Homemade Taco Seasoning
Posted: 10/11/2021
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Homemade taco seasoning without MSG or additives is 100% natural and delicious. Make extra to keep on hand! It’s not only for tacos — you can use it in so many recipes!
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Read the comments! This recipe is a huge hit with readers!
How long it takes: 5 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: measuring spoons, small jar or bowl
Servings: 8, depending on how much you add to your recipe
Table of Contents
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I’ve made about a bazillion batches of this homemade taco seasoning. It includes great spices like chili powder, cumin, garlic, red pepper flakes, and paprika and it’s definitely not only for tacos – keep on reading to see all the places I use it.
I use it so often that I now have a large batch taco seasoning recipe which is 10 times the amount of this recipe! Same recipe but you won’t have to do the math every time.
This homemade seasoning is 10,000 times better than the seasoning that comes in a packet labeled “taco seasoning.” And if you’re watching your sodium intake, this is the only way to go.
Why make homemade taco seasoning?
I quickly searched for a popular brand of taco seasoning (most brands are similar) and found that it contains these ingredients: Yellow Corn Flour, Salt, Maltodextrin, Paprika, Spices, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Natural Flavor, Caramel Color (sulfites). Most other brands have similar ingredients.
“Spices”? Which spices? Is it some big secret or something?
“Natural flavor”? Yeah, I’m sure. There’s nothing really natural about natural flavorings. They’re highly processed and contain additives (Healthline).
“Caramel color”? I think I’ll pass.
And you know what else? I’m passing on 430 mg of sodium per serving (1/6 of the package). When you make your own copycat blend, you’re in control of how much salt you add. Check out the nutrition information at the end of the post. This homemade blend only has 164 mg of sodium and you can easily decrease that if you want.
About This Recipe
Whether you make your tacos with ground beef, ground turkey, pulled chicken, ground chicken, or tofu–this spice mixture is a winner. I also use it for fajitas and other dishes that need a quick pinch of Mexican flavor (see the end of this post for a lot of really great uses of this homemade taco seasoning!).
Spice blends are really easy to make. Raid your spice cabinet and find a little bowl or jar. You’ll need a few measuring spoons, too.
This blend is also Whole30 compliant and is also Paleo. It works if you’re on a keto diet, too!
You’ll find the printable recipe at the end of the post. It has complete directions with measurements and nutrition information.
What You’ll Need
You might find you have all you need on hand already, right inside your spice cabinet or drawer. Here’s what you need, with a few tips.
- Chili Powder: Chili powder varies greatly from brand to brand. Pick a brand you like, and keep in mind that many chili powder blends contain salt, so you might not need as much salt in this recipe if yours has salt in it.
- Cumin, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika: These are spices we use in so many of our recipes, and hopefully you do too! Make sure you’re choosing garlic and onion powder, not garlic or onion salt. We use sweet paprika, but try using smoked paprika for a smoky twist on tacos.
- Salt: We prefer coarse kosher salt or coarse sea salt. If you use a finer salt such as table salt, you won’t need as much.
- Black Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes: Depending on what type of chili powder you use, most of your spice will come from these two ingredients. A coarse ground or freshly ground black pepper will pack less of a punch than a fine ground pepper. If you only have fine ground black pepper, make sure to use less. If you don’t like spice, leave out the red pepper flakes. You can also substitute cayenne powder for the red pepper flakes, but may want to use lesser amount.
- Oregano: Use Mexican oregano if you can get your hands on it, but I’ve made this spice blend countless times with Italian oregano and it always tastes great.
How to make taco seasoning
All you need to do is mix all the ingredients in a small jar or bowl. Doesn’t get much easier than that!
How to make mild taco seasoning
To make this mixture more mild, leave out the red pepper flakes and reduce the amount of black pepper.
How to make it spicier
To make hot and spicy taco seasoning, add more red pepper flakes, and/or add cayenne powder.
For low-sodium spice mix
To make this low-sodium or salt-free, leave out the salt and look for a chili powder that is low in sodium or salt-free.
