Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe with a Surprise Ingredient
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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 :)!)
- Traditional Spice Jars
- Small Glass Mason Jars
- Simply Organic Spice Jars
- Hexagon Spice Jars
- Glass Jars with Hinged Lids
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 Recipe
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!
Thanks for posting this! I made it tonight and it was great!
Thanks for sharing! I do a lot of freezer cooking and will use this in my recipes!
One more question for you, and I promise I am done for awhile! (maybe) Do you use plain chili-pepper chili powder, or do you use “chili Powder” meaning a chili powder blend?
No worries, Laura! I mean a chili powder blend :-). Hope you like it. I so hope to have another version soon!
Thanks for sharing your recipes and ideas. I have been making my own taco seasoning for awhile, but I just eyeball the ingredients depending on how much I am making and how spicy I feel like. I am looking forward to trying your recipe and then having the seasoning on hand so I don’t have to get out 8 bottles of spices every time I make it! Oh, I also add a dash of white flour (not good for you, I know) to thicken the taco sauce when necessary. Is there another thickener you would recommend?
Thanks again!
Hi Laura! I would try arrowroot. Most folks would use cornstarch, but corn is so heavily genetically modified. :-).
I too have switched entirely to this recipe instead of store bought packets. Like a couple other said, I’ve cut it back to just a pinch of salt. This works amazing for beef and ground soy crumble alike, thanks a lot!
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
I have made several batches of this seasoning. It’s great. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks, Erin! I love your clean blog and the apple bowl :).
Love homemade taco seasoning. I make it in bulk. Thanks so much for linking to allergy-free Wednesday. Hope to see you again next week!
I ran out of packaged taco seasoning and hustled to the computer to get a simple recipe. Thank you so much for sharing and I won’t be using packaged taco seasoning anymore!! I will be sharing your page on my blog https://www.whatsupyournose.wordpress.com
Thanks, Regina! Glad to have helped!
This is fantastic! Like many others who’ve commented, I had always used commercial taco seasoning. This is WAAAAAY better, although I did cut back on the hot spices (we have a 7 year-old daughter!) and left out the salt altogether. Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by to tell me! So glad you liked it!
This is great! I can’t wait to try it out for our next taco night!
Hope you enjoy it!
I am soooo excited to discover your 10 top DIY’s from Penniless Parenting’s Hearth & Soul Hop!!! I’ve been reading them to my husband, Glen and we are both amazed at what you’ve accomplished!!! However, why do you recommend Real Salt? What is the difference between that and the sea salt we buy bulk from our health food store? BTW, we have 2 Vita-Mixes and could not function without them…we are vegan and make EVERYTHING we can from scratch! We have moved in this direction due to my husband’s Multiple Sclerosis and he has so improved! I will join in your recommendation in getting a Vita-Mix, if you can! Such a difference! Anyway, why Real Salt? Is there something I should know? Thanks so much! Love your blog! Cheeryshirley
Hello Shirley! Thanks for your kind words! I use Real Salt b/c it isn’t bleached or treated w/ chemicals and has minerals intact. I know that there are plenty of other natural salts on the market, but my experience has been that this is a very reasonable product, especially when purchased in bulk (and I mean bulk – I purchase 25 pound bags). I am interested in the MS situation. I am working w/ a practitioner on my adrenal burnout and she said that those who have MS are almost always (or always) loaded with heavy metals. I personally am dumping a bunch. You could see more by following the link to Theresa Vernon in my adrenal fatigue post. Hope to see you around again!
That picture is fantastic!
I make a lot of my own seasonings, too. Great recipe!
Thanks, Rachel! I only wish I could say that that photo was mine :-). Most of my food photos are….
Hope you are having a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I also make my own taco seasoning and I love it way better than the packaged stuff. I usually double or triple the recipe so I can store it for quick use. I love that it doesn’t have unnecessary added sugar and other additives.
I double or triple almost everything. I just, in fact.made a quadruple batch (4.5 to be exact) of my Focaccia Flax Bread at lunchtime! Now I don’t have to bake for awhile. :).
Adrienne, that bread looks like it would be perfect for my little ones. Do kids like it too?
Hi Rita – which bread do you mean?
The Focaccia Flax Bread, you mentioned it in your reply to me. 😉
Hi again, Rita. I can’t find the comment now – so I’m confused, but in any case, my kids beg me for it. I made 4.5 batches three days ago (you can see why in the recipe info) and it is gone as of this morning. And I can truthfully tell you that my husband and I had very little of it. That being said, I really try to keep processed foods away from my kids. They’ve eaten it with hummus, eggs, and even almond butter and sweetener. And plain :-). Let me know how it goes! I reader just told me that she made it for her allergic daughter and other non gluten free folks and they all loved it.
I agree with you 100%. I haven’t used a seasoning packet in years, they are full of stuff I don’t need. Your recipe looks great. I love to make taco soup, I use 1/2 can El Pato (hot mexican tomato sauce) in place of the seasoning packet. It’s delicious!
I don’t think I’ve used them since my childhood. Probably because I didn’t have enough money to justify spending on them :-).
I love making my own seasoning blends and your homemade taco seasoning sounds delish! It’s such a nice balance of flavours. Thank you for sharing it with the Hearth and Soul hop.
You’re welcome, April!
I saw a recipe in food network mag awhile ago- my 12 year old daughter made it, and we loved it… and I think the recipe got lost somewhere along the line. Just saw you at Sugar and Dots, and so glad you posted it! We’ll be making tacos with your seasoning in the near future.
Great, Rebecca! So glad you stopped by! Hope to see you around again sometime!
Thanks for the post. I’ll give it a try. I’ve used the Tightwad Gazette recipes in the past.
I’ve not used TG’s recipes – I never purchased a subscription – probably b/c I was being a Tightwad :-).
Thanks for sharing! I am trying to remove the packets from my family’s life!
You’re welcome!
Thank you for posting this recipe! We have tacos a lot..it is a fave in our house. While the packets aren’t expensive, it does add up. This will be so much cheaper!
Thanks again!
You’re welcome! I hope you like it – and pound for pound, they are super expensive!