Easy homemade copycat Taco Seasoning recipe. No need to buy this spice from the grocery store when you can make it at home.
Has this ever happened to you: you are in the middle of making a recipe and you look in your cupboard and realize that you do not have one of the main ingredients? That happens to me ALL the time, especially if that ingredient is a spice.
Now that the weather is getting colder, I am not likely to want to go to the grocery store to buy it. But why buy it when you can make it yourself?
Why have I never realized how easy it is to make Taco Seasoning at home?
I always have the ingredients to make it at home, and yet I always end up buying the packets of seasoning from the stores.
No more! I am going to be making it at home from now on. (Just like how I am saving a lot of money on bubble tea now that I make the Tapioca Pearls at home).
Taco Seasoning Ingredients
There is no reason NOT to make your own taco seasoning at home. All you need are a couple of pantry staples from your spice cabinet:
- chili powder
- garlic powder
- crushed red pepper flakes
- dried oregano
- smoked paprika (regular paprika works too)
- ground cumin
- salt
- black pepper
That’s it!!
Tips
Storage: The best way to store your homemade spice mix is in a small airtight container at room temperature. Old empty spice jars are a great place to store them, but if you make a big batch of this recipe, a mason jar would work just as good.
How much does this recipe replace? This homemade version is equivalent to a packet of taco seasoning.
What to use your homemade taco seasoning mix in. This seasoning blend is perfect to mix into your taco meat on taco Tuesday. If your recipe calls for taco seasoning packets, simply replace the store-bought taco blend with this recipe. Mix it in with one pound of ground beef (or ground turkey or ground chicken for leaner options).
Variations
Reduce the salt. The recipe as-is uses 1 teaspoon of salt. If you think that’s too much salt, or you want less salt content in your cooking, I would suggest removing it altogether.
Amp up the heat. Like a hotter spice mixture? I like replacing the paprika for extra hot cayenne pepper or more chili pepper.
Taco Recipes
Want to make use of this easy taco seasoning recipe? Try some of my favorite recipes for taco night:
If you try this recipe, let me know! Rate it, leave a comment and tag me with #atasteofmadness on Instagram! I always love seeing what you are creating!
Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. Store in an airtight container.
Marlynn
homemade taco seasoning is the best! Makes such a difference in cooking. Love how long it can last too.
atasteofmadness
Yes agree!! Can’t believe I have never done it before until now!!
Tammy
I love homemade spice blends. This is great to have on hand and would be delicious for a variety of dishes!
atasteofmadness
Agree! Love to have it on hand. Thanks Tammy 🙂
Chris Collins
I’ve always wondered how to make taco seasoning, I didn’t realise it was this simple! Can’t wait to try it out 🙂
atasteofmadness
Let me know how it goes 🙂
Jere Cassidy
This taco seasoning is just so easy and I love the freshness. Why buy store-bought when you can make this.
atasteofmadness
Agree! So much better to make it yourself 😉
Andrea Metlika
This is a perfect seasoning for me. I believe homemade combinations are the best.
atasteofmadness
Me too! Thanks Andrea 🙂