot of spice, you can easily decrease the amount of cayenne pepper to make it milder.
- Scalable. Make as much or as little as you like and then store the rest for up to a year!
What is in Taco Seasoning?
Unlike many of the store-bought packets, this recipe has no added MSG, gluten, artificial ingredients, or hidden dairy. That’s why making it at home is SO much healthier for you! This recipe uses common ingredients you likely have on hand.
The basic ingredients for taco seasoning include:
- Cumin. A common spice used in many Mexican, Mediterranean, and Indian recipes. Cumin has a slightly peppery, earthy taste.
- Paprika. Make sure to use regular paprika, not smoked as it will change the flavor.
- Chili Powder. Mild chili powder, such as McCormick’s, is suggested. Spice level of the powder can vary drastically between brands, so make sure you’re using one you like.
- Garlic Powder. Do not substitute for garlic salt or granulated garlic. You want a fine powder concentrated with flavor.
- Cayenne Pepper. Adjust this seasoning to your preferred spice level. Omit completely for the mildest taste, and add more to make it spicy.
- Salt. This can be left out to control the sodium level.
How to Make a Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
These are the simple steps to take when making taco seasoning. See the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.
1. Mix Ingredients Together
First, find all the spices you will be using. Likely, they are already in your spice cabinet. If not, a quick trip to your local grocery store will yield everything you need. Consider purchasing spices in bulk, if possible, to save money as well as waste less plastic!
In a large bowl or the container you’ll be storing it in, combine all of the ingredients. You can easily make adjustments to accommodate dietary tastes and needs.
It is best to use a whisk to evenly mix spices. Ensure there are no clumps left and there is a smooth consistency.
2. Use Seasoning or Store for Later
After the seasoning is mixed to your preference, you can either use it immediately or store it in an airtight container. You can use a small mason jar or reuse an old spice jar. As the spices are exposed to air they lose their potency. If you don’t have airtight containers, plastic zip-top bags work well.
When homemade spices are stored in a cool, dry place they will last for up to 1-2 years. (Avoid placing it over the stovetop as the heat will ruin the flavor!)
FAQs
Most contain a mix of spices including chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Other additions include oregano, cayenne powder, and onion powder.
Taco seasoning is easy to customize. You can use any of the ingredients you have on hand to make your own blend. The most important components are a mix of chili powder and cumin. Or, use this Fajita Seasoning.
Recipes that Use Taco Seasoning
There are a ton of recipes you can make with this homemade seasoning mix:
- Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Mexican Zucchini Taco Boats
- Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Fiesta Lime Chicken
- Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps
- Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Other DIY Spice Mix Recipes
If you like this taco spice blend recipe, you should definitely check out these other homemade seasoning mixes:
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Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
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Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 3 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt optional
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl until well combined. Store taco seasoning in an airtight glass container until ready to use for up to 1-2 years.
- Use 2 – 2 ½ tablespoons seasoning mix per pound of meat.
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Video
Notes
- Paprika: Use a mix of regular and smoked for a smokier flavor.
- Chili powder: Opt for a mild chili powder to keep it less spicy, or hot to give it a kick!
- Salt: Feel free to leave this out if you’d prefer to salt each recipe you use it in separately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How can you have 59 calories in nothing but spices?
Surprisingly, spices do have a little bit of calories in them! They’re normally pretty negligible since a serving of this seasoning mix is enough for 1 pound of ground meat.
Delicioso. Thank you for sharing.
You’re so welcome, Elizabeth! Thanks for the comment and rating 🙂
The best homemade taco seasoning ever! So easy to make & tastes delicious. No longer will I be buying the store bought kind!
Yay, Kelsey!! So happy you enjoyed the seasoning mix so much. Thanks for the comment and rating! 🙂
great with ground turkey. we used smoked paprika, lessened the amount a little, and no cayenne. also added 1/2 c of water and it turned out perfect!
this was for 2lbs of meat
Do you add any water to the hamburger and seasoning?
You don’t need to unless you have a super lean meat (like a 99% lean ground turkey). Hope you enjoy the recipe!
I found this homemade taco seasoning so versatile. Besides the obvious 🌮 and fajitas it’s also great on a roast chicken. The spice can be adjusted to hot or mild. It’s quite economical too.
Oh what a great idea to add it to a roasted chicken! Thanks so much for your comment 🙂
why does this homemade taco seasoning have more calories than if you just bought a packet of say Old El Paso or McCormick’s? Their packets say 15 and 20 calories.
Great question, Tracie! They’re serving size is for 2 TEAspoons and this serving size is for half of the recipe, so about 2 1/2 TABLEspoons of taco seasoning mix. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much! Obviously I overlooked serving size:)
Very helpful
No worries at all, Tracie! Thanks for your question. Hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂
Healthier and so easy! I’ll never buy taco seasoning again!
You definitely won’t need to, Jules!! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
What measurement do I use per pound of meat?
Hi Kelli! The mix is enough for 2 pounds of ground meat. So 3 tablespoons of the seasoning mix/pound of ground meat! Thanks for asking! I’ve updated the recipe to help clarify this 🙂
We use this seasoning mix all of the time for our taco meat. Thanks for the recipe.