Once you make this easy Homemade Taco Seasoning, you’ll never go back to buying those overpriced packets again! It’s healthier and cheaper, plus it has none of the fillers. It’s also great for more than just tacos, it tastes great on veggies, meats, and more.

And there’s a surprise ingredient sure to make your tacos extra special. Read on for that information.

This Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe fits in perfectly with how I run my life–and my kitchen.

I just love making my own pantry staples, from non-dairy milks (like Easiest Almond Milk and this Easiest Coconut Milk) to Powdered Egg Replacer, Easy Homemade Ketchup, Homemade Salad Dressings, and more.

But one thing that I really get a kick out of (yes, I really get into this) is making my own homemade seasonings. Over the years, we’ve found or developed quite a few of them including chili powder, celery salt, this all-purpose seasoning and this Dorito® seasoning, but today I’m sharing a new one with you — a Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe.

Making your own homemade seasonings (like this DIY Taco Seasoning) ensures you will almost never be out of the seasoning you need for something you’re cooking, and that means time and money saving.

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Why Make Your Own Seasoning Blends?

Why indeed? Isn’t it easier to just buy those pre-made blends at the store?

It can be, but here is why I love making my own spice blends.

Control Over the Ingredients (no icky MSG type stuff or allergenic ingredients. For those of you with milk allergies, did you know that many taco seasonings have lactose (milk sugar) in them?)
Save Money (individual seasonings are cheaper than blends)
Have Fun with Kids – making seasoning blends is an easy way to involve your kids in the kitchen 🙂
Save Even MORE Money (have you seen the prices of those packaged “Taco Seasoning” mixes at the grocery store? Ugh!
Save Money and Time (no last-minute trips to the store to get something that you can easily make yourself)
Freshness – making your own seasoning blends ensures you use up your spices more quickly so spices will get old less frequently

More Homemade Spice Mixes

Here are some more homemade spice blends to try.

How to Use this Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe:

There are so many ways to use taco seasoning, including:

Tacos (of course) – you will LOVE these Grain-Free Taco Shells (AIP)
Tortillas (here’s a great recipe for Paleo Tortillas)
Taco Salad
Veggies
Salad
Popcorn
Chicken
Beef
Fish
Sides (like rice, potatoes, etc.)
Veggies
Soups (like this Creamy Root Vegetable Soup)
even Ice Cream!

Seriously, try this homemade taco seasoning on this Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream or this Chocolate Avocado Ice Cream. It’s amazing!

We even use this DIY Taco Seasoning as a standby seasoning on our table. It tastes great on veggies and loads of dishes!

Oh, and if you have a loved one or friend on the AIP (Autoimmune Protocol or Autoimmune Paleo) Diet who still loves taco seasoning, here is my tasty AIP version. You will love it whether or not you are on a special diet. Oh, and if you aren’t familiar with the AIP Diet, this Simple Guide to the AIP Diet is a great introduction!)

So now on to the homemade taco seasoning recipe that tastes great on so many things…..

Spice Tips

I would strongly recommend purchasing organic spices. Many non-organic spices are irradiated, and so aren’t the best choice.

Taco Seasoning, like any seasoning that is, or is made up of peppers, should be stored in the fridge to prevent oxidation.

I also recommend storing your spices in glass spice jars instead of in plastic. I love some of the following for their compact shape as well as appearance (it’s nice to have nice-looking things in your kitchen :)!)

Really the possibilities are endless.

Substitutions for Special Diets

Spice Brands: For my spice shopping, I really like Frontier Brand. I’ve done taste tests, and the Frontier Brands have won out every time. Their prices are great too! Starwest Botanicals, has good options too.
Homemade Chili Powder: If you would like to make your own chili powder, here’s my recipe for The “Best” Basic Chili Powder.
Use approximately 2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix for each pound of ground meat (or to taste, of course. Some people may prefer 1 tablespoon, others up to 4 tablespoons).
As with other taco seasonings, either use the mixture as is, or add approximately ¾ cup water to the beef and seasoning mixture to make a more “saucy” beef.
You can also flavor beans, like lentils, with this mixture. About 2 cups of cooked beans will be the equivalent of one pound of ground beef.
Multiple Batches: And as I said in my “Saving Time in the Kitchen by Baking in Bulk” post, I recommend making more of this in homemade taco seasoning in advance so that you have it on hand when you need it. Cook once, use two three four times or more!

