• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweetly Splendid
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Collaborate
  • eBook
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Food » Homemade Taco Seasoning

    Homemade Taco Seasoning

    47 shares
    • share
    • tweet
    • save
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Homemade Taco Seasoning - this seasoning is the perfect blend of spices to amp up tacos or any Mexican & Tex-Mex style dishes you love. It is quick, inexpensive and made with staple ingredients you likely have on hand. You can customize it to make it your own by going spicier or even leaving the salt out entirely.

    homemade taco seasoning in a jar with a measuring spoon

    The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning

    So whether you've decided you wanted to make your own taco seasoning because you don't like what the store bought taco seasoning is made of or you ran out of the store-bought stuff and want to make your own taco seasoning from scratch, you've come to the right place. I'm biased of course, but think this is the best taco seasoning out there, homemade or store bought! Once you give this recipe a try and realize how inexpensive and easy it is to make, you may find yourself reaching to make this instead of buying the packets at the store.

    In less than 5 minutes, you'll have a taco seasoning that packs a ton of flavor that is perfect for tacos, burritos, chicken, beef, shrimp, and more!

    ingredients for taco seasoning on a plate on top of a striped cloth

    Homemade Taco Seasoning Ingredients

    Most of the ingredients in taco seasoning are seasonings people keep on hand in the pantry. You can also buy most of these in bulk at club stores like Sam's and Costco. I find that it results in a pretty big cost savings by doing that and making my own vs buying the packets.

    • Cumin - I'm a self admitted big cumin fan for any Mexican style dish. I go heavy on the cumin, but find that it adds such a great flavor.
    • Salt - I opt for kosher salt in mine, but use your favorite salt here. You could even use pink Himalayan salt if that's your favorite.
    • Garlic Powder - I really like the California Garlic Powder sold at Costco under the Kirkland's brand because of it's taste, but any good garlic powder works great.
    • Onion Powder - Even if you like onion flavor, don't get heavy handed here. Use the measured amount and if you'd like more after you've tried the finished product you can add more. Adding too much can over power the other seasonings.
    • Paprika - I use standard paprika in mine, but if you want a smokey taste you could always use smoked paprika instead.
    • Chili Powder - I keep my chili powder ratio low in this recipe because I use this taco seasoning in a lot of dishes for a range of tastes. If you want a spicier mix, feel free to bump this measurement up.
    • Oregano - It's a classic in Mexican cooking and it wouldn't be complete without it!

    How to make Homemade Taco Seasoning

    (full recipe instructions with measurements and printable card are at the end of this post)

    • Add all ingredients to a bowl or mason jar and wisk (or shake) to fully combine. That's it!
    pile of taco seasoning on counter with a measuring spoon

    How do I store Homemade Taco Seasoning?

    I store mine in a mason jar in my pantry. You'll want to store it the same way you would other spices, in a cool, dry place.

    Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting for Homemade Taco Seasoning

    How long is homemade taco seasoning good for when stored properly? If you store properly, it will keep for up to 1 year. Honestly, mine rarely lasts more than 2 weeks in our house with how frequently we use it. I make it about 1-2 times a month.

    Can I make it in bulk? Absolutely. Just multiply the amounts to as many as you want.

    Do I need to add water to my homemade taco seasoning when making ground beef tacos? You can. This is entirely up to you. I find that a splash of water or broth is perfect. No more than ¼ cup for 1lb of meat.

    How much taco seasoning is equal to a packet of store-bought? I use 2 tablespoons per 1lb of meat.

    homemade taco seasoning in a jar on top of a striped cloth

    Recipes you could use homemade taco seasoning with:

    • Taco Pie
    • Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
    • Tex-Mix Chicken & Rice Casserole
    • Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
    homemade taco seasoning in a jar with a measuring spoon

    Homemade Taco Seasoning

    Kara - Sweetly Splendid
    Homemade Taco Seasoning - this seasoning is the perfect blend of spices to amp up tacos or any Mexican & Tex-Mex style dishes you love.  It is quick, inexpensive and made with staple ingredients you likely have on hand. You can customize it to make it your own by going spicier or even leaving the salt out entirely. 
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 min
    Total Time 1 min
    Course Seasonings
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 5 (2tbsp servings)
    Calories 19 kcal
    Protein 1 g

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 tsp ground cumin
    • 3 tsp salt
    • 2 tsp garlic powder
    • 2 tsp onion powder
    • 2 tsp paprika
    • 2 tsp chili powder
    • 1 tsp oregano

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to a bowl or mason jar and wisk (or shake) to fully combine. That's it!

