Ole! Is it taco night in your house? It doesn’t need to be Tuesday to make it “Taco Tuesday.” We surely don’t wait and we don’t limit taco seasoning to just tacos. There’s so much more you can do with this heavenly DIY taco seasoning recipe.
Tacos get such a bad reputation for being unhealthy. The only unhealthy thing about them is all the preservatives in those packets of spice mixes. When you make taco meat seasoning yourself, you can feel good about serving up taco-flavored-everything to your family!
Best Taco Seasoning Recipe
The best taco seasoning recipe takes spices you’ve got stashed in your cabinet or pantry and helps you combine them for authentic and vibrant flavors. You’ll wonder why you ever bought it in those silly pouches all those times before. Now you’re about to experience flavor sensation! Boom!
Easy Taco Seasoning Recipe
Do you have 2 minutes? Do you have spices in your spice rack? Do you have measuring spoons? It’s THAT easy to make this taco seasoning mix recipe! Homemade taco seasoning for ground beef is so much easier than you may think, and you probably already have all the ingredients sitting in your spice rack.
Homemade Taco Seasoning Ingredients
- Chili powder – ground beef taco seasoning needs a kick and chili powder is a key ingredient.
- Smoked paprika – it lends that depth of flavor.
- Ground cumin – now we’re getting to that smoky yet exotic flavor.
- Onion powder – bring on the pungent taste!
- Dried oregano – adds a balance to the stronger spices.
- Crushed red pepper flakes – gives it more boom (you can leave this out if you want less spiciness).
What is taco seasoning mix made of?
Instead of buying taco seasoning ready-made with fillers and preservatives, you can make it yourself. All you need is chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, fried oregano, black pepper, sea salt, and crushed red pepper flakes.
How to make homemade Taco Seasoning
All you need is a bowl, measuring spoons, and a jar to make a homemade taco seasoning mix. Gather your spices and measure them out into the bowl. Stir it together and voila! You’ve got taco seasoning!
I wonder if there’s a taco out there thinking of me, too.
Anonymous
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Taco Seasoning Every Time
- Go with your level of spice – If you LOVE spicy, bring on the red pepper flakes. If not, you can even omit it.
- Don’t have onion powder? – You can use garlic powder instead!
- Adjustments – Feel free to adjust this taco meat seasoning recipe to suit your own personal taste after making it once. Some of us love more spice while others want a smokier taste. You do you!
Best Ways to Use Taco Seasoning
Leftover taco meat? Add a little more seasoning to it and bake it over tortilla chips with lots of cheese for a nacho-rific snack. Try it in soups, coat chickpeas with it and roast them, or make quinoa a whole lot more appealing. Taco seasoning made from scratch is the best way to elevate the flavors of your foods in a bold new way!
How much taco seasoning do I need for 1 pound of meat?
When you make your own taco seasoning, you’ll need 2 tablespoons of it to properly season one full pound of meat.
What Can You Make with Taco Seasoning
Aside from tacos, I love trotting out my taco seasoning on side dishes to take them to a new level. Taco rice is a surefire way to please alongside grilled meats while taco seasoned veggies or potatoes can make them disappear when you’ve got kids at the table.
What can I use instead of taco seasoning?
This recipe gives you all the spices you need to make well-rounded taco seasoning, but if you’re missing some of them, you can get by with chili powder and cumin. It will be more basic but it will add the flavor you’re looking for.
Should you add water to taco seasoning?
Yes. Water is what gives it a saucy quality and keeps the meat from being too dry and crumbly.
How much water to add to taco seasoning?
It will depend on how much meat your cooking up for your tacos, but for a pound of ground beef or turkey, you’ll want roughly ¾-cup of water.
Is fajita seasoning the same as taco seasoning?
No, but they are very similar. You could get away with using taco seasoning on fajitas. The primary difference is that fajita seasoning tends to have both garlic powder and onion powder in it.
How to Store Taco Seasoning so it Lasts
Copycat taco seasoning can be kept in an airtight container for up to a year. I have repurposed old spice jars with my homemade taco seasoning. You can use a mason jar if you plan to use lots and lots of it throughout the year. Just keep it in a cool and dry place!
Watch How To Make Taco Seasoning (Video)
The Perfect Taco Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Stir all of the ingredients until evenly combined. Use immediately or store for up to 1 year.
Nutrition
More taco seasoning recipes:
Classic Recipes
Perfect Recipes
Homemade Recipes
Never Miss A Recipe!
Join thousands of HowToCook.recipes subscribers and get our best recipes delivered each week!
You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive.
