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    Homemade Taco Seasoning

    Homemade Staples May 9, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 36 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    It is time to save yourself money and make your own Taco Seasoning. Homemade Taco Seasoning is so incredibly simple to make! With this easy, cheaper healthier version of Taco Seasoning, you can say good-bye to the processed packets forever! 

    Homemade Taco Seasoning comes together quickly to create a cheaper, tastier, healthier version of store-bought taco seasoning.

    Keep this Homemade Taco Seasoning on hand at all times to use in recipes, such as Taco Meat, Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, and Taco Pizza, that call for a packet of taco seasoning.

    Jar of Homemade Taco Seasoning on wooden table next to teaspoon.


    The #1 pice blend used at my house would have to be Taco Seasoning. From shredded chicken tacos to bean burritos to Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup, taco seasoning adds just the right amount of flavor to endless recipes.

    Instead of relying on store-bought seasoning packets, I opt to make my own taco seasoning, just as I prefer preparing homemade chili seasoning, dried onion soup mix, and ranch seasoning.

    why homemade taco seasoning is best

    • Homemade is more economical. I know I just said that the store-bought packets are cheap, but when you use taco seasoning several times per month, it still comes out to be less expensive to make your own.
    • Allergy-Friendly. This recipe for taco seasoning is free of the top 8 allergens--no need to carefully read labels to look for traces of gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, or nuts.
    • Quality Control. Most store-bought taco seasoning mixes are full of preservatives, MSG, and added sugars. Not to mention they are high in sodium. By making Taco Seasoning at home, you can skip all those additives AND you can customize your taco seasoning blend to suit your taste buds and dietary restrictions.
    • Easy. It is INCREDIBLY easy to make taco seasoning. Much easier than having to run out to the store to grab a packet when the craving for tacos strikes.
    • Flavorful. The dried spices I use in this recipe for taco seasoning are the perfect ratio to replicate the store-bought seasoning--without being overly salty!

    Spices in Taco Seasoning

    Spices for taco seasoning on wooden board labeled with text overlay.
    • Chili Powder: Use basic chili powder, not ancho chili powder or chipotle chili powder for the best balance of flavor.
    • Cumin: Use ground cumin, not cumin seed.
    • Paprika: Use regular paprika. While smoked paprika adds a nice smokey finish, it may overwhelm the seasoning blend.
    • Onion Powder
    • Garlic Powder
    • Dried Oregano: Italian or Mexican dried oregano both work in this taco seasoning recipe.
    • Red Pepper Flakes: Add a bit of balanced heat to the taco seasoning without being overly spicy.
    • Black Pepper
    • Salt: Use kosher salt for best results, as you it imparts more flavor using less sodium than table salt.

    ∗ important to remember ∗

    For optimum flavor, be sure you use dried herbs that are no more than 6 months old. As spices sit in the pantry, they begin to lose their flavor. 

    How to Make Taco Seasoning

    • In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix together until everything is well distributed.
    • Transfer the mixture to an airtight container for storage.

    Storage Instructions

    Be sure to store taco seasoning in an airtight jar or container, like a ball jar, or small spice jar, to keep out moisture and so that it will not absorb flavors from other spices in your spice cabinet.

    Homemade Taco Seasoning will last for up to 6 months when stored in an airtight container in the pantry. While certainly safe to consume after 6 months, the flavor will begin to lose potency.

    Recipe Modifications

    As stated earlier, by making your own Taco Seasoning, you can control the flavoring and adjust the seasonings to fit your taste buds.

    • Don't like garlic? Omit the garlic powder.
    • Can't handle the heat? Omit the red pepper flakes.
    • Like it spicier? Increase red pepper flakes from ¼ teaspoon to ½ teaspoon.
    • Need Sodium-Free or Low Sodium Taco Seasoning? Omit the salt completely or cut it in half. I promise this spice blend will still add great flavor to your recipes.

    How to Use Taco Seasoning

    This recipe for taco seasoning can be used in any recipe that calls for taco seasoning. And while it is the perfect seasoning for traditional ground beef tacos and Instant Pot chicken tacos, think outside the box and use taco seasoning to give your recipes a Mexican spin.

    • In place of salt, use 1-2 teaspoons of taco seasoning to season homemade fries.
    • Add taco seasoning to Crockpot Chicken Chili, Instant Pot Taco Chili, or Instant Pot Tortilla Soup to add a Tex-Mex flair to easy recipes.
    • Mix 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning with 1 cup of sour cream for a quick dressing for Taco Salad or Southwestern Chicken Salad.
    • Season Burgers with 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning to ground meat and form burgers with a Southwestern spin.
    • Add taco seasoning to Lentil Tacos, Cauliflower Tacos, or Black Bean Tacos for a meatless spin on taco night.
    • Make a creamy taco dip by adding taco seasoning to cream cheese and sour cream.
    • Add just the right flavor to Refried Beans, Rice and Beans, Bean Burritos, or Sweet Potato Burritos by using a homemade taco seasoning blend.

    More Homemade Spice Blends

    • Homemade Fajita Seasoning
    • Adobo Seasoning
    • Homemade Chili Seasoning
    • Old Bay Seasoning Recipe
    • Homemade Cajun Seasoning

    If you tried out this homemade version of taco seasoning I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

    Jar of Taco Seasoning

    Homemade Taco Seasoning

    This is an easy recipe for homemade taco seasoning made without preservatives, added gluten, dairy, corn, or sugars.
    4.96 from 24 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 20 packets
    Calories: 92kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 1 ¼ cup chili powder
    • ⅓ cup kosher salt
    • ½ cup cumin
    • ⅓ cup paprika
    • ¼ cup garlic powder
    • ¼ cup onion powder
    • ¼ cup black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • ½ tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Add the spices to a small mixing bowl or jar and mix to evenly combine.
    • Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and store in the pantry for up to 6 months.
    • For every 1 packet of taco seasoning, use 2 tablespoons of this homemade taco seasoning.