Cumin-Free Tacos
Not a cumin fan? You can make this taco seasoning without cumin. It will not taste exactly like traditional tacos so I highly recommend adding the cumin.
Cumin has a very distinctive flavor that is hard to replicate. Some folks think that because cumin and caraway seeds look similar, they can substitute caraway for cumin. That’s just not true. They have a very different flavor.
If you don’t have cumin or don’t like it, I would say just omit it in the taco seasoning. Don’t substitute anything else for the cumin.
Add a smoky flavor
If you want to add smoky flavor, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika instead of the paprika. Ground chipotle adds a smoky flavor, too.
FAQs
Do you drain meat before adding taco seasoning?
The answer to that depends on the meat and your preference. If there is a lot of grease in the pan after browning the meat, you may want to drain it. If it’s just juicy but doesn’t seem greasy, go ahead and just leave it in. As the taco meat simmers, the juice will evaporate, leaving lots of great flavor behind. If the meat still seems like it has too much liquid, sprinkle a tablespoon of cornmeal or masa harina over the meat and stir well.
Is there a difference between taco seasoning and fajita seasoning?
Yes, you’ll notice some differences. Fajita seasoning is usually a little more subtle than taco seasoning, not quite as spicy. I add brown sugar to my fajita seasoning to help caramelize the meat and give it a subtle sweetness. However, when you make your own, as most Mexican cooks do, your spice blend will be uniquely personalized, just the way you like it best! There’s really no right or wrong way.
How to make tacos
Making tacos with homemade seasoning is so easy!
- Add 1-2 tablespoons (or up to the full amount if you like it spicier) of this mixture plus 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water to one pound of cooked meat of your choice. If desired, add a tablespoon of all-purpose flour, corn meal or masa harina to the cooked meat when you add the spice mixture, to thicken up the mixture a bit.
- Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until there is very little liquid left in the pan.
- Serve the taco meat in warm tortillas or crisp taco shells with your favorite taco toppings. I recommend sour cream, fresh restaurant style salsa or pico de gallo, guacamole, lettuce, cheese, and tomato.
How To Use Taco Seasoning
The options are really endless! If you’re looking for ideas outside of traditional taco meat, try these:
- Chicken: Use your homemade taco seasoning to make everything from easy slow cooker shredded chicken, to flavorful taco chicken tenders.
- Turkey: Try it in taco turkey burgers or southwestern mini meatloaves.
- Pasta: You can even use taco seasoning to add flavor to mac and cheese like in this southwestern mac and cheese.
- Sides: Taco seasoning isn’t just for main dishes! I also love to use it in quinoa stuffed peppers and southwestern orzo salad.
Gift Idea
Hmemade spice blends make a great gift. It’s fun to give put all the spices in a small jar, layered like sand art, so the recipient can mix it up themselves. Tie a ribbon around the top with a recipe or two attached.
More Easy to Make Spice Blends
Love the idea of making your own spice blends? See my whole list of homemade spice blends for inspiration! These are a few of my favorites:
- Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe
- Apple Pie Spice Recipe
- Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix (Buttermilk)
- Beef Stew Seasoning
- Herbes de Provence
- Mild Curry Powder
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
servings
Homemade taco seasoning without MSG or additives is 100% natural and delicious. Make extra to keep on hand, it's not just for tacos!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (more or less to taste, up to 1 teaspoon)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Taco Seasoning
- In small bowl, mix all ingredients and store in airtight container. Or you can mix it together in the container you are going to store it in. Just give it a shake!
How to Make Taco Meat
- Add 1-2 tablespoons (or up to the full amount if you like it spicier) of this mixture plus 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water to one pound of cooked meat of your choice. If desired, add a tablespoon of all-purpose flour, corn meal or masa harina to the cooked meat when you add the spice mixture, to thicken up the mixture a bit.
- Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until there is very little liquid left in the pan.
- Serve the taco meat in warm tortillas or crisp taco shells with your favorite taco toppings. I recommend sour cream, fresh salsa, guacamole, lettuce, cheese, and tomato.
