Taco night was always one of my favourites when I was growing up and the key to good tacos is a tasty taco seasoning. Back then taco night was always from a box or a package and although I remember those meals fondly when I take a look at the ingredients and see things that I do not recognize and can’t really pronounce I just have to make my own. Homemade taco seasoning is actually really easy to make and you can control the amount of each ingredient so if you like things spicy you can increase the chili pepper powder and it you want to reduce the sodium you can easily cut back on the salt etc. This homemade taco seasoning consists of chili powder (ground chilies), cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and cayenne. This recipe makes enough for one taco night dinner with one pound of ground meat but feel free to make a much larger batch so that you have some on hand and you don’t have to make it every taco night. Once you try this homemade taco seasoning you will never go back to the store bought packaged stuff!
Taco Seasoning
Homemade taco seasoning that is perfect for taco night with ground meat or to season chicken or to season chili, etc.
ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder (toasted and ground dried chilies)
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
directions
- Mix everything thoroughly.
Taco Seasoned Ground Beef
Tacos
Taco Burgers
Taco Salad
Taco Dip
Taco Pizza
Taco Stuffed Shells
Taco Quesadilla Pizzas
Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Fajita Burgers
Hot Cheesy Bean Dip
Zucchini and Corn Taco Seasoned Quinoa Salad
Chipotle Tuna 7 Layer Dip
Taco Lime Grilled Chicken
Chicken Fajita Pasta
Creamy Avocado Zucchini Noodle Pasta with Taco Lime Grilled Shrimp
Taco Lime Grilled Shrimp
Chicken Fajita Soup
Baked Chicken Santa Fe
Pico de Gallo Chicken
Cheesy Beef Enchilada Tortellini Skillet
Chicken and Avocado Tacos
Cheesy Taco Pasta
Mexican Stuffed Peppers
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Nachos
Salsa Verde Baked Chicken
Taco Soup
Chile Con Queso Baked Chicken
Cheesy Beef Burrito Skillet
Mexican Beef and Bean Skillet Rice
Taco Egg Casserole
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken Fajita Casserole
Chicken Taco Tortilla Roll Ups
Mexican Street Corn Baked Chicken
A great seasoning! I make my own too…
Cheers,
Rosa
Wow, it's really incredible that you make everything yourself, down to the seasonings! I could only dream of such patience. But I'll definitely try this recipe!
I loved when my mother made tacos and back then, that meant the Old El Paso variety out of a box.
But now, I make our own taco seasoning, grill steak or chicken, and have great tacos. Ground beef works, but shredded beef or chicken makes it phenomenal.
Mmm, that does look good, what a great idea! I just saved the recipe 🙂
Wow, that's impressive. For some reason I thought I was just doomed to using those packets. Well, I probably still am since I'm moderately lazy. But at least you show there's an alternative!
Wow, the seasoning sounds great! Very versatile too!
Thank you! Love veggie tacos but have avoided them simply because of the packets. Now I can begin enjoying them again.
Oooh, I love tacos but hate the packaged seasoning 'cause they're so salty! I'll have to give yours a try.
Definitely want to try this seasoning. To think I've been using the packaged stuff…
Thank you for posting this! I have been wanting to make homemade taco seasoning for such a long time, but never came across any recipes that inspired me. This one (and your resulting tacos) definitely did! Can't wait to try it!
Sounds like a great blend you have here,I also like to make my own spice mixes.
zainab 🙂
This is good to have on hand!
I'm glad to see other people abandoning the packets, which generally have way too much sodium to be healthful.
This is the same recipe from Allrecipes that I've been using for a while because it let's me reduce the salt content of our taco meals (my husband has high blood pressure).
Besides using your own peppers to make the powder (which is good for controlling the heat when serving kids), you can also saute the meat with fresh garlic and onions instead of using the powdered garlic and onion in your mix. I also sometimes add a teaspoon or two of sugar depending on the bitterness from whatever pepper I'm using and also add between a couple teaspoons to a tablespoon of cornstarch to the dry mix, and about a third of a cup of water during cooking to the mixture. That makes it a little saucier (my kids seem to like it this way).
By the way, I can't say it enough — I always enjoy reading your blog.
