The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning

at a glance
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 6 servings
5 from 1 vote

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This homemade taco seasoning is so easy to make and adds such a delicious Tex-Mex flavor to so many dishes! 

a pale pink rectangular plate with stripes of different seasonings

A really delicious seasoning blend is the easiest way to jazz up a meal! Think about it: plain ole roasted veggies vs. veggies tossed in olive oil + spice blend and then roasted. The seasoned ones are the clear winner, right?! Though you can absolutely buy pre-made seasoning blends at the store, making your own not only allows you to control the ingredients but oftentimes saves you quite a few pennies too! 

Taco Seasoning

This taco seasoning is bold and a really great, easy swap for store-bought taco seasoning. One thing that we really love about making our own taco seasoning (or ANY seasoning blend) is that we have complete and total control over what goes into it! Spice-lover? Add more spice! Not a fan of a certain taste/flavor? Leave it out! 

DIY Taco Seasoning Ingredients

While all of the taco blend key players make an appearance in this recipe, we let the sneaky (sometimes found in packaged blends) ingredients sit this one out! You’ll need 1 tablespoon each of…

  • Ancho Chili Powder
  • Paprika
  • Cumin 
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Oregano
  • Sea Salt

Do note that while there is sea salt included in this blend, it’s really just a starting place, so we still recommend adding more to taste as you’re cooking!

a pale pink rectangular plate with stripes of different seasonings
a jar of taco seasoning sitting on a pale pink plate next to a small wooden spoonful of seasoning

How To Make Taco Seasoning from scratch

Measure and mix, y’all! That’s it! 

  1. Measure out the seasonings and place them in a bowl or jar (we used this small mason jar).
  2. Either stir the seasonings in a bowl or shake up the jar to mix everything!
a jar of taco seasoning sitting on a pale pink plate next to a small wooden spoonful of seasoning
grey plate with two corn tortilla tacos filled with barbacoa and topped with sliced avocado, watermelon radishes, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges on a mabrle surface

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Q Can I make more than one batch of seasoning at a time?
A

Of course! The beauty of this taco seasoning recipe is that the same amount of each spice goes into the mixture. This makes scaling the recipe REALLY easy! If you go through taco seasoning quickly, and you’d like to make a large batch, feel free to do that. These larger jars are really great for big batches of seasoning, and if you’re going this route, we’d recommend doing a 1/4 cup of each spice.

Q How long does taco seasoning last?
A

Your homemade taco seasoning will last for 6 months in the spice cabinet/drawer or in the freezer for longer. We recommend avoiding storing in the freezer for everyday use though, as the frequent temperature change can cause condensation (leading to clumping!)

Q How to Store Taco Seasoning
A

Store your seasoning in a jar (these are perfect!) either on the counter (for up to 6 months) or in the freezer to last for longer! 

Q How much homemade taco seasoning equals one packet?
A

That’s a great question! From our research, 1 seasoning packet = 1 ounce of seasoning, and 1 ounce of seasoning = 2 tablespoons. So scrap the packet, and add 2 tablespoons of the homemade stuff instead!

Q Do you need a thickener in homemade taco seasoning?
A

If you look at the back of your store-bought taco seasoning packet, the ingredient list probably includes cornstarch, so you may be wondering why we’ve left it out of our recipe! If you scan down to the directions on that same taco seasoning packet, you’ll also see that you’re supposed to add water to your taco meat. We say that these two ingredients (water and cornstarch) totally cancel each other out when combined, so it’s best to skip both.

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Taco Seasoning Mix Recipe

By: Brandi Schilhab
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 5 mins
Servings: 6 servings
This homemade taco seasoning is so easy to make and adds such a delicious Tex-Mex flavor to so many dishes!

Ingredients  

  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Add the seasonings to a bowl or small mason jar.
  • Either stir the seasonings in a bowl or shake up the jar to mix everything!

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Taco Seasoning Mix Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
21
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.1
g
1
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.2
g
Sodium
 
1189
mg
52
%
Potassium
 
109
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
4
g
1
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
0.4
g
0
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
 
997
IU
20
%
Vitamin C
 
0.4
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
36
mg
4
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe Notes

If you want to fill the mason jar with seasoning (like we did), use 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons of each spice.
Original recipes makes about 3/4 cup of seasoning.
Meet the Author
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Brandi Schilhab

Brandi leads our efforts on content audits, outline construction, website calendar management, and a great deal of writing. She could unashamedly watch reruns of Friends + Harry Potter movies and never get bored!⁠ ⁠ ⁠
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  1. Julie says

    Julie —  04/06/2021 At 11:11

    If you were making 1 pound of taco meat, how much of this mix would you suggest adding to the meat without water?

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  04/06/2021 At 11:18

      2 tablespoons of the seasoning blend is equal to a standard store-bought taco seasoning packet, Julie, so I’d start there! Once the meat is cooked, do a quick taste test and add more if needed!

  2. Kerry Schleappe says

    Kerry Schleappe —  12/03/2021 At 09:33

    5 stars
    Just in time! I made tacos last night and ended up using another F+F recipe for BBQ rub, which my family loved, but I needed a taco seasoning blend and would rather not buy store bought. Sooo, thank you! My question is, is there a variation you could recommend when making chicken tacos? Thank you!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  12/07/2021 At 10:27

      Wahoo! I’d actually use the same exact blend for chicken tacos, Kerry!