Homemade Taco Seasoning allows you to season dishes exactly the way you like making it perfect for people on special diets or those who like to control intensity!
Have you ever read the back of those seasoning packets? If you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t be eating it and with the preservatives, in many of them, you wonder how fresh can they really be? Homemade Taco Seasoning tastes better and you have exactly what you want at any given time.
It’s no secret that my mother didn’t enjoy cooking. That being said, I thought she made the best tacos, chili, and cheeseburger macaroni recipes.
A lot of her recipes was printed on the back of a packet or a box but we were good eaters and didn’t care.
She inherited my grandmother’s spice rack and I just always figured it was something every kitchen had on the wall and never used.
I got one of those spice racks after getting married and kept spices that I didn’t use or even like for years too. Waste not and all of that I guess. But my OC got the better of me and I had to get organized.
As a result, I surveyed my foodie friends and asked for their suggestions and you can see the results in this post.
Now I only buy what I use and make a lot of my own seasoning blends for these reasons:
- no preservatives
- intensity control
- flavor and freshness
- no waste
- availability
- salt control
Homemade Taco Seasoning is so good in so many dishes! Here are some favorites!
- Chicken Taco Salad Bowl
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork Tacos
- Crockpot Chipotle Chicken
- Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe
Don’t have time to make it now? Pin it for later!
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Mexican oregano dried
- 1 tsp cumin ground
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne ground (1/2 for more heat)
- 1/2 tsp paprika ground
- 1 tsp salt kosher
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in an airtight container such as a spice jar
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
This taco seasoning was a lot of experimenting. John likes a lot of heat. I like more of a subtle heat. Taco seasoning isn’t just for tacos either and making homemade taco seasoning means I have it on hand for when I need it. What is the most popular seasoning mix in your kitchen? Leave me a comment below with your answer.
Here are a couple more of my homemade seasonings that are always in my cabinet.
Blackened Seasoning Blend Recipe
Julie’s Spice Rub Recipe
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Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons
Thursday 8th of March 2018
I’ve pinned this one, such a useful mix. So many of the commercial ones have MSG, sugar and too much salt. Thanks.
Julie Menghini
Monday 12th of March 2018
Thank you so much Liz! I think I'm sensitive to MSG and try not to use any products that use it.
frugal hausfrau
Sunday 4th of March 2018
I love making my spice blends, but I'm checking out your very own house seasoning, next! I think my favorite blends are the Mexican style ones.
Mollie
Julie Menghini
Wednesday 7th of March 2018
Thank you, Mollie! It makes it easy to have on your hand when you can blend your own!
Petra
Tuesday 20th of February 2018
There is something so satisfying to make your own spice blends isn't it? I have never tried a taco seasoning and it sounds delicious! :)
Julie Menghini
Wednesday 21st of February 2018
Thank you, Petra! I think we all have our go-to combinations that we use a lot and I just decided to pre-blend them and use this one a lot.
Mimi
Saturday 17th of February 2018
Such a great idea, especially if you use this kind of seasoning a lot! I remember the first time I bought a package of taco seasoning, as per my husband's suggestion, I'm guessing, and I thought, "Heck, I can make this myself!" I don't like either garlic or onion powder, personally, but I use enough actual onions and garlic to sink a ship whenever I cook!
Julie Menghini
Sunday 18th of February 2018
I'm inclined to agree with you Mimi! I use a lot of onion and garlic too. What can't be improved by them right?
Jeff
Saturday 17th of February 2018
I've always admired homemade spice mixes from afar, thinking that I just don't have the time and energy to delve into them. I'm lucky to have a couple spice shops nearby. However, if I were to do it - and now I'm thinking that's likely - a taco mix would be just the thing. They're all so different and, although I know what I like when I taste it, I'm not sure what that exact mix would be. I think it would be fun to try it, and tweak it around until I love it. Thanks for teeing this up for me!
Julie Menghini
Sunday 18th of February 2018
Thank you, Jeff! I did a lot of experimenting with this one and use it a lot. I love having it on hand so when I want to make a Mexican dish I don't have to add a bunch of individual spices. I love going into spice shops and my spice cupboard is living proof!