Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning

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Less than 10 minutes to mix together a big batch of this Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning and so much yummy flavor! You’ll also be rewarded with your own delicious seasoning blend, with no strange artificial ingredients you can’t pronounce and no added sugar either. This taco seasoning recipe is mild, but you can make it spicy if desired. You’ll find a whole list below of taco-inspired recipes to use this seasoning. And of course, you can use this to make the all-American style taco as well.

A clear glass jar of Taco Seasoning with a silver spoon in it and a light brown background.

What’s in those taco seasoning packets anyway? Well… as it would turn out, quite a few ingredients you might not want to eat.

And here’s the thing, mixing up your own taco seasoning is so easy you can mix up a batch in minutes! It’s an extra bonus that making your own seasoning is also budget-friendly.

I buy my spices in the bulk section at our local health food stores. From there you measure out 5 spices, add the optional salt, and you’re ready to go. Best of all, this easy recipe tastes better than store-bought taco seasoning.

A black colored tablespoon filled with Taco Seasoning on a marble background.

Ingredients & Substitutions

All the spices for Taco Seasoning in small bowls on a wood cutting board, cumin, chili powder, granulated garlic, granulated onion, and chipotle.
  • Cumin – is one of the main flavors you taste in taco seasoning along with chili powder.
  • Chili powder – look for chili powder that’s mild and there’s no salt added. Of course, you can use hot chili powder, but your seasoning would be really spicy.
  • Chipotle powder – ground chipotle powder adds depth and a touch of smoky flavor to this taco seasoning. It’s definitely worth a place in your spice drawer! This seasoning is created to be mild, so you can always add more chipotle for a kick. Or you can sub in smoked paprika so your seasoning has absolutely no heat at all. You could also add cayenne pepper to taste if you love spicy food.
  • Granulated garlic & onion – you can see from the photo that granulated garlic is like garlic powder but with more texture. You want to look for any brand that doesn’t have salt in it. Both granulated garlic and onion have a wonderful lightly ‘toasty’ flavor that really makes this taco seasoning.
  • Sea salt – is totally optional in this seasoning recipe. I like to add just a touch to be more like the store-bought packets. Plus that way I don’t have to season my recipes so much. But you can omit it and season whatever recipe you use this seasoning in to taste.

Note: most taco seasoning mixes also use a bit of oregano, but we find we like taco seasoning more without it.

How to make this recipe step by step

Cumin, chili powder, granulated onion and garlic, sea salt, and chipotle in small bowls on a marble background.

Step 1: Start by measuring out all your spices.

All the Taco Seasoning spices added to a white bowl.

Step 2: Next add them all to a small bowl.

Mixing together all the spice for Taco Seasoning in a white bowl.

Step 3: Then stir the spices together to combine breaking up any clumps.

Finished Taco Seasoning in a clear glass jar with a silver spoon in it.

Step 4: Transfer your taco seasoning to an airtight sealed container and use it within 1 year for the best freshness!

Quick Tip: 2 tbsp of this homemade Taco Seasoning is the perfect amount for 1 pound of ground beef.

Side view of a clear glass jar filled with Taco Seasoning with a black and white striped linen in the background.

Ways to serve this

  • Use this seasoning as you would to make classic American-style tacos. Use 2 tbsp for 1 pound of ground beef and serve with tortillas, grated cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and sour cream.
  • 2 tbsp of this seasoning is the perfect amount to replace 1 seasoning packet, so you can use this seasoning in any taco-inspired recipe you’d like.
  • Try my Sweet Potato Taco Bowls, Turkey Taco Salad, Taco Sweet Potato Noodle Bowls, or my Loaded Taco Salad.

FAQ’s

Do you season taco meat before or after cooking?

You want to season your taco meat after it’s mostly cooked and you’ve broken it up into small bits. When the ground beef is almost fully cooked, add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and cook just until the beef is done but still juicy.

How much taco seasoning do I use with 1 pound of ground beef?

