I used to be a “seasoning packet” junkie. Store-bought packets of taco seasoning seemed so easy. But really, if you have a decently stocked spice cabinet, making your own homemade taco seasoning takes just a few minutes and costs less. I’ve experimented with different combinations of spices for taco seasoning over the years and I think I’ve found the winner! One batch of this super tasty homemade taco seasoning is roughly equal to one store-bought packet and it’s 10 times more flavorful. You can even mix up big batches of it and store it pre-mixed in an air-tight container for quick use later!
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
Why make homemade taco seasoning?
While it’s easy to just buy a pre-made mix, you can control the ingredients, freshness, and flavor of your homemade taco seasoning. So if you like your tacos extra smoky, go ahead and add more smoked paprika! Need low sodium? Mix up your own taco seasoning and use less salt. You have all the control when you make your own!
What’s in Taco Seasoning?
This homemade taco seasoning recipe has just seven simple ingredients that you probably have in your pantry right now! Taco seasoning is made with:
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Ground cumin
- Cayenne pepper
- Oregano
- Salt
- Pepper
Taco Seasoning Variations
Here are a few substitutions and add-ins you can use to customize your taco seasoning to fit your budget and supplies:
- Smoked Paprika – I really think the smoked paprika made the flavor of this seasoning pop, but if you can’t get it, you can use regular paprika in its place.
- Garlic Powder and Onion Powder – When I make taco meat I generally am also adding a diced onion and a clove or two of minced garlic, so I didn’t include any garlic powder or onion powder in this mix. If you prefer not to use fresh onion and garlic in your recipe, you can add 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp onion powder to the recipe below.
- Low Sodium – Feel free to reduce the salt content to meet your sodium needs. Keep in mind that salt does help make other flavors pop, so the taco seasoning might not be as vibrant with less sodium.
- Make it mild – If heat isn’t your jam, simply reduce or eliminate the cayenne pepper. You’ll also want to make sure you’re using a mild chili powder. The heat level of chili powder can vary from brand to brand.
- Cornstarch – If you like your taco meat to have a slightly saucy consistency, add 1/2 tsp of cornstarch to your spice mix and add 1/3 cup water to your taco meat or beans when you add the spices. The water and cornstarch will create a nice taco-flavored sauce to coat the meat or beans.
How to Use Taco Seasoning
Brown the ground meat first, then add one batch of the taco seasoning recipe below and continue to sauté for about two minutes more to toast the spices. For beans, simply add the spices and heat through. If you plan to use this taco seasoning for whole chicken breasts, simply sprinkle the taco seasoning over the entire surface of the chicken breast, then cook in a skillet until browned on the outside and cooked through. You can also use it to season potatoes or chicken before roasting.
How Much Taco Seasoning to Use
This taco seasoning can be used in any recipe in place of one store-bought taco seasoning packet, which will season approximately one pound of ground beef, turkey, or chicken, or about 3 cups of cooked beans. The recipe below makes approximately 2 Tbsp of seasoning, so if you plan to scale the recipe up to make the seasoning in bulk, use about 2 tablespoons of seasoning for every one pound of meat.
More Uses for Taco Seasoning
This simple taco seasoning can be used to season any type of meat, seafood, or vegetables. Here are a few recipes that use taco seasoning to inspire you:
How to Store Homemade Taco Seasoning
As with any dried herb or spice, this taco seasoning should be stored in an air-tight container and away from heat and direct sunlight. The lifespan of this seasoning will vary depending on the freshness of the herbs and spices you used to make this seasoning blend. Rather than going “bad”, dried herbs and spices slowly lose their flavor and potency over time, so for best results it’s recommended to use them within one year.
Note: I use a flat cost estimate for herbs and spices because they’re just too hard to measure and weigh such small quantities, so this cost is purely an estimate. I generally estimate ten cents for every teaspoon of an herb or spice, unless it’s a particularly expensive item. For salt, I generally estimate half that. So, take the cost of this recipe with a grain of salt (pun intended).