    Notes

    • Use 2 tbsp per 1lb of meat
    • If you want a spicier mix, add more chili powder or even some cayenne 
    • You can go salt free by omitting the salt entirely. 
    • WW Points (all plans): 0 points

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Homemade Taco Seasoning
    Serving Size
     
    2 tbsp
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    19
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    1
    g
    2
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    0
    g
    0
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    0
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    0
    mg
    0
    %
    Sodium
     
    1423
    mg
    62
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    3
    g
    1
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    0
    g
    0
    %
    Protein
     
    1
    g
    2
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword taco, taco seasoning, tacos
    Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!
    « Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
    Teriyaki Beef and Rice with a Simple Sauce »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cristina Schackman

      November 25, 2020 at 8:43 am

      5 stars
      I called Kara one night because I tragically ran out of taco seasoning and didn't know what to do. Once again, she saved dinner! My kids like this so much more than the store bought seasoning so now I just make giant batches of it instead of buying the little packets at the store.

      Reply
    2. Cindy Goelling

      March 04, 2021 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      Just made this seasoning and used it on my ground turkey. It was absolutely perfect! Will definitely make a bigger batch next time.

      Reply
      • kara

        March 04, 2021 at 4:25 pm

        Thank you, Cindy! I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    3. Jade Stewart

      February 06, 2022 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      There is no other taco seasoning now, this is the way, I'm ordering large containers of the spices so I will always have this on hand.

      Reply
      • kara

        February 08, 2022 at 2:49 pm

        Haha! I love this!! Gave me a good giggle and I'm completely flattered!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Kara

    Kara is a wife & mother living deep in the heart of Texas. She loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes. Learn more about Kara...

    Categories

    Instagram

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    May 3

    18 2
    Open
    Air Fried Coconut Shrimp with a Creamy Pineapple Dipping Sauce - these crispy air fried shrimp are sweet and have a pina colada inspired sauce. They’ll have you ready for summer! 

https://sweetlysplendid.com/air-fryer-coconut-shrimp-with-creamy-pineapple-dipping-sauce/

#shrimp #seafood #coconut #coconutshrimp #airfryer #airfryerrecipes #airfryerrecipe #airfried #shrimprecipes #pineapple #summer #easyrecipes #easyrecipe #recipe #recipes #recipeshare
    18 2

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    Apr 27

    29 3
    Open
    Crispy Baked Garlic Potato Wedges are perfect when it comes to getting the crispy outside and fluffy inside of fries. It’s easy to have these thrown together in less than 30 minutes with your favorite burger. 

https://sweetlysplendid.com/crispy-baked-garlic-potato-wedges/

#potatoes #fries #potatowedges #frenchfries #garlic #recipe #recipes #easyrecipe #easyrecipes #recipeshare #comfortfood #mealideas #instafood #instayum #food #potato #healthyfood #healthyrecipes
    29 3

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    Apr 24

    20 9
    Open
    Grilling season is in full swing at my house. This Coastal Marinated Grilled Chicken is a favorite. It’s easy to make and packed with flavor. It had a honey lime base with soy sauce (or coconut aminos) and garlic. 

https://sweetlysplendid.com/coastal-marinated-grilled-chicken/

#chicken #grill #grilling #grillingseason #grilledchicken #chickenbreast #chickenrecipes #marinade #grilllife #easyrecipes #recipe #recipes #mealidea #mealplan #recipeshare #recipeoftheday
    20 9

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    Mar 21

    54 11
    Open
    Did you get a chance to see last weeks new recipe? This Baked Spaghetti is so good! It’s quick and easy to make. The gooey cheese center is my favorite part 😍

https://sweetlysplendid.com/baked-spaghetti/

……..
#easyrecipes #foodblogger #foodblogfeed #comfortfood #recipe #recipes #easydinner #dinner #dinnerideas #dinnerrecipes #dinnertime #pasta #pastarecipe #pastarecipes #spaghetti #casserole #cheese #easymeals #familyfriendly #cheesyfood #cheesy
    54 11

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    Mar 19

    117 45
    Open
    Saying goodbye to my first baby is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m broken. I’m overwhelmed with grief. I’m not okay. I’ve been unable to write this post every time I’ve tried, so I’ll share what Jacob wrote in my stories ❤️
    117 45

    sweetlysplendid

    View

    Mar 13

    145 23
    Open
    Have y’all tried this Chicken Noodle Casserole? It takes traditional chicken pot pie, adds pasta, and swaps the thick crust for a buttery, crispy, crumble topping. It’s perfect for a weeknight meal 😍 

https://sweetlysplendid.com/chicken-noodle-casserole/

……. 
#chicken #pasta #casserole #chickennoodle #eggnoodles #veggies #croutons #casseroles #easyeats #easyrecipes #easyrecipe #easyrecipesathome #easydinner #easymeals #weeknightdinner #weeknightmeals #weeknightdinners #sundaysupper #comfortfood #comfortfoods #recipes #recipeoftheday #recipeshare
    145 23
    Load More... Follow on Instagram

    Main Dishes

    pit boss smoked ribs covered in bbq sauce
    easy baked spaghetti recipe fully cooked and served on a plate with a fork
    beef stew in a bowl topped with parsley and a side of breadsticks
    sheet pan beef fajitas with tortillas and limes
    pumpkin chili in a bowl topped with fresh sage

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    Copyright © 2021 Sweetly Splendid all rights reserved