I used to be a “seasoning packet” junkie. Store-bought packets of taco seasoning seemed so easy. But really, if you have a decently stocked spice cabinet, making your own homemade taco seasoning takes just a few minutes and costs less. I’ve experimented with different combinations of spices for taco seasoning over the years and I think I’ve found the winner! One batch of this super tasty homemade taco seasoning is roughly equal to one store-bought packet and it’s 10 times more flavorful. You can even mix up big batches of it and store it pre-mixed in an air-tight container for quick use later!
Why make homemade taco seasoning?
While it’s easy to just buy a pre-made mix, you can control the ingredients, freshness, and flavor of your homemade taco seasoning. So if you like your tacos extra smoky, go ahead and add more smoked paprika! Need low sodium? Mix up your own taco seasoning and use less salt. You have all the control when you make your own!
What’s in Taco Seasoning?
This homemade taco seasoning recipe has just seven simple ingredients that you probably have in your pantry right now! Taco seasoning is made with:
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Ground cumin
- Cayenne pepper
- Oregano
- Salt
- Pepper
Customize Your Taco Seasoning
Here are a few substitutions and add-ins you can use to customize your taco seasoning to fit your budget and supplies:
- Smoked Paprika – I really think the smoked paprika made the flavor of this seasoning pop, but if you can’t get it, you can use regular paprika in its place.
- Garlic Powder and Onion Powder – When I make taco meat I generally am also adding a diced onion and a clove or two of minced garlic, so I didn’t include any garlic powder or onion powder in this mix. If you prefer not to use fresh onion and garlic in your recipe, you can add 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp onion powder to the recipe below.
- Low Sodium – Feel free to reduce the salt content to meet your sodium needs. Keep in mind that salt does help make other flavors pop, so the taco seasoning might not be as vibrant with less sodium.
- Make it mild – If heat isn’t your jam, simply reduce or eliminate the cayenne pepper. You’ll also want to make sure you’re using a mild chili powder. The heat level of chili powder can vary from brand to brand.
- Cornstarch – If you like your taco meat to have a slightly saucy consistency, add 1/2 tsp of cornstarch to your spice mix and add 1/3 cup water to your taco meat or beans when you add the spices. The water and cornstarch will create a nice taco-flavored sauce to coat the meat or beans.
How to Use Taco Seasoning:
Brown the ground meat first, then add one batch of the taco seasoning recipe below and continue to sauté for about two minutes more to toast the spices. For beans, simply add the spices and heat through. If you plan to use this taco seasoning for whole chicken breasts, simply sprinkle the taco seasoning over the entire surface of the chicken breast, then cook in a skillet until browned on the outside and cooked through. You can also use it to season potatoes or chicken before roasting.
How Much Should I Use in a Recipe?
This taco seasoning can be used in any recipe in place of one store-bought taco seasoning packet, which will season approximately one pound of ground beef, turkey, or chicken, or about 3 cups of cooked beans. The recipe below makes approximately 2 Tbsp of seasoning, so if you plan to scale the recipe up to make the seasoning in bulk, use about 2 tablespoons of seasoning for every one pound of meat.
How to Use Taco Seasoning
This simple taco seasoning can be used to season any type of meat, seafood, or vegetables. Here are a few recipes that use taco seasoning to inspire you:
How to Store Homemade Taco Seasoning
As with any dried herb or spice, this taco seasoning should be stored in an air-tight container and away from heat and direct sunlight. The lifespan of this seasoning will vary depending on the freshness of the herbs and spices you used to make this seasoning blend. Rather than going “bad”, dried herbs and spices slowly lose their flavor and potency over time, so for best results it’s recommended to use them within one year.
Note: I use a flat cost estimate for herbs and spices because they’re just too hard to measure and weigh such small quantities, so this cost is purely an estimate. I generally estimate ten cents for every teaspoon of an herb or spice, unless it’s a particularly expensive item. For salt, I generally estimate half that. So, take the cost of this recipe with a grain of salt (pun intended).
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Servings 1 recipeIngredients
- 1 Tbsp chili powder ($0.30)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika ($0.10)
- 1 tsp cumin ($0.10)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp oregano ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp salt ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp 15 cranks fresh black pepper ($0.05)
Instructions
- Combine everything in a small bowl and stir until evenly mixed. Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container, away from heat and sunlight, until ready to use.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!
Better and cheaper then package
Yummmmmmm
So much better then the packets.
I ran out of package mix while preparing dinner, so I tried this recipe. My family was in awe, they said the taco meat was the best I’d ever prepared, everyone went back for 2nds & 3rds. I don’t buy package mix any more, I keep this on hand. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
Can I just say that 1. I have used the recipe SO many times, thank you for it! and 2. Thank you for providing pepper amount in cranks as well lol.
I don’t add any garlic and onion and it is a wonderful low fodmap seasoning option! My daughter likes it better than packaged mixes. Thanks so much for this.
I made this to go with black bean quesadillas and it was very tasty and easy to do. I also felt like a real cook, making this sort of thing from scratch!
Beth,
This is the third Christmas that I am making an 8x batch of your taco seasoning for my family, they always request it. My grandkids send me photos of how they use it, I always put it in a cute jar.
Thank you, Beth
That is so cool!! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. :)
Great taco seasoning! Most of the taco seasoning sold in the grocery store has MSG and gives me a terrible headache. I love that I can make my own.
My husband and I go through a ton of this, I make a 24x batch at a time now so I don’t have to make it every other week. Super tasty and easy!
could you perhaps include a metric converter switch for the website?
My boyfriend has a severe onion allergy but loves tacos! This recipe was a lifesaver! Now I make this in bulk and store it. Everyone in my house loves it and it is so much cheaper and SO easy!
I absolutely love this recipe! I use it all the time and have never bought another packet of seasoning again.
Just back here for the millionth time to get this recipe to use for quesadillas as it never sticks in my head. 😂
Finally just going to write it down and stick it to the fridge, so thought it was time to give you the rating you deserve!
Thank you so much for this great recipe and the black bean quesadillas ❤️
My family loved this recipe…. we are cooking at home much more as of late, due to “social distancing.” I used this with ground turkey and my kids loved it; my middle one said its his new favorite recipe. Thanks!
How do I know how much of the mix to use for one pound or 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef?
In the text portion of the post (preceding the actual recipe/instructions) it is indicated that one batch of the combined ingredients is equivalent to a commercial packet of taco seasoning. The commentary also mentions using one recipe to season one pound of ground meat – beef, turkey, chicken – or three cups of canned beans.