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Servings 1 recipeIngredients
- 1 Tbsp chili powder ($0.30)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika ($0.10)
- 1 tsp cumin ($0.10)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp oregano ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp salt ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp 15 cranks fresh black pepper ($0.05)
Instructions
- Combine everything in a small bowl and stir until evenly mixed. Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container, away from heat and sunlight, until ready to use.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!
It’s a delicious alternative to what’s in stores, plus you can use organic ingredients for a fraction of the price of prepackaged organic mixes. And the piece de resistance, you can avoid the sugar that is in every prepackaged mix I’ve ever seen. Thank you!!
How is it possible that this recipe only has a few reviews; it’s PHENOMENAL!! It’s all we use!
I’ve been using this recipe for several years now, and make a “bulk batch” to keep stored in an old salsa jar. It’s so easy for anyone in my house to quickly season anything from tacos to chicken, even a vegetable dip!
Thank You for posting this simple, economical recipe! This Taco Seasoning was fantastic! The only modification I made was to up the sea salt to 1 tsp. I also added 1 TSP each of granulated onion & granulated garlic. I always keep smoked paprika and non-GMO corn starch on hand so this recipe was a perfect fit for me!
I made a Taco bar and Spanish Rice w/Black Beans and corn tonite. I used exactly 1 1/2 TBLS. of taco seasoning for 1 1/2lbs. ground chuck and used 2 TSP of the taco seasoning in my diced tomato mixture for the Spanish Rice w/Black Beans and Corn. Both came out fantastic!! No more chemical & GMO laden taco “seasoning” packets for me! Thanks for this winner!
I use this constantly but never rated it for some reason. This is a perfect blend, vastly superior to store-bought mixes–though I suppose that depends on how fresh your spices are. Still, no one is going to miss the preservatives of the MSG-related flavorings found in commercial brands.
I’ve used multiple recipes to replace store-bought taco seasoning. This is the one I keep coming back to.
Thanks so much for your various seasoning mix recipes. They are my go-to and have been for a long while.
I was at the store looking at seasoning packets and was appalled at the chemicals they put in there! Then I thought, I bet Budget Bytes girl has a recipe for taco seasoning. Came home and whipped this up for our taco dinner, so good! Thanks for another great, cheap, easy recipe!
This is the best Taco Seasoning!! Plus it works really well as just a general seasoning on any food. We always keep a jar of this on hand.
This is an outstanding taco seasoning! And a tenth of the price I used to pay for the name brand thingie at the grocery store and ten times better!
As someone already mentioned, make a larger batch and store in an empty spice container.
Quick, easy, and delicious – this is much tastier than a packet.
This is my go to taco seasoning. The only adjustment I make is reducing the sodium. It’s perfect!
Is the measured amount of seasoning in the recipe for 1 lb of beef? Also, when do you add the seasoning? Thanks!
It should be enough for one pound of beef. I usually brown the beef in a skillet first, then drain fat off if needed. Then add the seasoning and maybe a few tablespoons of water and simmer for a couple minutes more.
I know this is only semi-related to the recipe, but my trick to draining the fat from the ground beef is to push (and pack) all the cooked GB to the side of the pan that has the handle. Then I prop up the pan using a 4″ to 5″ tall pepper mill (the cap on top of the mill should fit in to the hole in the handle of the pan), and let the fat drain to the other end of the pan. Once the drainage appears to be winding down, if it’s a lot of liquid, I take a serving spoon and spoon it in to an empty milk jug. The rest I soak up with a paper towel.
BAM. Nicely drained ground beef.
Does this seasoning mix work well with chicken? I usually see packages of taco seasoning separated for chicken and beef… so I was curious.
Yep, you can use it for either. :)
Thank you – this is a great seasoning to have in the cupboard.
Do you add water to the seasoned ground beef when you make tacos?
You can add a little to help rehydrate the spices, if you wish, but I usually don’t. If you do, add about 2 tbsp to 1/4 cup and make sure it cooks long enough to evaporate off. I find that beef has enough moisture in it to help rehydrate the spices, so I don’t add any more.