Notes
- Nutrition information is based on 2 tablespoons spice mix, serving 4 persons.
- Add a tablespoon of all-purpose flour, corn meal or masa harina to the cooked meat when you add the spice mixture, to thicken up the mixture a bit.
- If you find yourself using this taco seasoning often, make a big batch which yields two cups of seasoning: Large Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning.
- I’ve had some comments that this is quite spicy. If you’re not a huge spicy food fan, I’d cut down on the amount used per pound of meat — start with one tablespoon and add more to taste. Alternatively, you could leave the red pepper flakes out to decrease the heat.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 6kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 164mg, Potassium: 34mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 332IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 1mg
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Kimberly Burkett says
Was wanting to know if u use a packaged taco mix in the seven- layer dip, how much does it take ? Thx
Rachel Gurk says
I’d use 1-3 tablespoons depending on how spicy you like it.
Susan says
Wow. This was wonderful! So much better than those package seasoning mixes and easy. Thank you.
Rachel Gurk says
So glad to hear you liked it!
Keith Cox says
I love this homemade taco seasoning! The fact that you can cut down on the salt to make it healthier is why I stopped buying packaged taco seasoning. Just read the label on those packages — loaded with sodium. and, the fact you can make as little or as much as you want is even better!!
Thanks Rachel!
Rachel Gurk says
Exactly! That’s why I love it too! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Jared K Smith says
You were right; adding the oregano another added just that little extra too it. Thank you for the recipe. I use this same recipe as a rub for Boston butts roasts for pulled pork.
Rachel Gurk says
I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Erin says
This was amazing! I left out the red pepper flake and it was plenty spicy for my family. Besides that I followed the recipe and I’m so glad I stumbled across it! Will be using this vs store bought now. Thank you!
Rachel Gurk says
So glad you liked it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Poster says
Damn girl, put the recipe at the top or give us a button. All the pop ups and BS on this site makes me want to use a different recipe.
Rachel Gurk says
There is a large and prominent “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of every post.
Dawn says
Is this recipe is the equivalent of one package of store-bought taco seasoning? Thank You!
Rachel Gurk says
Not exactly. It’s pretty close, but I recommend using 1-2 tablespoons of the seasoning mix per pound of meat and then adding more to taste.
Tia says
This taco seasoning is excellent! We will never use store bought again!
Rachel Gurk says
I love hearing that!
denise says
sounds perfect!
Rachel Gurk says
Thanks Denise!
Tracy says
I absolutely love this recipe. Your taco seasoning is so much better than anything that is store-bought. I’ve made it about six times and I keep tweaking it after reading comments. Love all the input that you get. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. I really enjoy it.
Rachel Gurk says
Thank you so much! I’m glad you like it, and thank you for the comment, it really means a lot to me!
Carol says
The only seasoning I’ve used for the last few years!
Rachel Gurk says
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, it means so much!
connie says
Really like your taco seasoning. Question, when using smoked paprika, do you also use regular paprika along with it. In other words do you use both paprikas
or just one? Thanks so much.
Rachel Gurk says
I don’t, I would use it in place of the regular paprika. :)
David says
No, no Rachel. It’s not the RED pepper that makes this excessively spicy, but the BLACK.
I halved that and the chili powder and got something quite tasty.
Same story with your terrific stew seasoning. I had to half the black pepper.
Thanks
Rachel Gurk says
Probably a little of both. :) I like some spice but you can definitely cut back, for sure! Glad you like the spice mixes, thanks for the comment!
Hannah Flack says
I am going shopping in two days and will definetly make these. I have a big muffin pan though. I enjoy low carb foods.Thanx for posting this !!
Rachel Gurk says
You’re welcome! I hope you like the taco seasoning!
John F. Smahaj says
I don’t see where the sodium content was fixed. What is the real number? Why is there any sodium in this? Not necessary.
Rachel Gurk says
Hi John,
This spice mix does have some salt in it since it does add critical flavor to the taco meat. Of course, you’re more than welcome to leave it out and then the sodium content would be reduced. Most chili powders have a little salt in them too, so keep that in mind.