Homemade Taco Seasoning

What is more useful than a single-serve Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe for a quick, wholesome dinner on a busy weeknight? Boost your taco night with this flavorful blend that brings lots of taste to your table.

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Skip the store-bought packet and whip up your own taco seasoning. It is so much easier than you think! We also have other easy homemade recipes for lemon mayonnaise, homemade Gatorade, and even a homemade ranch dressing.

Why YOU will love this recipe

• This taco seasoning mix needs only FIVE ingredients and features spices that are probably already in your pantry.
• Use this wherever a recipe calls for a packet of taco seasoning and you are good to go!
• By making your own seasoning blend, you have complete control over your ingredients. It will be fresher and have more flavor than store-bought taco seasoning.
• This recipe is perfect if you need a low-sodium option as it has zero salt. We season our dishes after cooking and then adjust them for salt and black pepper, to taste.
• This recipe is naturally vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Bonus!

Ingredients

• chili powder – This adds flavor, an earthy heat, and a touch of color.
• ground cumin – Light brown in color and slightly nutty in taste, cumin is both herbal and spicy. 
• red pepper flakes – This is for pure fire! Adjust to your liking from mild to moderate heat by customizing the amount of chili flakes you add in.
• garlic powder – The slightly pungent and sweet notes of garlic can help balance out the heat of the other spices.
• onion powder – This flavor complements the other ingredients, contributing to a flavorful taco seasoning.

Equipment

• measuring spoons – We find we always need at least 2 sets of measuring spoons on the go.
• mixing bowl and fork – for stirring the blend together.

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for the FULL recipe details.

Step 1

First, add all of the ingredients to a small bowl.

Step 2

Use a fork to blend the spices together. The tines of the fork are helpful for breaking up any little balls or clumps and mixing everything together really smoothly.

That is it! Just TWO steps.

Expert tip

If you can never have too much taco seasoning in your life it is easy to make a big batch by doubling or even tripling the recipe.

Recipe variations

• Add some dried oregano to enhance the flavors even more. We recommend using Mexican oregano which has a slight citrus undertone with floral notes.
• Make it even spicier by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• We also love making this homemade blackening seasoning for when we want a cajun kick instead. Yum.

Serving suggestions

• For taco meat, add the spice mixture to one pound of ground beef along with 3 tbsp of water. Mix well and bring to a quick boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes. You could also use other protein such as ground turkey or chicken.
• Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning into soups and stews for added flavor.
• Incorporate the taco seasoning into ground beef dinners like this Taco Rice Bowl or Taco Potato Casserole, for an added burst of flavor.
• Experiment with using it as a taco seasoning for chicken like in this Chicken Taco Salad. It pairs well with ingredients like cheese, lettuce, and corn chips.

FAQS

Storage tips

This is meant to be a single-use recipe but if you decide to double, triple, or quadruple the recipe you can store it in an airtight container such as a small mason jar with a lid for up to a month.

Keep the container in a cool, dry place.

Recipes using homemade taco seasoning

**This recipe was originally posted on October 19, 2018, updated and again on August 30, 2023, with recipe notes, writing, and photos.**

If you’ve tried our diy taco seasoning, please rate the recipe and let us know how it turned out by leaving us a comment below. We’re always interested in feedback!

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