This taco seasoning blend delivers a perfectly balanced mix of flavors for taco night and works great in chili, fajitas, and other Mexican-inspired dishes.
You’ll Never Want to Use the Taco Seasoning Packet Again!
Store-bought seasoning packets are convenient, but a homemade taco seasoning tastes fresher and lets you avoid unnecessary additives. Making your own also lets you tailor the heat and flavor to your preference.
What Is in Taco Seasoning?
- Chili powder. The warming base that defines the blend.
- Garlic powder. Adds savory depth and aroma.
- Ground cumin. An essential warm, earthy note you don’t want to skip.
- Onion powder. Adds a subtle zing; optional if you don’t have it on hand.
- Crushed red pepper. Controls the heat level—adjust to taste for more or less spice.
- Dried Mexican oregano. Has citrusy notes; marjoram is a good substitute, or use regular oregano if needed.
- Smoked paprika. Provides a smoky flavor; regular or sweet paprika can be used as well.
- Sea salt. Add to taste—adjust until the seasoning suits you.
- Cracked black pepper. Balances and rounds out the blend.
Why You’ll Love Making Your Own Blend
- Adjust the heat. Add more crushed red pepper or a pinch of cayenne for extra spice, or reduce it for a milder mix.
- Fewer additives. When you blend your own spices you avoid many of the additives found in prepackaged mixes.
- Control sodium. You decide how much salt to add, so it’s easy to keep sodium in check.
- Customize the flavor. Swap smoked paprika for sweet or regular paprika, change oregano for marjoram, or tweak any ingredient until it’s just right.
How to Make Taco Seasoning
- Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl or a small glass jar with an airtight lid.
- If using a bowl, whisk the spices until evenly blended. If using a jar, put the lid on and shake until uniform.
- Store the seasoning in an airtight container and label it.
- Optional: note a “best before” date by checking the freshness dates on the spices you used to estimate the blend’s peak quality.
Useful Tools for This Recipe:
- Small mixing bowl
- Spice jar with airtight lid and a label
- Measuring spoons
- Funnel (for transferring the spice into the jar)
How to Use Your Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
This seasoning is perfect for tacos and also enhances other dishes. Use it in chili, fajitas, taco bowls, seasoned rice, baked chicken tacos, or to spice up ground turkey or chicken.
Here are a few ideas where this blend shines:
- Seasoned ground meats for tacos or burritos
- Flavoring for taco bowls and burrito bowls
- Stirred into Mexican-style rice
- Rubbing onto chicken before baking or grilling
- Adding to one-pan Tex-Mex dishes
Best Taco Seasoning Recipe
By:
Dana Sandonato
Dana Sandonato
This taco seasoning recipe offers up the perfect balance of flavors for taco night. It’s also great for chili and fajitas!
Prep Time:
5
5
Total Time:
5
5
Servings:
0.5 cups
0.5 cups
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP chili powder
- 1.5 TBSP garlic powder
- 1 TBSP ground cumin
- 1.5 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes — add more for extra heat
- 1.5 tsp Mexican oregano — substitute marjoram or regular oregano if needed
- 1 tsp smoked paprika — regular or sweet paprika works too
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp cracked black pepper
Instructions
-
Put all ingredients into a small mixing bowl or a small glass jar with an airtight lid.
-
Whisk the spices together with a fork until well blended, or seal the jar and shake until evenly combined.
-
Store in an airtight container and label.
-
Optional: note a “best before” date based on the freshest spice in the mix to help track peak flavor.
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