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Home Recipe Index Condiments

Taco Seasoning

★★★★★ 5 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Polly Conner
By: Polly ConnerPosted: 6/16/22Updated: 2/9/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

I’ve been making this taco seasoning recipe for years and have perfected it. Use this easy homemade taco seasoning for all your Mexican recipes! Pro Tip: Triple or quadruple the batch and store it in your pantry.

Homemade Taco seasoning in a mason jar

“Simply the best. It’s been over two years since I first tried this taco seasoning recipe. No more store-bought taco seasoning for me!”

– Edna ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This house LOVES Mexican food, and I now use my special seasoning blend in all of it. My 2-year-old will scarf down a whole bowl of spicy Mexican Soup without any protest. We make Taco Meat for a Taco Bar at least once every few weeks. More recently, we’ve been using this spice blend to make Taquitos for the freezer.

Why Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix

Like me, you may like the convenience of the little store-bought packets. But let’s talk about two reasons why I’ve been completely converted over to making my own.

Taco seasoning recipe spilled out of a jar

Do You Know What’s in Your Packet?

Over the years, I’ve grown increasingly aware of what is actually in pre-packaged foods. I realized that my little bundles of taco-joy were filled with some questionable ingredients. Check out the ingredients in the packet that I used to buy:

  • Maltodextrin – hidden sugar
  • salt
  • chili pepper
  • onion powder
  • spice
  • monosodium glutamate – also known as MSG and can cause headaches among other things
  • corn starch – thickener
  • yellow corn flour – thickener
  • partially hydrogenated soybean oil – one of the most unhealthy oils out there
  • silicon dioxide – anti-caking agent
  • natural flavor – no idea what this is
  • ethoxyquin – preservative

Store-Bought Packets Add Up

I also hated that I was paying $1-$2 for a single serving. I used taco seasoning so much that I finally realized it’d be worth it to make my own batch and triple it for future use.

Turns out I had every ingredient I needed in order to make a big batch of this yummy taco seasoning mix! Isn’t it pretty?!

What Ingredients Do I Need?

You’ll need the following ingredients in order to make your own taco seasoning…

Taco seasoning ingredients including the following: 
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Crushed red pepper flakes
Dried oregano
Paprika
Ground cumin
Salt & pepper

Just keep your pantry stocked with these cheap herbs and spices all year round so you can whip up your favorite Mexican dishes anytime.

What Quantity Does This Recipe Make?

This Taco Seasoning mix makes about 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup), but I almost always double or triple it and store my mix in a mason jar in my pantry.

Taco seasoning layered in a mason jar

How Much Do I Use Per Pound of Meat?

We typically use 2-3 tablespoons of seasoning per pound of ground meat. Add more if you like the flavor, less if you have sensitive palates. You can always season the meat with more salt at the end, if you’d like, as well.

Here’s how I use the taco seasoning recipe to make ground beef for tacos.

Taco seasoning mix being used on ground beef.
  1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Saute 1 cup diced onion, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in 3-4 cloves of garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds more.
  2. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add 2 pounds lean ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it browns. Drain off excess grease.
  3. Sprinkle 4-6 tablespoons of taco spice mixture over the meat and stir until coated. Add in 1 cup of chicken/beef/vegetable broth OR water and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the mixture has reduced some, about 5 minutes.

How Many Tablespoons Are in a Packet of Taco Seasoning?

If you’ve been used to using one packet of taco seasoning per 1 pound of meat, then you might have this question. There’s typically 3 tablespoons (sometimes 4 tablespoons depending in the brand) in a store-bought packet of taco seasoning.

So that means, you’ll want to use about 3 tablespoons of our homemade taco seasoning in place of a packet.

How Long Does Taco Seasoning Last?

According to Food Network, “Ground spices…typically don’t last past 6 months. The best freshness test for ground spices is to give them a whiff — if they smell like nothing, then it’s time to say goodbye.”

I will say this though…my homemade taco seasoning seems to pass the “whiff” test and stay flavorful for longer than 6 months. Use your own discretion after the 6 month mark.

Recipes That Use Homemade Taco Seasoning

We have SO many delicious Mexican recipes. In fact we have an entire post featuring our favorites!

Mexican recipes

25+ Amazing Mexican Recipes

The ultimate collection of tasty and easy Mexican recipes that will satisfy your cravings without a trip to the restaurant!

See the recipes

Or try some of these popular recipes…

  • Totally Tasty Taco Bar
  • Cheesy Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas
  • Mexican Soup
  • 7 Layer Taco Dip
  • Easy Taco Salad with Southwest Ranch Dressing
  • Anything Goes Tortilla Soup
  • Shredded Beef Tacos
A hand holding a jar of taco seasoning mix

Can You Freeze Taco Seasoning?

Though it’s best to keep spices in a dry cabinet (source), you can store larger backup supplies in the fridge or freezer to elongate their life.

If you choose to make a large batch of Taco Seasoning, you can for sure store it in the freezer! I’d recommend tripling or quadrupling the batch and storing it in a large mason jar.

After making thousands of freezer meals over the years, we know that air is the enemy of freezer food. Keep that in mind when selecting the jar size.

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

taco seasoning in a mason jar
★★★★★ 5 from 15 reviews

Taco Seasoning Mix

Homemade taco seasoning mix. Skip the additives and artificial ingredients and whip up a big batch of this FABULOUS natural taco seasoning mix. I’ll never go back to buying those expensive little packets again!

