Homemade Taco Seasoning

This homemade taco seasoning is heavy on the chili powder with a good amount of cumin, and it’s made from pantry spices you probably already have. Two tablespoons equals one store-bought packet, so it swaps right into any recipe that calls for one. Stir it into ground beef for Taco Tuesday or a game day nacho bar. It takes 5 minutes and makes 12 servings.

The owner of my local Mexican restaurant tried my tacos and asked me for this taco seasoning recipe.

That’s the kind of reaction that makes you retire the store-bought packets for good.

One batch makes enough for about six taco nights. Once there’s a jar in the cabinet, Taco Tuesday stops being a weekly decision and turns into a standing appointment.

It goes into a bunch of my other recipes, too. They’re right below.

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Recipes Using This Taco Seasoning

• Crockpot Taco Meat – slow cooker taco meat made with 4 tablespoons of this blend
• Walking Tacos – seasoned beef and all the toppings served right in the chip bag
• Crockpot Taco Casserole – a slow cooker casserole with a taco seasoned beef layer
• 7 Can Taco Soup – seven cans, one pot and a packet’s worth of this blend
• Cheesy Taco Pasta – taco seasoned beef tossed with pasta and melted cheese

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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.

Ingredient Notes

Chili Powder – The backbone of the blend. This recipe uses more of it than most homemade taco seasonings, and that’s what makes taco meat taste like taco meat. Buy a good one. It’s the most important spice in the jar.

Paprika – Regular paprika, not smoked. It keeps the flavor clean so the beef comes through. Smoked works if you want it smokier (more on that in Variations).

Salt – A couple of readers cut the salt in half, and one usually skips it because canned beans and tortilla chips already bring plenty. That’s the beauty of making your own. Leave out anything you want.

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – As written, it’s just a touch of heat. Add more if you like it hot, or leave them out for kids.

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How to Make Taco Seasoning

How to Make Taco Meat With Homemade Taco Seasoning

Use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning per pound of ground beef. That’s the same as one store-bought packet. For bolder taco meat, go up to 3.

Don’t skip the water. It helps the spices spread through the meat instead of sitting on top of it.

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

How to Use Homemade Taco Seasoning

Dips and Casseroles – Use it anywhere a recipe calls for a packet of taco seasoning. Two tablespoons equals one packet.

Ground Chicken and Turkey – Same ratio, 2 tablespoons per pound, and the same simmer.

Taco Soup – Add 2 tablespoons straight to the pot. It seasons the broth and the meat at the same time.

Nachos – Sprinkle a little extra over the finished nachos, right on top of the seasoned meat.

Taco Salad Dressing – Whisk a teaspoon into sour cream or Greek yogurt with a squeeze of lime.

Storage

Keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place for up to 6 months.

Glass jars keep spices fresher longer than plastic. Make a big batch at the start of the month, and you won’t have to think about it again until it runs out. Label the jar with the date so you know when to mix a fresh one.

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Variations

Milder – Cut the red pepper flakes in half or leave them out. It still has plenty of flavor without the heat.

Hotter – Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne, or more red pepper flakes. Go slow. You can always add heat, but you can’t take it back out.

Smokier – Swap the regular paprika for smoked paprika. Just know it moves the blend closer to my chicken taco seasoning.

Salt Free – Leave the salt out and season the meat separately. Handy for big batch recipes like taco soup, where the liquid cooks down and concentrates the salt.

Taco Seasoning for Ground Beef vs. Chicken

This is the blend I use on ground beef. It has more chili powder and uses regular paprika, so the flavor is direct and the beef still comes through.

For chicken, I use my chicken taco seasoning instead. It’s made with smoked paprika and a lighter mix that works better with chicken. This one still works on chicken in a pinch.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Looking for more ways to flavor your favorite meals? Check out our full collection of Homemade Spice Mixes and Seasoning Blends.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Start with 2 tablespoons per pound of ground beef. That’s one packet. Go up to 3 for bolder.
• Always add 1/4 cup of water after seasoning and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Make a big batch at the start of the month and keep it in a glass jar so it’s ready for taco night.
• Check your spice dates before you mix. Old cumin makes flat taco meat.
• Adjust the red pepper flakes for your crowd. Leave them out for kids, add cayenne for the heat lovers.
• It works on ground turkey and pork with the same ratio.

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Mix up a jar of this homemade taco seasoning and taco night is handled for the next six rounds. And if a restaurant owner ever asks for your recipe, you know where to send them.

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Party Food Made With Taco Seasoning

• Nachos Supreme – a Taco Bell copycat loaded with seasoned beef and all the toppings
• 7 Layer Dip – the classic layered dip, with taco seasoning in two of the layers
• Refried Bean Dip – refried beans seasoned with 2 tablespoons of this blend
• Mexican Pinwheels – tortillas rolled up with a taco seasoned cream cheese filling

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!

{Originally published 6/17/20 – photos and notes updated 01/08/24}

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