Recipe Notes

Aleppo Peppers: For red pepper flakes, Aleppo peppers would add a wonderful depth of flavor, but red chilis are fine.
Add More “Heft”: For a DIY Taco Seasoning with a bit more “heft” to it, add about 1 teaspoon flour or starch of choice to the mix. Of course, if you use a whole grain flour, you will want to store the resulting mixture in the refrigerator ’cause whole grains will spoil at room temperature.
Salt: We love salt. The amount in this recipe is perfect for us and for many of my readers. However, some readers have said that it’s way too much. I suspect some are adding it to a dish that already has salt, which we are not. Regardless, please adjust the recipe to your taste.
Special Addition—Cocoa!: Yes, that’s right. Add 2 teaspoons of cocoa to this mix to make it extra special. No, you’re tacos won’t taste like a dessert. This small amount of cocoa added to taco seasoning gives just that little extra bit of “yum” to your spice blend, and your tacos!

homemade taco seasoning in glass Weck jar.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon cumin
2 1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste–see Recipe Notes)
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons cocoa optional but recommended

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
Mix well.
Store in a tightly closed container.
2 tablespoons is the standard amount to use for 1 pound of meat, but you can of course use this seasoning to taste.

Notes

- Aleppo Peppers: For red pepper flakes, aleppo peppers would add a wonderful depth of flavor but red chilis are fine.

- Add More “Heft”: For a DIY Taco Seasoning with a bit more “heft” to it, add about 1 teaspoon flour or starch of choice to the mix. Of course, if you use a whole grain flour, you will want to store the resulting mixture in the refrigerator ’cause whole grains will spoil at room temp.

- Salt: We love salt. The amount in this recipe is perfect for us and for many of my readers. However, some readers have said that it’s way too much. I suspect some are adding it to a dish that already has salt, which we are not. Regardless, please adjust the recipe to your taste.
- Special Addition – Cocoa!: Yes, that’s right. Add 2 teaspoons of cocoa to this mix to make it extra special. No, you’re tacos won’t taste like a dessert. This small amount of cocoa added to taco seasoning gives just that little extra bit of “yum” to your spice blend, and your tacos!

Nutrition

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

I’d love to hear what you think about this recipe (or if there’s another spice blend you’d like me to try to make a homemade version of.)
Let me know in the comments!

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268 Comments

Olah Momma! says:

Jul 29, 2011 at 1:03 am

This is a good idea. Would definitely try.

thepsychobabble says:

Jun 13, 2011 at 12:13 pm

I’ve found the pint mason jars to be an excellent size for storing seasoning blends. Gives you plenty on hand, but not so much that you feel you’ll NEVER get through it all!

1. Adrienne says:
  
  Jun 13, 2011 at 12:23 pm
  
  Great idea! I have just started storing some things in them. Now I just need to get some of the one piece lids that screw on :-).
  
Erin says:

Jun 4, 2011 at 9:49 pm

YUM! Thanks so much for linking this to Friday Potluck!

Amanda-The Sweet Details says:

Jun 3, 2011 at 12:16 pm

Hey I host a blog hop and I’d LOVE if you came over and shared a recipe! Here’s the link 🙂 https://thesweetdetail.blogspot.com/search/label/Savory%20Sunday

hellaD says:

May 12, 2011 at 1:53 am

Thanks so much for adding this recipe to the World Food Thursdays bloghop! I just stocked up on spices today!

Jennie says:

May 9, 2011 at 3:32 pm

Fantastic! I have been looking for my own taco seasoning recipe and this one looks great! I will give it a go very soon! Found you over at Simple Lives Thursday, thanks for posting!

1. Adrienne says:
  
  May 9, 2011 at 3:34 pm
  
  You are so welcome! I hope to have another version up soon that I think will have more depth of flavor. Gotta find my notes for it though :-).
  
  1. Jennie says:
    
    May 9, 2011 at 3:36 pm
    
    Sounds good! I bet a touch of cocoa would be nice. I often add that to my chili and it lends a nice depth.
    
    1. Adrienne says:
      
      May 9, 2011 at 3:46 pm
      
      That is one of the things that I was planning to add :-).
      
