Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

If you've ever wondered how to make taco seasoning, you're in luck! Homemade taco seasoning is a versatile pantry staple that can be used to add flavor in lots of different types of recipes. I've been making this recipe for many many years now, and my family absolutely loves it!

Tacos make for such an easy meal. I buy taco seasoning mix from the store, and it works in a pinch. But those seasoning packets are easy to make in a big batch at home with ingredients that you already likely have in your pantry!

We love using this homemade taco seasoning on ground meat (or vegan ground meat substitutes), in vegetarian tacos, chicken enchiladas, and our favorite layered taco dip.

Jump to:

• 🧡 Why we love this recipe
• 📝 Ingredients
• 🧂 A Note About Salt
• ✅ How to make this recipe
• 🌮 How to make taco meat using taco seasoning mix
• 💡 Recipes that use homemade taco seasoning
• 🍴 Variations
• 🥡 Equipment and storage
• 🍽️ Still hungry? You may also like...
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

🧡 Why we love this recipe

• It uses spices that we always have on hand in the pantry.
• This spice blend stores beautifully in the pantry.
• It's easily scalable - make as little or as much as you'd like to keep on hand.
• Homemade spice mixes make great gifts!
• Making your own taco seasoning mix saves on waste - no more single-use packets.

📝 Ingredients

Here's everything you need to make a batch of homemade taco seasoning (see recipe card below for ingredient amounts and full directions):

• Chili powder
• Ground cumin
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Dried oregano
• Ground sweet paprika
• Cushed red pepper flakes

✅ How to make this recipe

There's nothing really to making this recipe - just pop all of the ingredients into a bowl mix to combine. I like putting it in a jar with a lid and shaking it all together.

If you plan on giving this spice blend as a gift, I recommend layering the spices into a jar so it looks pretty.

You can label the jar with a label maker if you'd like. It'd be nice to also include a little card with instructions for use.

See recipe card below for full instructions.

🌮 How to make taco meat using taco seasoning mix

To make tacos (per pound of ground meat or vegan ground meat substitute):

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground protein and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula, until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat from the pan, if applicable. (I like using a baster to transfer the fat to a heat-safe bowl).
2. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix onto the meat and continue to cook for a minute or two, stirring to combine. Add ⅔ cup cold water and bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces and thickens, about 3 minutes longer.
3. Serve with tortillas and your favorite toppings.

💡 Recipes that use homemade taco seasoning

Here are some of are my family's favorite recipes that utilize this taco seasoning mix:

🍴 Variations

Feel free to scale back on the red pepper flakes if you prefer a more mild taco seasoning mix. This particular recipe has a little heat, but it's absolutely a personal preference.

I've actually gone back and edited the recipe to recommend starting with just 1 teaspoon since my original recommendation of 2 made it fairly spicy. So feel free to start low and add more if desired.

Likewise, feel free to amp it up and add more if you like things more firey!

🥡 Equipment and storage

Once your taco seasoning is mixed, you can pour it into your storage container(s) of choice.

You may need to use a small metal funnel to help guide some of the spices into the jars. I found it helpful for the more finely ground ingredients depending on the with of your jar's opening.

Store your homemade seasoning blend in an airtight container (like a tightly closed spice jar) in a cool, dry place.

When choosing a storage location for your spices, it's best to keep them away from heat sources. That's why storing them next to your oven isn't recommended.

It's preferable to keep them in a dark place, or at least away from direct sunlight, to retain maximum flavor.

This blend will keep for several months, stored properly in your pantry or cabinet.

🍽️ Still hungry? You may also like...

Looking for more homemade spice blends? Try these:

Doing some online shopping? Check out my Amazon shop page for recommendations!

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📖 Recipe