I am so impressed that you can get such a good picture of your seasoning.
This is a great seasoning and so much better than what you can buy in a packet at the store.
I've started making my own seasoning mixtures as well – two of my favorites are my porcini mushroom dry rub for beef:
http://cookingwithmichele.blogspot.com/2009/06/snow-creek-ranch-strip-steaks-with.html
and my homemade seasoned salt which I wrote about in a food column for a local magazine:
http://www.cookingwithmichele.com/resources/Holiday+Food+Gifts+-+Buzz+Dec+2008.pdf
If you get your hands on some sweet smoked paprika try using that in place of regular paprika. The smokey flavour is amazing.
Hi Kevin, I had to tell you I made this taco seasoning and it was wonderful! I raved about it on my blog 🙂 Thanks!
http://bakeoff-flunkie.blogspot.com/2009/08/homemade-taco-seasoning.html
Mmmmn, I love tacos and I hate buying the seasoning so I will give a homemade seasoning a try once again. I tried another one before and well it just wasn't very good. But this one sounds good just looking at the ingredients.
Hope you don't mind, gave some link love to ya on my blog.
Thanks for the seasoning recipe. I used it tonight when I made tacos. I used the Mealstarters meat substitute and this as my seasoning and it was great!
I love that you post these types of recipes! It de-mystifies some of the spice blends that are pre-packaged out there.
Thanks for this recipe – you really disenchanted the store bought mix! Way to go!
I've made this twice now, Its very, very good.
Fun seasoning for so many things!
Love skipping the grocery store lines, DIY all the way! We've been doing it for years too…
Looks great! I am preparing the same seasoning taco and other herbs. Luckily, I have a garden and some of my seasoning are directly from my garden. I love your blog, keep posting 😛
it's always better homemade! Especially when it comes to all things taco!!
It is a good blend but I would kick it up with either chipotle pepper or smoked parpika, hot of course.
la pimienta de cayena es la que en peru conocemos con aji especial rojo si o no gracias, doris castillo
la pimienta de cayena es la que en peru conocemos con aji especial rojo si o no gracias, doris castillo
DORIS CASTILLO: I am not familiar with the aji especial rojo but it sounds like it is a hot pepper so you should be able to use it in place of the cayenne pepper.
Kevin:
I’m WAY late with my comment but I think that Doris is asking you if Cayenne Pepper is the same thing that she knows as aji especial rojo in Peru and the answer would be that, “Yes, it is very similar.”
Hi – I want to make a large jar of this seasoning and was wondering if multiplying the quantities was fine when mixing?
anabanana: Multiplying the quantities works great! I usually make big batches!
Kevin: Definitely going to try this soon. I noticed that there is no water or tomatoes sauce in the directions. Is is correct? Thanks
I use this on my chicken tacos and it flavors everything nicely. Can this be used for fajitas as well?
Yes it can!
Tastes great! I usually add a bit extra cayenne, cumin, and add some crushed chili flakes. The best thing about tacos is that you can add basically whatever you like! Sometimes I add chipotle chili powder instead of cayenne (heck, usually I just throw both in there) or add cracked peppercorns. Throwing in some lime or lemon juice while cooking also turns out amazing. Making your own spice mixes is super easy! I quadruple, quintuple, sextuple this recipe each time I make it. I never seem to have oregano on hand so 1 1/4 tsp marjoram works quite nicely, or thyme in a pinch.
I love the cute little spice jars. Where did you get them?
I’m glad to see so many other people making their own seasonings. I starting doing this about 8 years ago when I had to reduce salt in things. It’s so easy, and I always have the spices around. The recipe I use which I have modified with lower salt is very similar.. I figured I can always add salt when I’m making tacos.
I also make seasoning for Lipton Onion Soup Mix. I can control the salt on that, it’s easy to make, and you don’t have to worry about running out! (The reason I went digging to find it!)
Love your recipes Keven, I even tag them Closetcookfing in my recipe program. That way I can always find your recipes. I use so many of them!
For this current batch, I used half ground morita pepper and half ground pasilla pepper, plus freshly-ground cumin. I also accidentally doubled the cornstarch, which led to some lovely crisp bits on the chicken thighs. So, so delicious!