    Notes

    This recipe makes the equivalent of about 20 packets of store-bought taco seasoning packets.
    The nutrition is per PACKET of taco seasoning, which is about 10-12 servings per packet. 
    Low-Sodium Taco Seasoning: Cut the salt in half, or omit it completely for a salt-free version of taco seasoning. 
    For 1 Packet of Taco Seasoning (Small Batch)
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon oregano
    • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

    Nutrition

    Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1440mg | Potassium: 531mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5426IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 8mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. Jeanne

      December 17, 2022 at 6:18 pm

      4 stars
      I have been doing research on the amounts of sodium in food. According to the American Heart Association, your Nutritional values need to change on this great Taco Seasoning and many other recipes. Apparently the software you use is giving off false values. But those of us who search making our own seasonings need to have the proper amounts since the salt flavoring is so good and critical to both our cooking and health. This information can be found on the AHA web site. Thank you for the delicious recipes especially for the Instapot we have come to love.
      sodium in a given amount of salt:
      1/4 teaspoon salt = 575 mg sodium
      1/2 teaspoon salt = 1,150 mg sodium
      3/4 teaspoon salt = 1,725 mg sodium
      1 teaspoon salt = 2,300 mg sodium

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 21, 2022 at 7:28 am

        Hi Jeanne! I absolutely agree that having accurate information is crucial for dietary purposes. The nutritional info is based on 1 taco packet seasoning. This recipe makes 20 packets using a total of 16 teaspoons of KOSHER salt or 1/3 cup). Kosher salt actually only 1800 mg vs table salt which has 2300 mg. That can really add up to make a huge difference in a recipe or in your daily diet. 1/3 cup of Kosher Salt is the equivalent to 28,800 mg which when divided by 20 (for 20 packets of seasonings) equals 1440 mg per serving (which is what the nutritional information states). I hope that helps clear up any confusion 🙂

        Reply
    2. Randy Crum

      May 25, 2022 at 8:55 pm

      Great bulk taco seasoning recipe and terrific reasons why taco lovers should make it!!!!!

      Reply
    3. Terri

      May 10, 2022 at 8:49 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious. Thank you for the small amount directions. I ended up making more and tossed it with some popcorn. Maybe I should have just made a bigger amount to start with after all. Lol

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 11, 2022 at 6:10 am

        Next time 🙂 I am happy you enjoyed it so much Teri!

        Reply
    4. August VanAlmkerk

      April 02, 2022 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Kristen!!

      This is my go to now for taco seasoning it's so amazing and tastes just like store bought. The only issue I ever had was it not sticking to the meat loo ike the packets do. I now add just a little corn starch to the meat the very end to make it thicker. It's not a precise measurement each time but it works perfectly!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 03, 2022 at 7:56 am

        Thanks for sharing your cornstarch trick and the fact you enjoy the taco seasoning! 🙂

        Reply
      • Beth

        June 26, 2022 at 5:01 pm

        5 stars
        Great recipe, love having a big batch on hand! I keep making more. Thank you for sharing.

        Reply
    5. Terry

      March 13, 2022 at 11:40 am

      I love this taco seasoning mix. However, if I try to adjust the recipe to fewer than 20 packets, it converts it to metric measurements. I have used your DIY chili seasoning and Homemade Ranch Seasoning recipes too and when I converted them to less than 20 packets, it converted them correctly. Is there a way to fix this for the Taco Seasoning Mix?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 13, 2022 at 1:53 pm

        Hi Terry! I have tested this recipe on several devices and am not having the issue of the ingredients changing to metric measurements. I submitted a help ticket though to see if it can be fixed for you! So sorry!

        Reply
    6. Micki

      January 16, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! I used this in a bean taco recipe - just the perfect spice level. Thanks so much for adding the small batch instructions!

      Reply
    7. Gina

      January 16, 2022 at 10:34 am

      5 stars
      Love the idea of making my own rather than buying the packets which tend to have additives and way too much salt - so easy because these are spices I definitely have on hand already!

      Reply
    8. Rosalie

      August 05, 2021 at 7:57 pm

      I add coriander (1 tsp.), dash of oregano and a dash of red pepper flakes. After draining the cooked beef, I saute, finely chopped, a half green pepper , a half jalapeño and half red or yellow onion in evoo, low and slow, and 5 cloves of garlic minced. Add back the beef and add 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce and 1/4 c. of water. (Add more water as needed.)

      For taco salads, crisp iceberg lettuce, fresh tomato, diced red onion. Toss. Dump hot taco meaton top of salad,, top with grated sharp cheddar cheese, toss; add black olives and crushed corn chips. Serve with dab of sour cream and avocado makes it divine! Muy bueno.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        August 06, 2021 at 7:50 am

        Sounds like a WONDERFUL dinner! So glad you enjoyed.

        Reply
    9. Megan Hill

      May 21, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      I used this recipe to season some chicken breasts in the instant pot with some diced tomatoes and chicken broth, it tasted delicious! Also, I added this seasoning to white rice with some chipotle paste...it was better than I expected. Going to be making this recipe in bulk! Thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 22, 2021 at 8:22 am

        Thanks for sharing Megan! Glad you will be stocking up on this taco seasoning--I always have it on hand!

        Reply
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    It is time to save yourself money and make your own Taco Seasoning. Homemade Taco Seasoning is so incredibly simple to make! With this easy, cheaper healthier version of Taco Seasoning, you can say good-bye to the processed packets forever! 

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

    A Picture of A Mind"Full"Mom

    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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