Homemade Taco Seasoning

Name: Homemade Taco Seasoning
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons chili powder; 1 tablespoon cumin; 2 teaspoons paprika; 2 teaspoons black pepper; 1 ½ teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon oregano

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Here’s a secret: making your own spice blends takes just minutes and tastes way better than the store-bought stuff! This Homemade Taco Seasoning uses common herbs and spices for something smoky, zesty, garlicky, and a little spicy. I think it’s the perfect seasoning for ground meat for tacos, roasted tofu or veggies, or to even add a kick to homemade guacamole.

Homemade taco seasoning in a glass jar with a spoon on the side

Recipe At a Glance
Ingredients to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
How to Make Taco Seasoning
Tips for Making the Best Homemade Taco Seasoning
Recipes with Taco Seasoning:
Frequently Asked Questions
More Homemade Spices:

One of the best things about this taco seasoning mix recipe is that it’s super-flexible. I recommend starting with my recipe and then making notes about what you do and don’t like! (Although I think the taco seasoning’s pretty great as-is.) You can omit some spices or add others depending on your preference or what you have in your pantry!

Recipe At a Glance

Cuisine Inspiration: Mexican
Primary Cooking Method: No-cook
Dietary Info: Vegan and gluten-free
Key Flavor: Smoky, garlicky, herby, spicy
Skill Level: Easy

Ingredients to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning

Chili powder, cumin, paprika, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano: You probably already have a lot of these spices on hand! The one thing I recommend is tasting your chili powder first. These can vary a lot in spiciness!

How to Make Taco Seasoning

**Step 1:** Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.

**Step 2:** Store for up to 6 months in a cool, dry place.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Taco Seasoning

Switch up the paprika for a more distinctive taco seasoning. You can substitute smoked paprika or hot paprika. If you’re using either of these, reduce the paprika amount from 2 teaspoons to 1 since they have more distinctive flavors.
Add ground cayenne pepper to bring the heat. Start with a scant ¼ teaspoon and increase to taste!
Experiment with ground coriander. Use up to 3 teaspoons!
Try substituting specific types of chili powder for the generic kind. This includes ground chipotle or ground ancho powder. The spice labeled “Chili Powder” is actually a mix of spices, including a specific powdered chili (like chipotle or ancho) and other herbs like cumin, oregano, and garlic.

Recipes with Taco Seasoning:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use fewer spices? I don’t have all the ingredients listed here.

Definitely. Chili powder and cumin are probably the 2 must-have flavors. But if you had to leave the cumin out, the DIY taco seasoning would still taste great. Especially if you have coriander. Experiment!

How can I tell if my spices are too old?

Consult best-by dates on the jar, and keep in mind that fresh spices should be fragrant and have a robust color. If your oregano has faded from green to gray, ditch it!

Besides seasoning taco meat, where else can I use my taco mix?

This taco spice blend is great to sprinkle on guacamole, over nachos, or to use in marinades and dry rubs.

Top down view of the seasoning with spoon inside

More Homemade Spices:

If you’ve found this cooking resource for How to Make Taco Seasoning helpful or if you’ve tried any recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience with this technique. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

Review