Homemade Taco Seasoning is a delicious spice mix that's quick to make and sure to become your go-to recipe anytime tacos are on the dinner menu. Mix it up using spices you likely have on hand in your pantry. This do-it-yourself spice mix adds spicy, smoky flavors to ground beef, chicken, beans and more!
Use this taco seasoning when serving tacos, fajitas, and quesadillas along with Mexican Fried Rice and Homemade Guacamole with Fresh Herbs for a restaurant-quality flavor combination.
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⭐ Why Melinda Loves Homemade Taco Seasoning
This is quick to make, it's ready in 3 -5 minutes, tops.
It's budget-friendly! You probably have the spices in your pantry right now so there's no need to buy new ingredients.
There are no mysterious ingredients or preservatives. If you've ever read the ingredient list on a package of store-bought taco seasoning, you know what I mean!
🌮 Ingredients to Have on Hand
One of the best things about making homemade taco seasoning is we can tweak the spice level or boost the seasonings that our families enjoy the most.
Smoked Paprika: This ingredient adds just a touch of warm, smoky flavor. You could also use regular paprika.
Chili Powder: Here's one of the distinctive spices we associate with Tex-Mex and Mexican dishes, it adds depth of flavor and a gentle spice - but it doesn't overpower.
Cumin: This is a key spice in many global cuisines, from Mexican and Indian to Middle Eastern. Cumin brings a rich, slightly nutty flavor to taco seasoning. It also smells great!
Oregano: This adds a touch of savory and richness to taco seasoning and it's fantastic with garlic, or in this case, garlic salt.
Garlic Salt: It adds a subtle garlic flavor with a touch of saltiness.
Scroll to the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
📖 Substitutions
There are so many ways you can make Homemade Taco Seasoning the perfect blend of spices for your family! If you like the kick of extra heat, add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Swap the garlic salt for garlic powder and adjust the amount of salt. Start with ½ teaspoon of salt and add more depending on the level of saltiness that your family enjoys.
Smoked paprika is a fantastic and smoky spice. I always keep it on hand in the spice cabinet especially so I can make Buttermilk Chicken Tenders or my homemade French Fry Sauce recipe, which is so good on everything from french fries to burgers and beyond! But you can easily swap it for regular paprika in taco seasoning.
Pro Tip
Be sure to check the dates on your spice jars. Spices that are past their expiration date are more likely to have lost their peak flavor.
🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Measure the five taco seasoning spice ingredients and cornstarch into a small bowl and stir to combine. Set aside. (Photo #1)
Step 2: Cook the ground meat, over medium-high heat until it's no longer pink, then drain it on paper towels. Return the cooked meat to the skillet on the stove and sprinkle the homemade taco seasoning mix on top. (Photo #2)
Step 3: Turn the heat to medium, add ¾ cup of water and stir. Continue heating, and stir now and then. Keep the skillet uncovered, for 5-10 minutes or until nearly the water evaporates and the seasoning has fully coated the meat. (Photo #3)
Make a Big Batch of Taco Seasoning
Although the recipe (scroll down for the specifics) is the perfect amount for about one pound of ground meat, it's also nice to keep a jar of taco season on hand.
Here's how to measure the ingredients so you'll make enough to fill a clean, 8-ounce container. (Affiliate link.) Small canning jars work great for this. Be assured, that you don't need to be super precise when measuring these ingredients.
Ingredients for One Cup of Taco Seasoning
- 3 ¼ tablespoons smoked paprika
- 3 ¼ tablespoons cumin
- 3 ¼ tablespoons chili powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons oregano
- 3 ¼ tablespoons garlic salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
Measure and blend the spice ingredients, whisk to combine then use a (Affiliate link.) kitchen funnel to neatly get all the taco seasoning into the jar. Once filled, tap the bottom of the jar on the counter a few times so the ingredients settle.
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of the spice mix for each pound of meat. But adjust according to the spice level that your family likes the most.
Label the jar, cover and store it at room temperature. The seasoning will stay fresh and ready for you for several months.
💭 Recipe FAQs
The water combines with the cornstarch to create a little sauce, it helps the seasoning "stick" to the cooked meat and it also adds moisture to the ground meat - whether it's beef, turkey or chicken.
Yes. I've made this taco season recipe many times without adding the cornstarch and it's delicious. What's nice about cornstarch is it helps create a little sauce when the seasoning mix warms in the skillet with the meat and it's so tasty!
🥘 How to Cook Beans with Taco Seasoning
Taco seasoning, made at home, is a wonderful seasoning for beans. This is a delicious way to offer a meatless taco filling for your vegetarian or vegan friends and family. But it's also a delicious way to elevate a few cans of beans and create a tasty side dish that will go great with Baked Beef Burritos or Tamale Casserole.
First: Place the beans in a medium-sized pan on the stove and sprinkle the seasoning mix on top. Add ¾ cup of water and stir.
Second: Heat over medium heat until most of the water evaporates and the seasoning mix has coated all the beans. Serve and enjoy!
🧂 Storage
If you blend more Homemade Taco Seasoning than what you need for one meal, store the seasoning mix in a clean container, and cover and label it. The taco seasoning will stay fresh and ready for you for several months.
Store any leftover cooked meat blended with taco seasoning in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat and enjoy in 3-5 days.
🍽 Other Tasty Dinner Recipes
Homemade Taco Seasoning is great to add flavor to your tacos and more, but here are more of my favorite recipes for dinner!
If you make Homemade Taco Seasoning I'd love to hear how it turned out. Please leave a 🌟 star rating and a comment below. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
Recipe
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
(Admin Melinda's rating)