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July 5, 2022

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

Name: Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 Tbsp chili powder; 2 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp paprika (preferably smoked paprika); 1 tsp fine sea salt; 1 tsp ground black pepper; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

Homemade Taco Seasoning is so easy to make, you’ll want it to be Taco Tuesday all week long. It’s healthier than store-bought, you’ll save money making your own, and it tastes so much better without cheap fillers. All you need are some Crispy Taco Shells to go with it.

We love making our own kitchen staples from Homemade BBQ Sauce to Pesto Sauce. If you are a fan of homemade seasonings, this Taco Seasoning will become your new favorite.

Overhead view of homemade taco seasoning in jar

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Taco Seasoning Recipe

I’m all about convenience when it comes to cooking, but I also want to balance that with affordability and quality. Seasonings packets are definitely easy, but you’re paying more for something that’s not as good as homemade. After inspecting the labels on store-bought packets, I realized that corn meal was the main ingredient in the brand I used to buy. Say what?!

Corn meal is a cheap filler and it’s often a GMO ingredient. Why pay for that when you can skip the fillers and make your own taco seasoning with ingredients you probably already have on hand?

Best of all, when you don’t use those filler ingredients, the taco seasoning tastes better. We did a blind comparison between store-bought and homemade taco seasoning recipe and the homemade version won the taste test every single time.

Jar of homemade taco seasoning with spoonful of seasoning next to it

Why DIY Taco Seasoning is Best?

This seasoning is perfect for Taco Recipes such as Fish Tacos, Ground Beef Tacos, you name it! You can use this for any recipe that calls for taco seasoning. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:

No MSG, no fillers, and no sugar – Yes, in addition to corn meal, store-bought often has MSG and sugar added.
Keeps well – Store in a jar with a lid and it will last in the pantry for a few months, without the preservatives in taco seasoning packets.
High-quality – You control the ingredients so you can buy quality spices.
Easy – Combine the ingredients and you’re done.

Ingredients

What is taco seasoning? It’s essentially a blend of seasonings that work well together for seasoning Mexican or Tex-Mex foods.

Chili powder – a blend of a few different varieties of dried chiles so the flavor can vary between brands.
Ground cumin – Next to chili powder, cumin is the most important ingredient in taco seasoning. It adds an earthy flavor and aroma.
Paprika – Use smoked paprika if you have it.
Salt and Pepper – we use fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
Garlic powder – Another key ingredient that adds garlic flavor.
Onion powder – adds mild onion flavor to the seasoning.
Dried oregano – any kind will work, but for more authentic flavor, if you have it, use Mexican oregano.
Red pepper flakes – or substitute a dash of cayenne pepper.

Overhead view of spices for making DIY Taco Seasoning

Pro Tip: Smell your spices before making this recipe. It may sound strange, but this is the best way to know if herbs and spices are past their prime. If they don’t have much of an aroma, it’s time to replace them.

Substitutions

Spicy Taco Seasoning – This is a pretty mild taco seasoning. To make it spicier, substitute chili powder with Mexican Hot Chili Powder or add more dried chili flakes
Low sodium – you can use less salt in your taco seasoning if you are trying to reduce your salt intake.
Gluten-free – the ingredients in this taco seasoning should be naturally gluten-free, but check the labels of your individual spices to ensure they are all gluten-free.

How to Make Taco Seasoning

Once you see how easy it is to make your own taco seasoning, you’ll always want the homemade version. The process is quick and so easy and you can easily double or triple the recipe.

Gather the ingredients – Grab all the spices you need from your pantry.
Combine – Measure each ingredient and place them all into a small bowl. Stir to combine.
Store – Transfer the seasoning to an airtight container and keep it on hand for all your future taco needs.

Side by side photos showing process of making taco seasoning

Pro Tip: Use a small kitchen funnel to help you transfer the taco seasoning to the storage jar without spilling.

How Much Taco Seasoning is in 1 packet?

We substitute DIY taco seasoning in the same amount as what is in a packet. Typically 2 Tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning is equal to 1 packet of storebought seasoning.

How to Use Taco Seasoning

In addition to using taco seasoning for Taco Recipes, you can use it for:

Ground Beef – for a pound of ground beef, add two tablespoons of this seasoning, along with 1/2 cup of water. This seasoned ground beef is great for Taco Salad.
Flavored Butter: Mash the seasoning into softened butter and spread onto Instant Pot Corn on the Cob or Grilled Corn.
Seasoning – for Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries and of course Easy Taco Soup.

Make-Ahead

Shelf-life: Homemade seasoning keeps really well. Depending on the freshness of the spices you use, you can count on it lasting at least 6 months.
How to Store: I like to keep the seasoning in a jar with an airtight lid. Like other spices, it should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place, like your pantry. You can use spice jars or any small lidded container. See our Kitchen Organization post for how we set up our spice drawer.

Storing spices in spice jars in a drawer.

This DIY taco seasoning recipe is easy to make, cheaper than store-bought packets, and it tastes better, too. Plus, when you make it yourself, you’re in control of the ingredients, which means no sugar, fillers, or preservatives.

More Tex-Mex Recipes to Try

If you love this taco seasoning, then you won’t want to miss these Tex-Mex recipes.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

5 from 67 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Once you try this homemade taco seasoning blend, you'll never want to use store-bought again. This DIY Taco seasoning is so versatile for tacos, taco soup, and taco salad, as a seasoning for veggies, you name it! This recipe makes 3 Tbsp of seasoning.

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

Course: Condiments

Cuisine: Mexican, Tex Mex

Keyword: homemade taco seasoning, taco seasoning, taco seasoning recipe

Skill Level: Easy

Calories: 7

Servings: 9 Servings (1 tsp per serving)

Ingredients

1 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika, preferably smoked paprika
1 tsp fine sea salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Pinch red pepper flakes, optional

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a small bowl, add all of the taco seasoning ingredients. Stir to combine and store homemade taco seasoning in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Recipe Notes

*Nutrition label is calculated per 1 teaspoon of homemade taco seasoning.

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 7 Calories from Fat 3

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.3g0%

Saturated Fat 0.04g0%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g

Sodium 274mg12%

Potassium 38mg1%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 0.1g0%

Protein 0.3g1%

Vitamin A 382IU8%

Vitamin C 0.1mg0%

Calcium 11mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclosure

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.