Skip the store-bought spices and make your own taco seasoning at home. You will most likely have all of these spices on hand or if not, they are easily found at the grocery store. This Authentic Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe is the perfect combination of Mexican flavors for any of your taco seasoning needs.
I'm not sure about you, but for most of my adult life, I went into the grocery store and bought a packet of taco seasoning. What I didn't realize is that most of the store-bought packets contained high sodium levels, or sugar, or were generally too spicy for our tastes. So, I set out to create my own seasoning that I could use for taco night.
I did finally find taco seasoning packets that did not contain gluten, added sugar, or other nasty ingredients, but I found that having my own homemade taco seasoning mix stored in an airtight container allowed me to have it on hand and I made more Mexican recipes often in our home. So for your next taco Tuesday, reach for your own jar of homemade seasoning.
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Ingredients for a Taco Seasoning Mix Recipe
- American chili powder
- ground cumin
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- smoked paprika
- dried oregano
- black pepper
- salt
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make Homemade Taco Seasoning
Combine all of the spices in a bowl.
Mix thoroughly to combine.
Place into an airtight container or mason jar.
Use as needed for delicious Mexican food.
Hint: I love using mason jars to store my spices! Here are jars I use.
Other ways to change your Authentic Taco Seasoning:
- Spicy: Add a ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or chili flakes
- Use ancho chili powder: in place of American chili powder
- Onion and Garlic: If you are not a huge fan of onion and garlic, reduce the onion and garlic powder by half
- Adjust the thickener: Taco seasoning packets usually have some kind of thickener, like flour. You can make it gluten-free by adding a bit of cornstarch to the meat. To make it paleo or Whole30 compliant use arrowroot or tapioca flour. If you add a thickener, you will need less of the spice blend per serving as it really seasons the meat better.
- Make a lot. Or make a little: When it comes to homemade spice blends, my favorite way is to fill a mason jar with a big batch. But if you just want to give it a try, this recipe is a scaled-down version to season one pound of ground beef or whatever meat you plan to use.
- Other spices: Try adding another dimension to the spice blend by adding a teaspoon of cocoa powder and coriander. The flavor will really pop with these added spices!
- What should I use it on: Use this for taco soup, beef tacos, chicken tacos, fish tacos, turkey tacos, and to spice up black beans.
Storage
I like making a large batch of this taco seasoning blend and placing it into a small glass jar for storage. As with any spice blend, it will last in your spice cabinet, stored in a dark place, for up to 6 months without losing its freshness.
Top tip
Make a large batch and store it in your spice cupboard for easy access to a healthy version of taco seasoning!
FAQ
This recipe makes 4 tablespoons however, you will most likely only need 2 tablespoons for a pound of ground meat.
The primary difference between the two is that chili seasoning has a higher concentration of chili powder and paprika. Taco seasoning has a higher amount of cumin. If you don't have taco seasoning on hand, you can use a chili seasoning.
You will find that this is a really easy recipe that will make delicious tacos and it will easily replace your favorite taco mix packet!
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
Authentic Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine all of the spices in a bowl.
- Mix well.
- Use immediately or store in the pantry for up to 6 months.
Gwen
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