This easy homemade taco seasoning recipe is so delicious and made with simple pantry spices — perfect for tacos, fajitas, and more!
So Much Better Than Store-Bought!
There’s no going back once you make your own taco seasoning. ♡
This quick and easy blend only takes a few minutes to mix together with everyday spices you already have on hand — no additives, no fillers, and no mystery ingredients included. It’s perfectly balanced with all of the zesty taco seasonings we all love. And it works with everything from classic ground beef tacos and fajita chicken to roasted veggies, shrimp, soups and more.
I highly recommend making a double or triple batch so that you can have extra seasoning to keep on hand. Because once you taste how fresh and vibrant homemade taco seasoning can be, you’ll nix the store-bought packets for good!
Taco Seasoning Tips
A few quick tips to help this homemade taco seasoning recipe turn out perfectly every time:
- Use fresh spices: Dull or old spices will make the blend taste flat. If your chili powder or cumin is more than a year old, it’s worth replacing.
- Use American-style chili powder: If you live outside of the United States, be sure to use the mild, blended chili powder common in U.S. grocery stores (which already includes spices like paprika, oregano, and garlic), not pure ground chili peppers like cayenne. Otherwise, the mix will be far spicier than intended!
- Adjust the heat/smokiness: Feel free to double the crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick, or omit then for a milder seasoning. You can also add in 1/2 teaspoon chipotle seasoning for a smokier taco seasoning.
- Shake before using: The spices naturally settle over time. Give your jar a quick shake to redistribute everything before sprinkling.
- Batch it up: This recipe easily doubles or triples. Mix a large batch and store it in an airtight jar to save time later.
- Label and date it: Homemade seasoning stays fresh for up to a year, but it’s best used within six months for maximum flavor.
Ways To Use Taco Seasoning:
This zesty spice blend is good for so much more than just taco night! Here are some of our favorite ways to put homemade taco seasoning to use:
- Classic Tacos: Brown ground beef, turkey, or chicken, stir in a few tablespoons of seasoning and a splash of water, and simmer for a few minutes until saucy.
- Fajitas: Sprinkle over chicken or steak strips with bell peppers and onions before sautéing for bold, smoky flavor.
- Roasted Veggies: Toss sweet potatoes, cauliflower, or chickpeas with olive oil and seasoning before roasting.
- Soups and Stews: Add a tablespoon or two to chili, tortilla soup, or taco soup for extra depth and warmth.
- Seafood: Use as a dry rub for shrimp, salmon, or tilapia — it adds a quick, flavorful kick.
- Eggs: Stir into scrambled eggs, breakfast burritos, or frittatas for a Tex-Mex twist.
- Snacks: Sprinkle over popcorn, fries, or roasted nuts for a fun savory snack.
- Dips: Mix with sour cream, Greek yogurt, or cream cheese for an easy taco dip or chip topping.
FAQ
Use about 2 tablespoons for every 1 pound of ground beef, chicken, or turkey. Adjust to taste depending on how strong you like the flavor.
Absolutely! Just skip the salt in the mix and season your dish to taste while cooking.
Yes! This blend is naturally gluten-free. But as always, double-check your ingredients to be sure that they are certified gf.
Yes! One batch of this recipe equals roughly the same amount as a standard 1-ounce store packet (about 2–3 tablespoons). Just use it exactly the same way you would the packet mix.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: About 3 tablespoons
Description
This easy homemade taco seasoning recipe is so delicious and made with simple pantry spices — perfect for tacos, fajitas, and more! If you are using this to season meat, we recommend 2 tablespoons taco seasoning per pound of meat.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder*
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika (I prefer smoked paprika)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine ingredients. Add all of the ingredients to a small jar and stir (or shake) until evenly combined.
- Store. Use immediately or cover and store for up to 1 year.
Notes
Chili powder: A note for our international readers that this recipe uses American-style chili powder, which is actually a blend of mild chiles and spices. (It’s not 100% cayenne!)
I’ve tried a *lot* of recipes for taco seasoning, but this one has the flavor I’ve been looking for! I made our tacos last night with Impossible ground “beef” and my wife and I both loved it. Why buy expensive taco seasoning from the store when you can whip some up at home in two minutes–for a fraction of the cost–with stuff that’s in your pantry?
Brilliant
This is my umpteenth time using this recipe. EXCELLENT! I use it for making chili as well…add the taco seasonings to the chili powder in the chili. I recently discovered that it is perfect for all the meat dishes listed in OP.
Thank you for a salt free healthier choice to flavour our faves.
The smoked paprika here really shines through! Thanks for this quick recipe.
Hi , I am excited to try this homemade Taco Seasoning so easy I have all ingredients to make my seasoning. Especially on Taco Tuesday! Yay !
I omitted the pepper flakes because I didn’t have any but I did add 1/4 teaspoon good cayene and 1 teaspoon ground coriander. Turned out well. Thanks for the recipe.
Delicious, been using this for over a yr ! Fresh ingredients make all the difference !
Made this with Mexican hot chili powder so good!
I am a commercial hot sauce and spice rub manufacturer. This recipe is similar to that of one of my products. I would like to share 3 suggestions, knowing full well that one or both ingredients may not available to all. These, apart from #1 are simply making a very good recipe even better.
1) This recipe definitely needs additional salt. Double up on the directions.
2) Mexican oregano is a much better seasoning in this instance, so use it if possible. Otherwise, stick with Greek oregano. Definitely don’t leave it out entirely.
3) It is fairly easy to source smoked serrano powder these days. A quarter teaspoon (or to taste) in place of the chili flakes is well worth it.
Having said all that, the sole reason for the 4 star rating is the salt issue. I wonder if the author was using a chili powder that has a significant salt content (mine is my own recipe and is quite low in salt).