Put down the pre-made taco seasoning packet! With the perfect amount of spice, this easy-to-make taco seasoning is exactly what you need
If you’re a taco fan, you are SURE to be a fan of this easy, homemade seasoning! Easy to make, easy to store, and works perfectly to season any kind of meat you want to cook up. It even works to replace the store-bought seasoning in my favorite taco soup! You’ll never buy the pre-made stuff again, DIY taco seasoning tastes SO much better!
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of all Mexican food. I love burritos, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas…. you name it, I like it.
I love eating at fast-food Mexican restaurants (hello crunch wrap supreme!). There’s also an authentic Mexican family recipe in town that my family loves.
But what I really love most about Mexican food? It’s the fun of making it at home!
I used to always have an abundance of taco seasoning packets in my pantry, you never know when you’re going to need it, right? Well, not anymore! I’ve recently learned that homemade taco seasoning mix is for sure the way to go!
Store-bought seasoning (while delicious…) has all kinds of fillers and extra ingredients that simply aren’t necessary. Instead, now I always have a batch of DIY taco spices in my pantry! I swear this recipe tastes even better than store-bought and saves so much money over time.
What is in Taco Seasoning?
Instead of all those ingredients you can’t pronounce in a store-bought packet, make your own homemade taco seasoning recipe! You’ll need only ingredients that are probably already in your pantry!
Cornstarch – this is kind of a confusing ingredient. Not really what you’d expect to be in the seasoning mix, but here’s why I recommend using it – cornstarch will help to bind the seasoning mix to whatever meat you’re cooking it into.
Spicy Seasonings – among a spattering of other seasonings, you’ll need some ingredients to spice up your tacos a bit. I find that this recipe has just the right amount of kick to it. You’ll want some chili powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
If you prefer a less spicy seasoning, I’d leave out the cayenne pepper. If you prefer more spice, feel free to increase your cayenne pepper or add some chipotle chili seasoning!
How to Make Taco Seasoning
The best thing about this homemade seasoning is that you can use it with virtually any meat.
I use it all the time as a chicken taco seasoning and also as a beef taco meat seasoning when I’m making a fun taco bar.
Do you want to make some delicious shrimp tacos? This seasoning will work great! Seriously, it works with everything.
I will often mix up a big batch of this taco seasoning recipe and throw it into a sealed mason jar. We go through it pretty quickly in our house (remember how much I love Mexican food??), so I always want to have it on hand!
This recipe really couldn’t be any easier…. here’s what you do:
- Grab a medium-sized bowl and mix all of the spices together. Whisk to really combine everything.
- Store in an airtight container or a mason jar once the seasoning is all mixed up. Your taco seasoning (if stored in a cool, dry place) will last for up to 6 months!
How much taco seasoning is in a packet?
Typical store-bought packets have about 2 tablespoons in them.
This homemade seasoning is packed with only natural ingredients, so you can use the same 2 tablespoons of homemade seasoning per pound of meat. You’ll get great, flavorful meat for a fraction of the cost! I swear you’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff again!
Looking for more Mexican-inspired dishes? Try some of these other Real Houesmoms favorites!
- Mexican Rice
- Slow Cooker Taco Chili
- Mexican Spinach Dip
- Mexican Street Corn
- Taco Salad
- more SIDE DISH recipes…
Tools used to make this Taco Seasoning recipe
Mixing bowl: every kitchen needs a good set of mixing bowls!
Measuring spoons: I love this set of measuring spoons. They’re not too wide so they can fit into any container!
Mason Jars: these things are super versatile – cute drink cups in the summer, canning homemade applesauce, and of course, for storing homemade taco seasoning!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Ground Beef Tacos
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- Small flour tortillas
- Cheddar cheese shredded
- Tomato chopped
- Iceberg lettuce shredded
Instructions
- Pour all taco seasoning ingredients into a bowl and stir until evenly combined. Transfer to an air-tight container and store for later. Or you can measure all the spices into a small mason jar, put the lid on, and shake up the seasoning.
Ground Beef Tacos
- Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil.
- Add ground beef to hot oil and cook until no longer pink, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, stir to coat the meat, and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add taco meat to tortillas and top with shredded cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. Serve immediately.
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