Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
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This Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe is a quick, tasty blend made with pantry staples—no fillers or preservatives! Ready in 5 minutes, it’s great for tacos, burritos, and more. It’s an easy DIY mix that tastes so much better than store-bought!
The savory flavor of this homemade taco seasoning is perfect for taco night! This recipe, a staple in my kitchen for years, combines simple spices for a versatile mix that’s far more delicious than store-bought packets. Whether you’re making ground beef tacos or chicken fajitas, this seasoning delivers Mexican-inspired taste every time.
We absolutely love tacos and so many Mexican and Tex-Mex recipes in my house, and I use this taco seasoning recipe a lot! Some favorites are my quick-and-easy tacos and my chicken taco soup. I do not use store-bought taco seasoning packets to season my dishes. They can contain preservatives and fillers, so I decided years ago to make my own and created this recipe. I always keep it on hand.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Quick and Easy: Ready in 5 minutes; no cooking.
- Just 5 Ingredients: Uses pantry staples and makes multiple batches.
- Customizable Heat: Adjust the heat to your preference.
- No Preservatives: Made from scratch—no fillers, preservatives, or MSG.
- Versatile Recipe: Great for tacos, enchiladas, burritos, soups, and more.
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Chili Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Paprika
- Salt (optional)
How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
This homemade seasoning is easy to mix and stores for months.
- Combine: Mix spices in a large mixing bowl and whisk until well blended.
- Use: Add to season a recipe, adjusting to taste.
- Store: Decant the taco seasoning into an airtight container.
Recipe Variations
- Make it Mild: Omit cayenne for a kid-friendly version.
- Make in Bulk: Double or triple for a full jar.
- Low-Carb: This homemade taco seasoning is naturally low-carb.
Recipe Success Tips
- Mix Well: Whisk or shake thoroughly for even flavor.
- High-Quality Spices: Quality spices give most intense flavor.
- Store Properly: Keep in container with airtight lid in a dark place away from moisture for up to 6 months.
- Adjust Taste: Start with less seasoning and add more if desired.
- Use Fresh Spices: Check expiration dates and smell of spice ingredients. Should smell strong, with no “off” smells.
- Label Container: Note recipe date on spice jar and list any spice deviations for easy use.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for 6 months.
- Make-Ahead Tip: Mix a large batch for quick use whenever you need it.
Ways to Use Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Use on all types of tacos, taco soup, and taco cups.
- Before grilling, sprinkle it on chicken, shrimp, pork chops, and even vegetables.
- Mix it into ground beef or ground turkey, and add it to taco salad and more.
- Add a pinch of taco seasoning to pinto beans or black beans for some extra spice.
- Sprinkle it on sweet potato fries.
- Mix a little bit into ranch dressing for an extra kick of flavor.
Great Homemade Gift
Prepare taco seasoning mix and then funnel into glass spice jars with airtight lids. Attach printed labels and share them with friends or neighbors.
- Make a baking-themed gift basket with other homemade spice mixes and flavorings like Pumpkin Pie Spice or Apple Pie Spice, and homemade vanilla extract.
- Create a gift basket for cooking with this taco seasoning, a jar of spicy brown sugar dry rub, Stone House Seasoning, and maybe even a jar of homemade BBQ sauce.
- Remember to include a note with my website address so they can see all the recipe ideas using these homemade goodies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it’s naturally gluten-free. Check individual spice ingredients to ensure no gluten.
Omit or reduce salt to lower sodium.
No, there are no preservatives (such as MSG or others) in this homemade taco seasoning recipe. Be certain the individual spices used as ingredients are high-quality and do not contain any preservatives.
More Tex-Mex Favorite Recipes
Why This Homemade Taco Seasoning is a Staple
With its bold flavor and easy prep, this homemade taco seasoning is a must for tacos and more. No fillers, no preservatives—just a pure, delicious spice blend!
Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, optional
Instructions
- Combine ingredients. Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- Use and store. Use immediately and store any remaining taco seasoning in an airtight container for up to a year.
Notes
- Store: Keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for 6 months up to 1 year.
- Make-Ahead Tip: Mix a large batch for quick use whenever you need it.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Love this recipe. Simple n can be easily made with pantry items. I marinated shrimp n it was the best shrimp tacos I ever had. So flavorful.
Thanks, Archana. I’m so glad this seasoning worked so well with your shrimp.
Robyn, where can I purchase the jars that you use to store your taco seasoning. Thanks in advance.
Arlene, I got the large jars and the smaller ones with the label you can place on top of the jars at Amazon. There is a link in the post “nice spice jar” for the large one. I love these jars.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I wasn’t able to buy taco seasoning when I lived in South Korea for five years. This was my go-to recipe for taco seasoning. Even though I now live in a country where I can buy it, I still prefer this recipe to store bought. Thank you!
Oh, thank you, Nicole, for sharing this. I’m so glad this recipe helped you.
I tried this recipe tonight and we love it. I did add just a little more cumin, but other than that it was great. No more prepackaged taco seasoning for us!
If a recipe calls for a packet of taco seasoning what is the conversion?
Most packets of taco seasoning mix contain 1 oz. or 2 tablespoons of seasoning, Irma, but others may have different amounts. My recipe makes 5 tablespoons of taco seasoning. You can adjust the amount of the taco seasoning in my recipe according to the brand taco seasoning mix specified in the recipe or for the brand you would ordinarily use. Hope this helps!
I love the flavor! Thank you for sharing; I made a quadruple batch.
Some of my recipes have a quantity for taco seasoning, and others simply say “one package”. What would you suggest as the amount to use of your recipe when the latter is listed? I’m assuming the fact that your recipe has no fillers will complicate the answer.
Jeri,
My recipe makes 5 tablespoons of taco seasoning. Different brands of taco seasoning mix contain different amounts in their package. You can adjust the amount of the taco seasoning in my recipe according to the brand taco seasoning mix specified in the recipe or for the brand you would ordinarily use. Hope this helps!
How much of this is equivalent to a packaged mix? My hubby recently had a heart attack and we are looking to reduce sodium in our diet and this will help with that. I use taco seasoning in so many things! (Do you have recipe for onion soup mix? I haven’t had a chance to search for one yet!)
Denise,
This recipe makes 5 tablespoons. I’m sorry but I don’t have a recipe for onion soup mix. I hope your husband has a speedy recovery and is soon back to good health.
Thank you so very much for this recipe. My son in law has Celiac, along with several of our friends, this will
be just perfect for them. I’m going to make up some and put it in a jar for our daughter to have in her kitchen.
It will definitely save her money as the gluten free
mix is quite expensive. Your recipes have been a huge
success everyime I make them!
Ginny,
I have friends who have Celiac and know how hard it can be to make sure foods are gluten free. I’m so glad you can use this for him. Thanks so much for you sweet comment! xo
Is the “chili powder” the mix of oregano, chile, onion, cumin etc that you buy premixed or is it one ingredient: ground dried chiles?
Mary,
I use the premixed bottle of chili powder that is a mixture of chili peppers, oregano, and salt. Hope you like this recipe!
Do you add water to the ground beef along with the seasonings?
Hi Sheila,
If you are asking about using this taco seasoning in my tacos, here is my Quick and Easy Taco Recipe. Hope you enjoy!