Name: Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 6 Tablespoons chili powder; 2 Tablespoons cumin, (ground); 1 Tablespoon paprika; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 2 teaspoons onion powder; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, (optional); 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, (or more to taste)

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Making your own homemade taco seasoning recipe is easy and takes just 5-minutes to put together!

This zesty mix works well on beef and chicken, and we always use it for a flavor punch in our Turkey Tacos Recipe and our Mini Taco Salad Cups

This spice combination gives you the ability to adjust and make it to your family’s taste. I make 2 versions to make everyone in my house happy, so one is spicy and the other one medium-spicy.

Chance are you probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry to make this seasoning. Once you make your own homemade taco seasoning mix you won’t want to go back to the premade grocery packages again. It tastes so fresh and there are no added preservatives.

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It’s nice to mix up a larger batch and keep it in a resealable mason jar. This recipe can be doubled or tripled. Make sure your spices are fresh when you begin for the best results.

Most packaged taco seasoning mix has a lot of salt and stabilizers included. If you like to eat gluten-free this is a great mix for you, as well.

How to change the seasonings:

If you like it hot, just add more cayenne!
Need it more mellow? Cut back on the cayenne and black pepper
If you are watching your sodium just omit the salt.

Making your own is quick and easy. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a mason jar or a bowl. Mix together, and store, sealed, in a cool dry place for up to 6-months.

Taco Seasoning Recipe in a white bowl — **Taco Seasoning Mix is perfect for tacos**

What is in Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe?

Feel free to add any additional ingredients but I think this is the best combination of spices. Make sure that your spices are fresh. An opened jar of ground spice usually lasts about 6-months. If it’s older you may want to stock up on a fresh supply.

Ground Cumin – you just can’t make it without this traditional spice!
Chili Powder – we chose the mild version to keep it family friendly
Garlic Powder – you can use garlic salt in a pinch but then omit the regular salt
Onion Powder – I love how onion powder balances out the spicier spices
Paprika – we use standard sweet, but smoked or spicy would be fun for added zest
Cayenne – optional but even a pinch gives this seasoning a great kick
Salt and Black Pepper – we use fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix ingredients on spoons — Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Great ways to use Taco Seasoning

My favorite way to use this mix is to add it to ground meats, like beef or turkey, or shredded chicken or pork.

For every pound of meat add 2-3 tablespoons of the mix, after the meat is cooked, and drained. Then add about 1/2 cup of water to loosen the mixture.

This seasoning mix also works well in marinades or as a spice in salad dressing. Try mixing it with olive oil and lime juice for a great taco salad dressing mix. Sprinkle in Spanish Rice or on top of your nachos for an added flavor kick. I use it to season the chicken in our Southwest Chicken Salad recipe.

Turkey tacos in a crunchy shell — **Turkey Tacos**

Looking for other great spice mixes or sauces?

Homemade always tastes better and is usually so simple. Here are some of our reader favorites to get you started:

Potlatch Seasoning perfect for fish (especially salmon), pork and veggies
Our Pumpkin Pie Spice recipe is just the right quantity for the holiday season and great in pies, cheesecakes, pumpkin spice lattes, syrups, pancakes and waffles!
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce is so easy and versatile. It comes together in just 15-minutes. Perfect on chicken, fish, and in your favorite stir fry.
Easy Chimichurri Sauce is an herb lovers dream sauce and perfect on steak, shrimp and vegetables.
Sweet Chili Sauce is a lightly spicy condiment with a garlic kick! We love it as a tempura dipping sauce but our favorite way to use it is when we slather our Grilled Corn on the Cob with this sauce!

Looking for the perfect jars to store this Taco Seasoning mixture in for home or for a gift? We love 4 ounce small short Ball jars from Amazon.

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4.80 from 5 votes