Yield: About 4 tablespoons 1x
Prep: 5 minutesCook: 0 minutesTotal: 5 minutes
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Scale:

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • a pinch of red pepper flakes (or more if you like things spicy)
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

To Make the Seasoning:

  1. Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. 
  2. Double or even triple this recipe to have on hand for all of your favorite Mexican meals!

To Use the Seasoning on Ground Meat: Use 2-3 tablespoons of taco seasoning plus 1/2 cup broth or water per pound of browned meat. Taste and season with more of the mixture or more salt, as needed.

(See Notes below for more details about making delicious taco meat.)


Notes/Tips

Here’s how we like to make Taco Meat:

  1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Saute 1 cup diced onion, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in 3-4 cloves of garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds more.
  2. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add 2 pounds lean ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it browns. Drain off excess grease.
  3. Sprinkle 4-6 tablespoons of taco spice mixture over the meat and stir until coated. Add in 1 cup of chicken/beef/vegetable broth OR water and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the mixture has reduced some, about 5 minutes.
© Author: Polly Conner
Cuisine: Mexican Method: Mix

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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  1. AvatarHolly Gatson says

    Posted on 10/21/22 at 9:36 pm

    Yum! This seasoning has just the right amount of heat. I love using it in your Instant Pot Creamy Mexican Chicken recipe, and in other dishes. Many thanks!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 10/23/22 at 10:10 am

      So glad it has become a staple in your home Holly! I’ve been making homemade taco seasoning for 15+ years. I give it in cute little jars for gifts. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and let others know how you use it.

      Reply
  2. AvatarSusan says

    Posted on 7/5/22 at 9:38 am

    Just a suggestion…I “jumped” to recipe then began to read comments. Someone (Chris) mentioned using water/broth, etc. I kept going back to recipe but couldn’t find that mentioned. Began to doubt my reading skills. LOL Finally read through entire post and found mention of using broth/water. If that was mentioned in the actual recipe it might be beneficial. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 7/5/22 at 9:58 am

      Great idea. Thanks so much, Susan. I’ll add that in now.

      Reply
  3. AvatarRae Ann McNutt says

    Posted on 6/1/22 at 10:46 pm

    Love this will definitely be doing more often.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 6/2/22 at 8:26 am

      So glad it was a hit, Rae Ann. Thanks for leaving a review!

      Reply
  4. AvatarLucy says

    Posted on 5/26/22 at 5:59 pm

    This is the perfect amount of seasoning for 2 lbs of meat. I used the optional sugar & omitted the red pepper flakes which made it palatable for my toddlers. The whole family loves the flavor of this mix.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 5/27/22 at 9:50 am

      Good to know this worked well for your family. Thanks for sharing and for the review!

      Reply
  5. AvatarEdna says

    Posted on 2/12/22 at 6:25 pm

    Simply the best. It’s been over two years since I first tried this seasoning mix. No more store bought taco seasoning for me👍🏾

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 2/12/22 at 7:36 pm

      Wonderful! Thanks for the feedback and review, Edna.

      Reply
  6. AvatarLois Hogan says

    Posted on 2/8/22 at 4:23 pm

    I’ve made this recipe as written for at least the past 8 years. This stuff is like pure ambrosia. We have a large family with 5 teenage boys and it never fails to get raves. I usually quadruple it so I can used it another couple of times before having to mix up a new batch.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 2/8/22 at 6:03 pm

      Oh wow, that’s a huge compliment to know you’ve been making this recipe for so long and for such a big family. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review and feedback, Lois!

      Reply
  7. AvatarMarianne says

    Posted on 10/6/21 at 9:50 am

    Thank you for this recipe! I’ve been making my own for awhile. The recipe i use doesn’t call for salt and it definitely needs salt so i started adding it to the mix. BUT…i can not find my book i had it written in 😭 (don’t have it saved anywhere else) so I’ve been back to buying taco seasoning packets. Not anymore!! Thank you 🥰

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 10/6/21 at 4:34 pm

      You’re welcome! I hope it’s helpful. Sometimes I add a pinch of sugar, too. So if it feels like it’s missing something, you might try that. 😉

      Reply
  8. AvatarChris says

    Posted on 3/14/20 at 3:19 pm

    the flavor of this seasoning is amazing. but i’ve always ued water. 3/4 c broth with the 2T of mix? and is it beef or chicken broth? assume beef, but didn’t want to assume. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 3/15/20 at 5:54 pm

      Water works, too. I’m tested it that way. Chicken or beef broth just kicks up the flavor a little

      Reply
  9. AvatarTaco Dad says

    Posted on 5/23/19 at 4:25 pm

    I never thought about making my own Taco seasoning mix. I love this idea as I can kick the spice up to my liking or tone it down for the kids.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  10. Avatarpam says

    Posted on 9/18/17 at 6:06 am

    Can you please clarify me the exact measurement of the chili powder. Is it 1 1/2 tsp or 1/2 tsp as both are mentioned in the recipe. Please do reply as I am new to cooking, I always follow the exact measurements. Thank you

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 9/18/17 at 1:02 pm

      You will use 1 1/2 teaspoons of the chili powder. Enjoy!

      Reply
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