Easy Taco Seasoning Recipe for all Your Taco Tuesdays

This easy taco seasoning recipe is one of my favorite ways to keep our meals simple, flavorful, and clean. Making homemade seasonings is such an easy win, no weird additives, no preservatives, just real ingredients I already have in the pantry.

With all the hidden junk in store-bought packets, I’d rather take five minutes and mix up a blend I trust. Plus, it tastes way better. We use it in everything from Crockpot Taco Chili to Taco Bake with Doritos; anything taco-flavored is a hit around here.

If you’re working toward a pantry full of real-food staples, don’t miss our Cooking from Scratch resource hub.

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Easy Taco Seasoning Recipe vs Store-Bought Taco Seasoning

I looked up a popular store brand of taco seasoning (the one I used to buy!) and this is the ingredients list: Corn Starch, Chili Pepper, Maltodextrin, Salt, Spice, Onion Powder. Contains 2% or less of: Vegetable Oil (high oleic canola and/or soybean oil), Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent), Natural Flavor, Modified Corn Starch. No thanks, I’d much rather spend an extra 5 minutes every few weeks and make my own so I am in control of all the ingredients going into it. Here’s what I use:

• Chili Powder
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Salt
• 4oz Jar– These little jars come with a funnel and labels. They’re so cute with the “Spice” embossing on it. You could also use the normal 4-oz jars that you sometimes find jelly in.

How Many Tbsps of Seasoning are in a Packet of Taco Seasoning?

I know what you’re thinking…how much taco seasoning do I use? The recipe just calls for one packet of taco seasoning, so what does that translate to? The packets are usually 1oz, so that comes out to about 2 tbsp of seasoning.

You can add a little more or a little less depending on your recipes and how taco-y you want it to taste. If knowing how much to use is the biggest problem with ditching the nasty ingredients in store-bought taco seasoning, then problem solved!

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe & Storage

• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Mix all the spices in a small bowl, and you’re all set! Make as much or as little as you’d like and put it in an airtight jar. Finish it off with an adorable label, and you’re ready for some delicious taco recipes.

If you 3x this recipe, it is the perfect amount the put in a 4-oz jar. If you just want to make enough for one recipe, this is about the same amount you would get from 1 store-bought package, and you could simply put these spices in your recipe and not store any for later.

Storing spices is super easy! Just make sure they are in an airtight container, and they should stay fresh for 6-12 months. You can check the freshness dates on the spices that you’re using for the blend and that will give you a good idea of how long the blend should be stored.

Here’s a tip: when you’re making the blend, smell the spices. If they are losing their aroma, they are probably on the older side and should be replaced! You don’t want dull spices in your blend.

Recipes to Use Taco Seasoning in

You can use this homemade taco seasoning in whatever taco-flavored recipe you want. Using a homemade spice blend helps you customize any recipe. Here are a couple of our favorites:

• Taco Bake with Doritos
• Crockpot Taco Chili

Giving the Gift of Homemade

I love giving homemade gifts, and this one is great to add to my list of things to give away at Christmas time or to hosts of picnics or parties. You can put it in a mini mason jar or one with a flip lid like this. Both of these small jars come with a little funnel to help with filling and labels!

You can include a recipe or two for which it can be used. Better yet, include your taco seasoning with a few other seasoning blends and give them as a set. Need more seasonings to add? Grab our Apple Pie Spice and Pumpkin Spice Blend as well for your fall lattes, smoothies, cookies, and of course, pies!

Homemade Taco Seasoning is an easy blend of spices that you can make at home. When you make your spice blends, you have control over the quantity and quality of the ingredients, ensuring there aren’t any preservatives or filler ingredients that don’t need to be there.

You can also experiment with flavors and customize your blends based on your preferences and recipes. I hope you really enjoy this homemade taco seasoning recipe and all the taco recipes you try it in!

FAQs About Homemade Taco Seasoning