2 tbsp of taco seasoning is a perfect ratio with 1 pound of meat. You can use taco seasoning with chicken, ground beef, ground pork, ground turkey, or pretty much any tender cut of meat.

Do you drain off ground beef before adding taco seasoning?

Yes, but only if there’s excess grease pooling in the bottom of the pan. If you use lean ground beef, you won’t need to drain the ground beef before adding the taco seasoning. If you drain the ground beef, it’s sometimes helpful to add a bit of water to the pan along with the taco seasoning so the beef doesn’t dry out while the spices have a chance to get combined.

Storing leftovers

  • To store – place your homemade taco seasoning into an airtight container and store it in a dark place like your pantry or spice drawer for up to 1 year for the best freshness. A small mason jar with a tight-fitting lid also works really well for storage.
  • Make ahead – make a double or triple batch of you make tacos often and you’ll always have homemade taco seasoning ready to go.
Side view of all the Taco Seasoning measured out in small bowl.

Tips & Tricks

  • Look for bulk spices wherever you can get the best deal. I buy mine in the bulk section at Natural Grocers and it makes it really budget-friendly/affordable to make your own seasoning mixes.
  • Add 1 tsp of smoked paprika for an extra smoky flavor, it’s one of our favorite flavor variations.
  • It really is worth buying granulated garlic and granulated onion rather than garlic powder/onion powder. The flavor is better (in my opinion) and you can use any leftovers you have in place of garlic/onion powder in your other recipes.

Enjoy this taco seasoning with my Creamy Taco Soup, Turkey Taco Salad, or my Taco Bowls.

Straight down view of a large white pot filled with Creamy Taco Soup.

Recipe Inspiration

I really hope you enjoy this Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe! If you do get a chance to make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Also if you love making your own seasoning, you might enjoy my Fajita Seasoning recipe as well.

Finished Taco Seasoning in a clear glass jar with a silver spoon in it.

Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning


5 from 2 votes
Author: Kari Peters
Total Time 10 minutes
Yield: 16
Course: Kitchen Basics

INGREDIENTS  

  • 2 tbsp ground cumin
  • 3 tbsp chili powder - mild, unsalted
  • 1 tsp chipotle chili powder - or smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp granulated onion - no salt
  • 1 tbsp granulated garlic - no salt
  • 1 tbsp sea salt - or to your taste

INSTRUCTIONS 

  • Measure out the spices, then mix together all the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
  • Transfer the finished taco seasoning to an airtight container and store in a cool dark place up to 1 year.
  • Use 2 tbsp taco seasoning for every 1 pound ground beef or your choice of meat.
Bonus StepIf you made this recipe, please leave a rating/comment. Ratings really help us continue to bring you high-quality free recipes. Rate This Recipe!

NOTES

This recipe makes about 8 tbsp taco seasoning which is enough for 4 pounds of meat. The nutrition info was calculated for 1 of 16 servings.
Since my original recipe, I’ve added a touch more granulated garlic to make this just a smidge better. This recipe is very mild, but you can use the smoked paprika for no heat at all.
Category: Kitchen Basics
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keywords: Easy Taco Seasoning, Homemade Taco Seasoning, Recipe for Taco Seasoning, Taco Seasoning Recipe, Taco Seasoning Recipe Mild

nutrition facts

Calories: 12kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 465mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 491IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
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4 thoughts on “Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning”

  1. 5 stars
    So much better than buying it! It’s the right amount of heat for every bite. I made a big batch of it about 7 months ago and use it for tacos, enchiladas, anything Tex Mex. A friend suggested on popcorn and it was good change for popcorn!

    Reply
    • I like to brown the ground beef in a cast iron skillet over high heat, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Then when the beef is almost done, I add the seasoning and stir to combine cooking just until the beef is done. I have directions for this in my Taco Sweet Potato Noodle Bowls if you want to take a look at that recipe for extra details. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!

      Reply

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