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Home Recipes by Type Seasoning Mixes Homemade Taco Seasoning
30 30 Minutes or Less GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free

Homemade Taco Seasoning

4.52
/5
5 mins
245 Comments
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By: 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

Taco seasoning in a small jar, a wooden spoonful nearby, and a lime wedge.
Table of Contents close

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.

Close up of taco spice mix.

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.

Taco seasoning ingredients in small individual bowls.

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.
Ingredients needed for taco seasoning, with labels.

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!

Spice mix before and after being mixed.

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. However, if you just can’t get down with it, leave it out! That’s the great thing about DIYing it. You’re the boss!

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.

Taco seasoning on a small wooden spoon with some spilling off.

FAQs

What can you substitute for cumin in taco seasoning?

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, I would say just omit it in the taco seasoning. Don’t substitute anything else for the cumin.

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.

Overhead view of seasoning for tacos in a small glass jar with a wooden spoon.

How to make tacos

Making tacos with homemade seasoning is so easy!

  1. 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.
  2. Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until there is very little liquid left in the pan.
  3. 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.
Taco seasoning before and after being mixed in with ground beef.

How To Use Taco Seasoning

The options are really endless! If you’re looking for meaty options outside of traditional taco meat, try taco chicken tenders, easy slow cooker shredded chicken for tacos, taco turkey burgers, healthy Mexican lasagna with swiss chard, southwestern quinoa stuffed peppers, southwestern mac and cheese with ground turkey, southwestern mini meatloaves, or southwestern slow cooker barley casserole.

If you’re looking for fun sides or snacks, try creamy southwestern orzo salad, southwestern homemade wheat thin crackers, bean and cheese taco rolls, or southwestern cream cheese tortilla Roll-ups.

If you want to double down on the taco flavor on Taco Tuesday, try putting your taco fillings inside southwestern homemade flour tacos – yum!

Gift Idea

I think homemade 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:

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Overhead view of jar of taco seasoning with a wooden spoon in it.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Homemade Taco Seasoning

4.52 from 137 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
8 servings
Print Rate Recipe
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.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
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  1. Taylor says

    You said up near the top, “I’ll pass on 430 mg of sodium” that you find in store bought seasoning, yet your nutrition facts says your recipe has 587 mg of sodium…..how is that better?

    Reply

  3. Debra Cline says

    I am so looking fwd to making the stew with your stew seasoning (saved on another page) & others. I’ve put together a shopping list last night, got those ingred today & low on some seasonings. I’m wondering why haven’t you included majoram in any of your seasoning mixes? Last but not least, I googled seasonings, what I read is disturbing. I read that powdered seasoning have sand, fine glass & other things that make the spice flow freely rather than get stuck at the bottom of the jar? IDK how true this is. I would also like to ask if you have a preference of ratios for making cin rolls? I like to put br sugar & pecans on the bottom of the pan, turn the rolls over & let them sit awhile so the br sugar can drip to the inside of the rolls.
    I haven’t made anything yet but getting ready for winter baking & cooking. I look fwd to the spice mixes.

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Thanks for the comment, Debra! I hope you love the spice mixes! I’m not an avid baker, but King Arthur Flour is one of my go-to’s when I need a baking recipe; I’d look there for cinnamon roll recipes. :)

      Reply

  4. Smores says

    This is very tasty. Might I suggest using some corn flour (masa harina) instead of flour or cornstarch to thicken the meat. It adds an excellent flavor.

    Reply

  5. riverlady says

    Rachel, thanks for putting this concoction together and sharing it with us. It’s delicious! I also used the Mexican oregano, as ‘Mom’ (Halloween, 2011) suggested. It’s different from the oregano used in Italian dishes. Makes a difference you can really taste.

    For those cutting down on salt, may I suggest leaving it out of the mix and
    just offering a spice grinder with pink Himalayan salt instead? The grinder lets you get away with adding much less salt overall than you might otherwise, and the taste buds are satisfied because when the crystals hit the tongue–Zing! Also, tomatoes have a naturally rich sodium content; if you have a lot in your dish, you may find it’s just salty enough even without the grinder.

    Wish I could give you six stars!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Mom always has the best advice…so much so that she’s now an official part of the Rachel Cooks team! Great tip/suggestion about the salt! Thank you so much for the kind kind comment and the six stars ;) I really appreciate it!

      Reply

  6. Richard Busselle sr says

    What a TALENT! I will be looking forward to future recipes from this source. THANK YOU.

    Reply

  8. Jess says

    I was looking for a replacement recipe for my favorite seasoning but without all the additives. And THIS is it! Loved it! And, yes, cumin is the key in this recipe! Thank you! 

    Reply

  11. Jennifer Autry says

    This is. So. Good. Thank you so so much for sharing!! I no longer buy taco packets. I love it and my family does too!!!!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      I’m so glad to hear you like this recipe! It reminds me that I need to refill my jar, it’s empty! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment, it means so much to me!

      Reply

  15. Jay says

    I made this as written except with a little bit extra red pepper flakes. I also used Spanish Paprika. I added 7 tablespoons to 4 pounds of meat and it was FANTASTIC!!! Spicy with a good hint of Cumin and so much less sodium. I have been making taco salad during Super Bowl week for 18 years and this was the best ever! I will be using this from now on, and will be trying it with Chicken too! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      So happy to hear you liked this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment – it means a lot to me! Loving the idea of taco salad for Super Bowl week – yum!!

      Reply
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