Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Have you ever wondered how to make homemade taco seasoning mix? Sure, buying a packet from the store is easy, but have you ever looked at the ingredients on the back? Can you pronounce all of them?

Making at home taco seasoning lets you control exactly what goes into it. The heat level, the quality of ingredients, the amount of sodium. All under your control.

Also, you gotta love recipes whose sole directions are “mix all ingredients together”.

For that reason alone, why wouldn’t you make this yourself instead of buying the packets at the store? Don’t say because you’re lazy because I’m lazy too (sometimes) and I do it. You probably have all these ingredients in your cupboard anyway.

Plus, you’ll save money.

Equipment needed to make homemade taco seasoning

• Measuring spoons – I like this set because they’re magnetic and stack so you don’t lose them in your drawer.
• Small hinge jars – These little jars are cute (same ones pictured) and hold just the right amount of homemade spices (3 oz).
• Mini whisk – Not totally necessary, but it’s cute!

Ingredients for homemade taco seasoning mix

Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.

Chili Powder – Chili powder is made from dried chiles in varying heat.
Ground Cumin – Made from ground cumin seeds, cumin is essential in many Mexican and Indian dishes. It has a warm earthy flavor with a bit of sweetness and bitterness.
Garlic Powder – Much sweeter and more subtle than fresh garlic, garlic powder is made from grinding down dehydrated garlic.
Onion Powder – Onion powder is concentrated fresh onion and adds a sweet and savory flavor.
Dried Oregano – Oregano has an herby, peppery flavor that works well in most tomato-based dishes. Thyme and basil would also work.
Paprika – Paprika is made from dried, ground red peppers. It has a sweet and peppery taste. You can also choose a smoked paprika for an added chargrilled flavor.

How to make homemade taco seasoning

This one is a doozy, are you ready? lol

STEP ONE: Combine all seasonings in a small bowl or plate. Whisk together. That’s it!

What to use taco seasoning in

Taco seasoning is used in many recipes such as crock pot salsa chicken, taco dip, in a copycat Taco Bell Mexican pizza, or baked chicken fajitas, to name a few.

How to store taco seasoning

Homemade taco seasoning should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Possible additions

You can add sea salt, black pepper, Tajin, etc. I like to leave out salt and pepper so I can control those components separately.

To make it spicier, add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.

How much does this recipe make?

This recipe makes approximately 6 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix, which is equal to approximately 3 packets of store bought seasoning.

How much taco seasoning do I need for 1 pound of meat?

Use approximately 2 tablespoons of the taco seasoning for every 1 pound of meat (chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, etc.).

Homemade Taco Seasoning FAQs

Is taco seasoning spicy?

No, this taco seasoning is not spicy, but it adds great flavor.

Is there MSG in taco seasoning?

Yes, there is likely MSG (Monosodium glutamate) in store bought packets of taco seasonings. That’s the beauty of making it yourself – you control the ingredients and this recipe does not include any.

How many tablespoons are in a packet of taco seasoning?

A typical packet of taco seasoning contains 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) of mix. If your recipe calls for a packet of seasoning, simply replace the packet with 2 tablespoons of this homemade mix.

Need more homemade seasoning mix recipes? Try these:

Homemade Italian Seasoning
Homemade Tuscan Seasoning
Homemade Seasoning Salt
Shawarma Seasoning