Homemade Taco Seasoning – skip the store-bought packet and make your own taco seasoning at home. Just a few simple ingredients with no added chemicals or unnecessary extras.
If you enjoy Mexican-style food, this simple homemade taco seasoning is a must-have. I use taco seasoning in many recipes, and making your own lets you control the salt, spice level, and ingredients. It’s quick to mix, tastes fresh, and closely matches the familiar store-bought flavor many of us grew up with.
Prepackaged taco mixes often contain a lot of salt and sometimes added sugars or fillers. This homemade version uses simple pantry spices and cornmeal (or cornstarch if you prefer) to provide the same texture and thickening you expect when you add water to cooked meat.
The recipe comes in two sizes: a small batch that makes roughly one packet’s worth (enough for 1 pound of ground meat) and a large batch you can store in the pantry. The small batch is ready in about two minutes, so it’s perfect when you discover you’re out of taco mix right before dinner. If you make the large batch, store it in an airtight jar and it will keep its flavor for months.
What You’ll Need
Scroll to the recipe card for the full printable amounts.
- Cornmeal
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Dried oregano
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Cayenne pepper
Why Cornmeal?
Cornmeal (or cornstarch) acts as a thickener when you add water to the seasoned meat, giving taco filling the familiar texture. Cornmeal also contributes a subtle flavor I prefer over plain cornstarch. If you choose to omit it, reduce the water you add when cooking so the meat doesn’t end up too thin.
How To Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Measure all ingredients into a bowl.
- Mix thoroughly until evenly blended.
That’s it. Store the seasoning in an airtight container until use. If you prepared the small batch, add it directly to cooked, drained ground beef; for the large batch, scoop the appropriate amount when needed.
If you enjoy homemade mixes, try other DIY seasoning blends like onion soup mix or ranch dressing mix for more flavor control in your cooking.
Storage
Store the seasoning in an airtight jar in a cool, dry pantry. It will keep good flavor for at least six months and often up to a year. Spices don’t spoil in the usual sense but will lose potency over time; if the mix tastes weak, refresh your individual spices.
Add 3 1/2 tablespoons of the seasoning to one pound of cooked, drained ground beef with 2/3 cup water. Simmer a few minutes until the sauce thickens and serve.
This recipe includes 1/4 teaspoon cayenne in the small batch, which approximates a medium heat. Omit the cayenne for mild, or increase it if you prefer more heat. Chili powder heat levels vary, so adjust accordingly.
They share many ingredients but in different proportions. This taco seasoning also works well on fajitas if you don’t have a separate fajita blend on hand.
Uses For Taco Seasoning
Beyond taco night, this seasoning is versatile and can be used to add Tex-Mex flavor to many dishes:
- Taco pasta skillet
- Sour cream enchiladas
- Taco dip
- Chicken taco burgers
- Baked chicken taquitos
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
Small Batch
- 1 Tablespoon cornmeal
- 1/2 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Large Batch
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 1/4 cup ground cumin
- 2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
Instructions
-
Mix the spices together until evenly blended.
-
Small batch: add the entire mix to 1 pound cooked, drained ground meat with 2/3 cup water. Simmer a few minutes to thicken.
-
Large batch: store in an airtight container. Use 3 1/2 tablespoons of the large batch per pound of meat.
Notes
Large batch – Use 3 1/2 Tablespoons with 2/3 cup of water for 1 pound of ground meat.
Nutrition
Calories: 19kcal |
Carbohydrates: 4g |
Protein: 1g |
Sodium: 296mg |
Fiber: 1g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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