Miz Helen says:

May 7, 2011 at 8:28 am

Hi Adrienne,
I really enjoyed your post about the spice mixture. The combination of spice that you have in your Homemade Taco Seasoning is a very good mix. I am putting it together this week end in a large jar! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week!

Alex at a moderate life! says:

May 6, 2011 at 6:28 pm

Hi Adrienne! Welcome to the hearth and soul hop! I am now following you on twitter and added your blog to our hearth and soul daily twitter list! I also love to make my own chili blends. I sometimes vary it by adding in smoked paprika or smoked sea salt that my sister got me from a trip to Disneyworld (I know, go figure, spices from the mouse!) that gives it more of a chipotle feel. I also like that it doesnt have any “flow agents” or artificial coloring in it! Thanks so much for sharing this with us on the hearth and soul hop. All the best, Alex

Pat says:

May 6, 2011 at 5:27 pm

This sounds so good…now I’m hungry for tacos!

Adrienne says:

May 5, 2011 at 11:12 am

Thanks for the post. I happen to have all of those ingredients already on hand! I’ll have to make a batch. 😀

1. Adrienne says:
  
  May 5, 2011 at 11:31 am
  
  Thanks for stopping by! I love your name :-).
  
Mely says:

May 5, 2011 at 8:40 am

Thanks for posting this recipe. I always wonder what spices people use here in the States to make their tacos. In mexico we just use salt and pepper. But I like the taste of the american tacos, too. 🙂

Have a happy day! 🙂

Leslie says:

May 5, 2011 at 8:22 am

This looks like a yummy version. I am going to try it when my jar runs low. I am glad I found you!

April says:

May 4, 2011 at 5:13 pm

Thanks for the recipe, I have always wondered if I could make my own- we love tex-mex recipes around here and I use a lot of cumin- but wasn’t sure what other spices to use to replace taco seasonings which I love the flavor of but could do without some of the ingredients- also just read your chocolate chip recipe which I will try because I am nut allergic and most baking chips are alongside nut items. Great website- Thanks!!!

1. Adrienne says:
  
  May 5, 2011 at 8:27 am
  
  April, thanks for stopping by! Since you mentioned cumin (we love it too!) did you see my recipe for Chat Masala? It sits on our table at every meal. Let me know what you think!
  
Amanda says:

May 4, 2011 at 9:06 am

I have a similar recipe on my blog. I love my homemade taco seasoning so much more than any bought one. I add cornstarch to thicken it too!

Catherine says:

May 4, 2011 at 7:56 am

I’ve switched to homemade taco seasoning this year. The family hasn’t missed the salt a bit!

Outlaw Farmer says:

May 3, 2011 at 9:02 pm

I’m so glad I ran across this post because I ADORE tacos and all food remotely resembling tacos. I live on a farm which allows me the luxury to grow my own chicken,veggies and beans. I have goats too so there’s plenty of cheese to be had. It always seems such a shame to go to all that effort only to throw on a packet of store bought seasoning. Thanks for sharing!

Stacy Myers says:

May 3, 2011 at 9:00 pm

Thanks! I’ve been wanting to do this, but didn’t look around to find a recipe. 🙂 I trust yours.

1. Adrienne says:
  
  May 3, 2011 at 9:32 pm
  
  I have one more combination that I hope to put together. Let me know how you like this one!
  
Learning the Frugal Life says:

May 3, 2011 at 11:54 am

Glad to see the taco recipe. I have been thinking about making my own. Thanks for linking up to the Frugal Tuesday Tip.

https://learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/2011/05/frugal-tuesday-tip-week-15.html

Lynn says:

May 3, 2011 at 9:11 am

I love homemade taco seasoning. It is so much better. Thanks for sharing your version.

FarmgirlCyn (Cindy) says:

May 2, 2011 at 1:51 pm

Hi, Adrienne,
I’ve been making my own taco seasoning for a couple of years now…. so much better for you! I like the fact that I can control what spices are added, as some we like better than others. Lately we have been on a cumin kick…can’t seem to get enough of it.

1. Adrienne says:
  
  May 2, 2011 at 3:19 pm
  
  Hi Cindy!
  
  Speaking of cumin, did you see my chat masala recipe? We put it on EVERYTHING (everything savory, that is).