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Taco Seasoning is one of the easiest things to make and the flavor is far-superior to any store-bought packet! Ready in minutes using staples you likely have on hand, this all-purpose taco seasoning is the best way to add flavor to tacos and more!
Why Homemade Taco Seasoning?
Whether you have run out of taco seasoning or you simply want to have a little quality control over your seasoning blends--you will LOVE this recipe for homemade taco seasoning!
Homemade taco seasoning gives you full control-no weird additives, allergens, or extra sodium. Plus, it's super easy to whip up with pantry spices, and you can tweak it just how you like.
Even better? The flavor is so much better! Perfect for taco meat, taco pizza, taco dip and so much more!
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Recipe Highlights
Ingredients in Taco Seasoning
Taco seasoning is made with salt, pepper, and simple dried spices. You likely have everything on hand to make this blend, but I do have a few notes on a couple of ingredients.
- Chili Powder: Use basic chili powder, not ancho chili powder or chipotle chili powder for the best balance of flavor.
- Paprika: Regular, not smoked paprika, as the smoky undertones overwhelm the spice blend.
- Dried Oregano: Italian or Mexican dried oregano both work equally well.
- Red Pepper Flakes: I prefer red pepper flakes over cayenne pepper, as it adds heat without being overly intense.
- Salt: Use kosher salt not iodized salt (table salt), as kosher salt enhances the flavor and contains less sodium per teaspoon.
Kristen's Tip
For optimum flavor in your taco seasoning, be sure you use dried spices 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
- Place the salt, pepper, and dried spices into a small jar, like a ball jar, or small spice jar.
- Seal the jar and give it a good shake until everything is well distributed and store in cool, darky pantry for up to 6 months.
How to Use Taco Seasoning
For every 1 packet of taco seasoning, use 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning. Or think outside the box and use this Tex Mex blend to add flavor to endless dishes.
- For Tacos: Perfect way to flavor ground beef tacos, shredded chicken tacos, black bean tacos, sweet potato tacos, lentil tacos, and more!
- Season Tex-Mex Dishes: Beyond tacos, taco seasoning adds just the right flavor to bean burritos, turkey taco skillet, Instant Pot refried beans, Instant Pot Spanish rice, and more!
- Jazz up Cozy Soups and Chilis: Taco seasoning is perfect for crockpot chicken chili, Instant Pot taco chili, or Instant Pot tortilla soup.
- Make a Creamy Taco Dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning with 1 cup of sour cream and the juice of a fresh lime for a quick dressing for taco Salad or southwest chicken salad.
- Make a Taco Burger: Season 1 pound of ground beef with 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning to form burgers.
- Flavor Potatoes: In place of salt, use 1-2 teaspoons of taco seasoning to season homemade fries, air fryer fries, or roasted red potatoes.
Recipe Modifications
- Don't like garlic? Omit the garlic powder.
- Can't handle the heat? Omit the red pepper flakes.
- Like it spicier? Double the amount of crushed red pepper flakes used OR replace it with cayenne pepper.
- Sodium-Free/Lower Sodium Taco Seasoning: Omit the salt completely or cut it in half. I promise this spice blend will still add great flavor to your Tex Mex recipes.
More Homemade Spice Blends
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Video
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
Instructions
- Add 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, and ½ tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes 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
- 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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was originally published in 2014 and updated in 2025.
Yum! I used this in a bean taco recipe - just the perfect spice level. Thanks so much for adding the small batch instructions!
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!
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.
Sounds like a WONDERFUL dinner! So glad you enjoyed.
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
Thanks for sharing Megan! Glad you will be stocking up on this taco seasoning--I always have it on hand!
Made tacos today and the beef filling was really good. Used this recipe! Thank you!!
At my house we use left over taco meat the next day for fried rice, (onion, garlic, frozen veggies, cooked rice and taco meat) which I also like to put in a wrap with lettuce, tomato and hotsauce, just a few ideas...
How much paprika for the bulk recipe??
1/4 cup of paprika 🙂