Can you make your own homemade taco seasoning? Absolutely! Making your own taco seasoning is great for your health, perfect to season ground beef, shredded chicken, or my favorite taco soup!
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: this homemade taco seasoning is made with basic spices and nothing you have to go to a speciality grocery store for.
- Easy: Just gather your spices, mix, and store for a quick dinner! So easy my kids help me make it!
- Healthy: Homemade taco seasoning is way healthier for you than any store bought packet. Many store bought packets have “natural flavors” which are full of chemicals that mimic homemade taco seasoning.
Ingredients:
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Quality Salt
- Pepper
- Ground Paprika or Smoked Paprika (either works!)
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Dried Oregano or even better Mexican Oregano (either works!)
Tools you may need:
- Little measurement spoons
- Small mixing bowl to stir spices together
- Mason jar funnel (could also bend a piece of paper to help get spices in a jar)
- Mason jar with lid to store taco seasoning
How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Measure out all your ingredients for taco seasoning.
2. Mix together all your ingredients in a bowl.
3. Use a funnel to transfer taco seasoning into a jar.
4. Keep a lid on the jar and store in a cabinet for 6 to 12 months.
Tips
- Make sure you have all your spices before you begin. Sometimes I run out of one or two, so just doing a little inventory check before going to the store is helpful.
- If you want it to be less spicy just reduce the amount of chili powder, use mild paprika and go light on the red pepper flakes.
- You can use homemade taco seasoning on so many things besides tacos. It’s great for burritos, quesadillas, soups, roasted vegetables, or even popcorn. Have fun experimenting!
Recipe FAQ’s
I think you can get by, but the one that is irreplaceable in my opinion is chili powder.
6 months to a year in an airtight container, but you will use it up way sooner!
No, you mix the dry spices together. Although I have heard of cooks toasting their spices before using them, but this was with whole spices that have not been ground yet.
Yes, just reduce the amount of chili powder, use mild paprika and go light on the red pepper flakes
About 2 tbsp per pound of meat is standard, mixed with ¼ to ½ cup water to distribute evenly. Adjust based on taste preference.
Homemade versions are typically gluten-free and allergen-free if using pure spices. Check store-bought spice labels for additives or cross-contamination risks.
Every packet is a little different, but usually 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning is a great swap for every packet your recipe calls for.
More Recipes from Girl, Teach Me
- Best Frozen Treat: Peanut Butter Protein Balls
- Homemade Chicken Broth (best base for any homemade soup!)
- Best Homemade Whipped Cream
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @girlteachme
Homemade Taco Seasoning (to replace any taco packet)
Equipment
- bowl or mason jar
- funnel can be helpful (but not necessary)
- measuring spoon set
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Measure out all your spices and put into a bowl
- Mix all the spices together
- Put in an airtight jar
- Use 3 tablespoons of this mixture to replace standard taco seasoning packets