Taco Seasoning (2024)

It’s easy to make your own 100% natural Taco Seasoning from chili powder, cumin, paprika and a few other common pantry spices. Dodge the packet from the store and perfectly balance every smoky, savory, mild or spicy nuance of flavor!

This traditional, DIY blend of spices goes perfectly with many of our Mexican Recipes including chicken or beef Fajitas, Taquitos, and Shrimp Tacos. Make a big batch and use as a dry rub for meats, or to pep up savory dishes such as casseroles or chili!

Taco Seasoning (1)

Taco Tuesday has become an American tradition and our household is no different. Our kids crunch through the hard-shell variety while my husband and I do Taco Saladstopped with black beans, sliced olives and avocados. Switching from stale, filler-stuffed packets to the vibrant flavors of quality fresh spices means none of us can wait for Tuesday!

Ingredients in Taco Seasoning:

  • Chili powder: Itself a blend of spices.
  • Cumin: This lends that “Mexican” flavor that truly distinguishes taco seasoning.
  • Oregano: Fresher, cheaper and in more bulk in the Latin foods aisle.
  • Paprika: Try smoked to add depth of flavor.
  • Cayenne: Just a pinch to add heat. Proceed with caution, a lot goes a long way!
  • Pepper: Fresh ground makes a big difference in flavor.
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Salt
Taco Seasoning (2)

How to Make Taco Seasoning:

Combine the above ingredients well and voila! You’re done. Use 2 Tablespoons to equal a taco seasoning packet, or use the amounts in the notes section of the recipe card below if you only want to make the equivalent of one packet.

Taco Seasoning (3)

To store Taco Seasoning:

Use immediately or store in an airtight container in your spice cupboard and use as needed. For maximum freshness use within six months.

If you enjoy Mexican cuisine, you may also fall in love with our Central and South American dishes!

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Recipe

Taco Seasoning (4)

4.97 from 139 votes

Taco Seasoning

This homemade Taco Seasoning recipe is completely natural, healthy, and just uses simple spices from your pantry. It only takes 5 minutes to stir together and it's cheaper and tastes better than any packet from the store!

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings 4

Calories 64

Prep 5 minutes mins

Total 5 minutes mins

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix all spices together until well combined.

  • Use immediately or store in an airtight container in your spice cupboard and use as needed. Use 2 tablespoons in place of one "packet" of taco seasoning, or to season 1 pound of meat.

Notes

Yields about ½ cup taco seasoning. Serving size is 2 Tablespoons.

Store in an airtight container in your spice cupboard and use as needed. For maximum freshness use within six months.

Packet Taco Seasoning replacement: if you only want to make enough taco seasoning to replace 1 packet, use the following amounts:

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2575mgPotassium: 401mgFiber: 6gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 4981IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 5mg

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RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.

Photography by Nikole from The Travel Palate.

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About The Author

Taco Seasoning (9)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Taco Seasoning (2024)

FAQs

Do you add water before taco seasoning? ›

1/2 cup water: After you've browned your meat, add in 1/2 cup water with 3 tablespoons of the taco seasoning mix. Stir to combine and mix all together. Slowly add in another 1/2 cup water as some will begin to absorb – you want it with a little sauce, just not too watery!

What can I use if I don't have taco seasoning? ›

Packet Taco Seasoning replacement: if you only want to make enough taco seasoning to replace 1 packet, use the following amounts:
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder.
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano.
  • ½ teaspoon paprika.
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin.
  • 1 teaspoon salt.
Mar 16, 2021

How much taco seasoning for 1 pound of meat? ›

To use: Use about 2 tablespoons of the taco seasoning for every 1 pound of meat. Use more or less depending on your preference. Brown meat and drain the fat. Add your taco seasoning along with about 1/2 cup of water.

What is taco seasoning mix made of? ›

Most taco seasoning mixes contain salt, warming spices (such as paprika, oregano, and chili), onion powder, and garlic powder. This top-rated recipe is made with chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, sea salt, black pepper, ground paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes.

