Homemade taco seasoning is preservative free, doesn’t taste artificial, costs a fraction of buying store bought, and you probably have all the spices you need in your pantry. It tastes like the packet seasoning – minus the artificial flavour and not as salty. The bonus is that you can adjust the flavouring to your tastes as well – I like my Mexican hot so I up the chili!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Taco Seasoning
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Spice Mix
Mexican
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
Homemade taco seasoning is so much healthier than store bought – it’s preservative free, less artificial tasting and is a fraction of the cost. This recipe makes enough taco seasoning for 1lbs/500g of meat. I also use this for Quesadilla Fillings.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp chilli powder (adjust spiciness to taste)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Combine ingredients.
- Store in an airtight container.
- Makes 2.5 tablespoons. Combine with 1lbs/500g mince meat, 1/2 cup water, 1 diced onion and 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.
Recipe Notes:
1. If you are in the US, do not use what you know as Chili Powder. That is a spice blend, not pure ground chilies. If you can’t find pure ground chili, substitute with cayenne pepper. I like to make this Taco Seasoning with pure ground chili so I can control the flavour consistency – US Chili Powder is not available around the world and also even from brand to brand, the flavour differs. Using pure spice ingredients allows for better consistency.
Way better than store brought. Very tasty. 🤤
Absolutely delicious
Thank you Nagisan, I’ve found this to be very useful.
I made this but cannot use it yet… 🙁 I have an unripe avocado! I will have to wait until it is ready for the guacamole! Will post the result soon… I also reduced the paprika by half as I am not a real big fan.
My kids love this seasoning better than the packet seasoning. We use it for both chicken breast and mince meat. I have adjusted this recipe to a teaspoon of each spice as the kids found the cumin and paprika to be overpowering and no chilli. It’s perfect for us. I throw some rice/corn flour on the chicken breast before pan frying which helps to keep the chicken breast tender and succulent. With your help Naji I’ve mastered another dish. You are awesome.
10/5 stars!
Very nice (borat accent)
Threw this together very quickly from my pantry basics for my Gluten Free friend who was staying over unexpectedly. Made a couple of amount adjustments to our taste, and on her recommendation, added dried corriander leaves as well.Upped the salt, paprika and cumin to balance the corriander. I always use 2 tins of crushed or diced tomatoes as my liquid instead of water also. Brilliant!
I tried this and loved it. We now have made up a jar of it so it is on hand and I never need to buy the packet one again.
Made nachos with this last night for my son & he loved them! Wolfed them down in fact. Thanks Nagi 🙂
I procrastinated so long, opting to keep buying the packet stuff, rather than trying this. Well, I finally have, and it tastes exactly the same! So good! Will never buy a packet of additive seasoning again. Thank you.
Really easy and tastes delish!
I am someone who generally cooks from scratch but for some reason have always used taco kits (for “quick dinner” nights). Quite mortified at how quick and easy this seasoning actually is and absolutely delicious – not to mention how much cheaper! I also made my own tortillas which turned out perfectly and I will never be buying a rip off taco kit again!
Great recipe. Everyone loved the balance of flavors. This is also a great base for Chili Con Carne. I made up a few serves and popped it in a jar to use as needed. Thanks Nagi!
Loved this! I added 1 tsp of sumac and 1/4 tsp to get the slight sweet and sourness of the packet mix. Will definitely never buy a packet again!
WOW impressed!
I will never buy seasoning again.
Ahhhhhmazing flavour.
Super impressed.
Currently writing it down in my recipe book and your cook book that I bought.
Thanks. Xxx
PEREFECT!! Loved this so much 🙂 Thanks Nagi
This is awesome! My kids prefer this to the store bought. I made one modification, instead of regular dried oregano, I used Mexican Oregano. Makes a world of difference as it is brighter in flavor!
Loving it! Not buying store bought anymore. Have to admit, have been using 2 tsp on our 1/4 cup of popcorn and even took a bag of it to the Matilda’s soccer game.
OMGosh Nagi!!! Consistently fantastic!🥰😁
I’ll never buy ready made taco seasoning again. So easy. Really tasty. Everyone loved it.