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This homemade taco seasoning is so good, it’s sure to be the star of your next Taco Tuesday. With only 7 pantry staple seasonings and spices, you can ditch the bland store-bought packets and make your own flavor-packed seasoning, no fillers, additives, or sugars.
While I love the convenience of buying store-bought seasoning packets, I found myself reading the label and realized I already had all the seasonings at home.
So, I made my own easy spice blend for a quick homemade taco seasoning perfect to batch and store in your pantry.
5-Star Review ★★★★★
“I’m sold on this taco seasoning for life, it really is perfect.” – Kayla
Why This Is My Go-To
- Made from straightforward ingredients. No additives, fillers, sugars, GMOs or other weird ingredients, just simple pantry staple spices!
- Easily customizable. You can easily adjust the ratio of the spices or add more for extra flavor based on your preferences.
- It saves you money. In the long run, making your own batch of homemade taco seasoning saves you money instead of buying multiple packets every time you need one.
Homemade Taco Seasoning Ingredients
- Chili powder: This is the main ingredient in this taco seasoning blend. It adds a hint of spice and earthy flavor.
- Cumin: This adds some warmth as well as a slightly nutty flavor.
- Salt: I recommend using kosher salt or two teaspoons of fine salt.
- Garlic powder and onion powder: Must-have seasonings for a great base flavor.
- Paprika: Adds slightly sweet and smoky notes.
- Oregano: I recommend using Mexican oregano when possible. It has a sweeter and more floral flavor profile, but regular oregano also works.
(See the recipe card below for full measurements.)
How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
Mix all the seasonings in an airtight jar by shaking it up or mix in a small bowl until fully combined.
How Much Seasoning To Use
I recommend using 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning per pound of ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
How to Make It Your Own
- Make it spicy. Add 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to add some heat.
- Make it smoky. Use smoked paprika or chipotle powder instead of regular paprika for a smoky flavor.
- Add more depth. Mix it up by using a combination of different chili powders. For example, you could use 2 tablespoons of regular chili powder and 2 tablespoons of ancho chili powder.
- Don’t like cumin? Cumin has a strong flavor. If you’re not a fan, you can use ground coriander instead.
- Make it low-sodium. If you’re trying to reduce your salt intake, you can completely leave out the salt, or simply cut it in half.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons chili powder
- 4 teaspoons ground cumin
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small airtight jar and close with a lid. Shake to combine.
Notes
- Storage: Store in an airtight container or jar for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ways to Use It
Homemade taco seasoning can be used in so many different ways. The one obvious way is in taco recipes. Ground beef tacos, chicken tacos, and even black bean tacos are perfect.
Other ideas include using it in things like taco salad, taco pasta, taco pizza, taco dip, and taco casserole.
Taco Seasoning versus Fajita Seasoning
Taco seasoning and fajita seasoning can be used interchangeably if you’re in a pinch. They’re pretty similar in the seasonings they use, with the main difference being the ratios of those seasonings.
In general, taco seasoning has more oregano and chili powder, which gives it a bolder and more spiced flavor. Fajita seasoning tends to have more cumin and is milder since it’s usually paired with vegetables like onions and bell peppers that complement the flavor. Here’s my homemade fajita seasoning recipe.
More Tex-Mex Recipes
- Mexican Stuffed Peppers
- Black Bean Quesadilla
- Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Guacamole
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
This post was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated with new photos and more helpful tips and tricks.
Photography by Ashley McLaughlin.
Great easy n simply good tasting
Didn’t have cumin and it tasted great without it lol
It looks nice & I can’t wait to try it
This is my #1 favorite taco recipe… hands down!
I wasn’t sure what I was looking for when I started trying different taco recipes, until I found this one. I still try other recipes form time to time but keep coming back to this every time.
An unpublished beauty of this recipe is that by changing the type of paprika you use, you can change the kick (heat) to it. As you know, paprika is nothing more than dried pepper powder. Cayenne pepper powder is paprika. So use any mixture of paprika to add more heat.
Love this taco seasoning! Just the perfect balance of spices! So happy I found this recipe.