What is the basic rule of adding seasoning? ›

Don't Let the Flavor Disappear - It's best to add ground or cut spices and herbs around the midway point or towards the end of the cooking process, so that their flavors won't disappear. This allows the spices enough time to marry with the food.

Do you cook meat before adding taco seasoning? ›

Once the beef is cooked, you want to cook it with the seasoning and liquid on medium low and just until the sauce starts to thicken. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't dry out. Heat up the tortillas before adding the ground beef on top. You can heat them up in the microwave, oven or on a skillet for 1-2 minutes per side.

Can I use tomato sauce instead of water for taco seasoning? ›

It's so easy, cost effective and is great to have on hand. Feel free to use store-bought seasoning if desired. Salsa: Not only does mixing in fresh salsa give the meat extra flavor, it also helps to thicken it up as well. If you don't have salsa on hand, you can use tomato sauce and water instead.

How much water do I add to old El Paso taco seasoning? ›

Ingredient List
  1. 1 box (12 count) Old El Paso™ taco shells.
  2. 1 lb (500 g) lean ground beef.
  3. 2/3 cup (150 mL) water.
  4. 1 package (24 g) Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix.

How much seasoning per pound of meat? ›

At the very least, you should add about one tablespoon of meat seasoning for every pound of meat. Apply the dry rub evenly so that every mouth has flavor.

Is fajita seasoning the same as taco seasoning? ›

Fajita seasoning and taco seasoning are very similar, but not identical. The ratios of each individual spice tend to differ. Fajita seasoning often contains more cumin, while taco seasoning contains more chili powder. Our taco seasoning recipe includes coriander and does not contain paprika or chipotle.

How do you fix too much taco seasoning in meat? ›

6 Tips to Fix Dishes That Are Too Spicy
  1. Add Dairy. There's a lot of hype about using milk to help provide relief from spicy foods, and for good reason. ...
  2. Use Citrus. ...
  3. Add Nuts or Nut Butters. ...
  4. Sprinkle in Sugar. ...
  5. Add Starch or Grains. ...
  6. Dilute It.
Apr 14, 2022

How many tacos will 2 lbs of meat make? ›

How much ground beef per taco? Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

What can I use instead of taco seasoning? ›

Combine chili powder, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes in a bowl; mix well. Enjoy!

What is McCormick Taco seasoning made of? ›

McCormick Taco Seasoning is crafted with a premium blend of zesty herbs and spices including chili pepper, paprika, oregano and garlic. Blended especially for chefs, McCormick Taco Seasoning gives chefs an all-in-one, ready-to-use mix to deliver intense, concentrated flavor to Mexican-inspired dishes and beyond.

What is the same as taco seasoning? ›

When it comes to tacos and chili, two of the most common Mexican dishes among American households, it's easy to see the similarities. In fact, these recipes are almost identical. Both use a winning combination of garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, crushed red pepper, cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Do you mix seasoning with water? ›

The basic formula that I use whenever I'm converting a dry spice or seasoning into a paste for cooking is quite simple: equal parts spice, oil, and water. This helps bring out both the water- and oil-soluble flavor compounds for you to build on.

How much water do you add to Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix? ›

Ingredient List
  1. 1 box Old El Paso™ Crunchy Taco Shells (12 Count)
  2. 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef.
  3. 2/3 cup water.
  4. 1 packet (1 oz) Old El Paso™ Original Taco Seasoning Mix.

Do you put water in the pan when cooking taco meat? ›

Water: You'll need enough to fully submerge the beef in the pan. Place the ground meat in the pot first, then pour cold/tap water over it until it's covered. Seasonings: Use any type of seasonings or spices you like. Check below for some ideas!

How much water do you add to Ortega taco seasoning? ›

You Will Need: 1 lb ground, 3/4 cup water, 1 pkg.

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