This taco seasoning recipe is a simple homemade spice blend that gives you bold taco flavor without packets or additives. It's designed to taste balanced being warm, savory, and not overly salty.
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A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Taco Seasoning Recipe
🕒 Ready In: ~5 minutes
👪 Serves: ~8 uses (about ¼ cup total)
🍽 Calories: ~10 per use (estimated)
🥣 Main Ingredients: Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, paprika
📖 Dietary Info: Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free
👌 Difficulty: Easy - whisk and store
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The mix is chili powder-forward with cumin for depth, then garlic, oregano, and paprika round out the flavor so it works across ground beef, chicken, and roasted vegetables. Because it's homemade, you control the salt and heat level depending on what you're cooking.
If you like easy pantry staples like this, you might also like our Tandoori Spice, Homemade Ranch Dressing, or Chimichurri Sauce.
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Why You'll Love This Taco Seasoning:
Balanced flavor for everyday cooking: Chili powder and cumin lead, with garlic, oregano, and paprika rounding it out without tasting overly salty.
Fast to mix, easy to keep on hand: One bowl, one whisk, and it's ready whenever you need it.
Works across proteins and veggies: Use it for ground beef, chicken, shrimp, roasted vegetables, or sheet pan meals.
Easy to adjust: Increase chili powder for deeper flavor, add cayenne for heat, or cut salt if you're seasoning a salty dish.
Key Ingredients:
- chili powder. The main flavor base, use a mild or medium blend depending on heat preference.
- ground cumin. Adds warm, earthy depth and classic taco flavor.
- garlic powder. Provides savory richness and enhances every other spice.
- oregano. Adds a subtle herbal note that rounds out the blend.
- salt. Boosts all the spices; adjust to taste or omit if you prefer to salt dishes separately.
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this page for exact quantities.
Easy Substitutions & Variations:
- Spicier taco seasoning: Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
- Milder taco seasoning: Reduce chili powder slightly and skip cayenne if using it.
- Smoky flavor: Use smoked paprika instead of paprika.
- Lower sodium: Cut salt in half, then salt your dish to taste while cooking.
- More "street taco" flavor: Add ½ teaspoon ground coriander.
- Sweeter finish: Add ¼ teaspoon sugar to balance heat in tomato-heavy taco fillings.
How to Make Taco Seasoning:
- Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, salt, pepper, and onion powder to a small bowl.
- Whisk until fully combined and evenly mixed.
- Transfer to an airtight jar or spice container. Store for up to 6 months in a cool, dry place.
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Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Break up clumps: Garlic powder and chili powder can clump, so whisk well or press lumps with the back of a spoon.
- Use fresh spices: Older spices can taste dull, so replace anything that smells weak for a stronger blend.
- Scale it easily: Double or triple the batch and store it in a small jar for quicker weeknight cooking.
- Taste as you cook: Different chili powders vary in heat and strength, so adjust the amount you use in a recipe if needed.
- Label the jar: Write the date on the lid so you know when you mixed it.
How to Store:
Airtight container: Transfer the spice mix to a small jar with a tight-fitting lid to keep it fresh.
Shelf life: Best used within 6 months, though it may last longer if your spices are very fresh.
Taco Seasoning FAQs:
Taco seasoning is made of a blend of spices like chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper. The exact ratios vary, but chili powder and cumin are usually the main flavors.
One store-bought taco seasoning packet is usually about 2 tablespoons. Use 2 tablespoons of this taco seasoning recipe as a starting point for 1 pound of meat, then adjust to taste.
Taco seasoning works well on roasted vegetables, chicken, shrimp, soups, sheet pan meals, and rice bowls. It's a simple way to add taco-style flavor without needing multiple seasonings.
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Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, salt, pepper, and onion powder to a small bowl.
- Whisk until fully combined and evenly mixed.
- Transfer to an airtight jar or spice container. Store for up to 6 months in a cool, dry place.
Nutrition
Notes
- Break up clumps: Garlic powder and chili powder can clump, so whisk well or press lumps with the back of a spoon.
- Use fresh spices: Older spices can taste dull, so replace anything that smells weak for a stronger blend.
- Scale it easily: Double or triple the batch and store it in a small jar for quicker weeknight cooking.
- Taste as you cook: Different chili powders vary in heat and strength, so adjust the amount you use in a recipe if needed.
- Label the jar: Write the date on the lid so you know when you mixed it.
Karen says
Delicious! My go to spice for cooking mexican meals at home
Beverly says
can it be used for chili and tacos
Roche Woodworth says
Hi Beverly - yes, this mix is perfect for chili or tacos. It’s what we use ourselves:)
Connie Eisenhour says
Yum