Taco Seasoning (2024)

It’s easy to make your own 100% natural Taco Seasoning from chili powder, cumin, paprika and a few other common pantry spices. Dodge the packet from the store and perfectly balance every smoky, savory, mild or spicy nuance of flavor!

This traditional, DIY blend of spices goes perfectly with many of our Mexican Recipes including chicken or beef Fajitas, Taquitos, and Shrimp Tacos. Make a big batch and use as a dry rub for meats, or to pep up savory dishes such as casseroles or chili!

Taco Seasoning (1)

Taco Tuesday has become an American tradition and our household is no different. Our kids crunch through the hard-shell variety while my husband and I do Taco Saladstopped with black beans, sliced olives and avocados. Switching from stale, filler-stuffed packets to the vibrant flavors of quality fresh spices means none of us can wait for Tuesday!

Ingredients in Taco Seasoning:

  • Chili powder: Itself a blend of spices.
  • Cumin: This lends that “Mexican” flavor that truly distinguishes taco seasoning.
  • Oregano: Fresher, cheaper and in more bulk in the Latin foods aisle.
  • Paprika: Try smoked to add depth of flavor.
  • Cayenne: Just a pinch to add heat. Proceed with caution, a lot goes a long way!
  • Pepper: Fresh ground makes a big difference in flavor.
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Salt
Taco Seasoning (2)

How to Make Taco Seasoning:

Combine the above ingredients well and voila! You’re done. Use 2 Tablespoons to equal a taco seasoning packet, or use the amounts in the notes section of the recipe card below if you only want to make the equivalent of one packet.

Taco Seasoning (3)

To store Taco Seasoning:

Use immediately or store in an airtight container in your spice cupboard and use as needed. For maximum freshness use within six months.

If you enjoy Mexican cuisine, you may also fall in love with our Central and South American dishes!

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Recipe

Taco Seasoning (4)

4.97 from 139 votes

Taco Seasoning

This homemade Taco Seasoning recipe is completely natural, healthy, and just uses simple spices from your pantry. It only takes 5 minutes to stir together and it's cheaper and tastes better than any packet from the store!

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings 4

Calories 64

Prep 5 minutes mins

Total 5 minutes mins

Save Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix all spices together until well combined.

  • Use immediately or store in an airtight container in your spice cupboard and use as needed. Use 2 tablespoons in place of one "packet" of taco seasoning, or to season 1 pound of meat.

Notes

Yields about ½ cup taco seasoning. Serving size is 2 Tablespoons.

Store in an airtight container in your spice cupboard and use as needed. For maximum freshness use within six months.

Packet Taco Seasoning replacement: if you only want to make enough taco seasoning to replace 1 packet, use the following amounts:

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2575mgPotassium: 401mgFiber: 6gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 4981IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 5mg

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Photography by Nikole from The Travel Palate.

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About The Author

Taco Seasoning (9)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Taco Seasoning (2024)

FAQs

What is taco seasoning made of? ›

Most taco seasoning mixes contain salt, warming spices (such as paprika, oregano, and chili), onion powder, and garlic powder. This top-rated recipe is made with chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, sea salt, black pepper, ground paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes.

What can I use if I don't have taco seasoning? ›

Packet Taco Seasoning replacement: if you only want to make enough taco seasoning to replace 1 packet, use the following amounts:
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder.
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano.
  • ½ teaspoon paprika.
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin.
  • 1 teaspoon salt.
Mar 16, 2021

Do you add water before taco seasoning? ›

1/2 cup water: After you've browned your meat, add in 1/2 cup water with 3 tablespoons of the taco seasoning mix. Stir to combine and mix all together. Slowly add in another 1/2 cup water as some will begin to absorb – you want it with a little sauce, just not too watery!

How much taco seasoning per pound of beef? ›

To use: Use about 2 tablespoons of the taco seasoning for every 1 pound of meat. Use more or less depending on your preference. Brown meat and drain the fat. Add your taco seasoning along with about 1/2 cup of water.

Do Mexicans use taco seasoning? ›

Mexican seasoning and taco seasoning are two popular spice blends often used in the culinary world, particularly in dishes of Mexican origin.

What are the ingredients in McCormick taco seasoning? ›

SPICES (INCLUDING CHILI PEPPER, PAPRIKA, OREGANO), ONION, SALT, POTATO STARCH, SUGAR, GARLIC & NATURAL FLAVOR.

What is the basic rule of adding seasoning? ›

Don't Let the Flavor Disappear - It's best to add ground or cut spices and herbs around the midway point or towards the end of the cooking process, so that their flavors won't disappear. This allows the spices enough time to marry with the food.

Do you cook meat before adding taco seasoning? ›

Once the beef is cooked, you want to cook it with the seasoning and liquid on medium low and just until the sauce starts to thicken. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't dry out. Heat up the tortillas before adding the ground beef on top. You can heat them up in the microwave, oven or on a skillet for 1-2 minutes per side.

What are the ingredients in Old El Paso taco seasoning? ›

Ingredients: Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Salt, Chili Pepper, Spice, Sugar, Garlic Powder. Contains 2% or less of: Sea Salt (potassium magnesium chloride, salt), Citric Acid, Onion Powder, Vegetable Oil (canola and/or soybean oil), Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent), Natural Flavor.

How many tacos will 2 lbs of meat make? ›

How much ground beef per taco? Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

Is fajita seasoning the same as taco seasoning? ›

Fajita seasoning and taco seasoning are very similar, but not identical. The ratios of each individual spice tend to differ. Fajita seasoning often contains more cumin, while taco seasoning contains more chili powder. Our taco seasoning recipe includes coriander and does not contain paprika or chipotle.

How many people will 1 pound of ground beef tacos feed? ›

As a general rule, you should plan for about 1/4 to 1/2 pound of meat per person when making tacos. So for a family of four, you'll need around 1 to 2 pounds of ground beef. Of course, this can vary depending on your personal preferences and appetite, so adjust accordingly.

Does McCormick Taco Seasoning have MSG? ›

Blended especially for chefs, McCormick Culinary Taco Seasoning Mix is made to deliver deep, savory flavor and aroma along with consistent performance with every use. McCormick Culinary Taco Seasoning Mix has no MSG added.

What is considered Mexican seasoning? ›

With garlic and onions as the savory cornerstone, the most common Mexican spices and herbs are coriander, allspice, cloves, thyme, Mexican oregano, Mexican cinnamon (ceylon), cumin and cacao which showcase the breadth of Mexican food.

Does taco seasoning have flour? ›

Ingredients. Yellow Corn Flour, Salt, Maltodextrin, Paprika, Spices, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Citric Acid, Yeast Extract, Natural Flavors, Rosemary and Green Tea Extract, Silicon Dioxide.

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