Best Taco Seasoning | Easy Recipe! | Confetti & Bliss (2024)

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Homemade taco seasoning is a pantry staple that’s easy to make with spices you have on hand. Conveniently, it’s quick to assemble in a pinch! It adds savory richness to ground beef and chicken tacos. With this tasty DIY spice blend, say farewell to taco seasoning packets.

📌 PIN TACO SEASONING RECIPE

🤔 What’s in Store-Bought Taco Seasoning?

• Spice Packets & Containers: Whether buying a large container of taco seasoning mix, or an individual packet, ingredients vary widely. Each boasts its own unique blend and balance of warm and spicy flavors.
• Unrecognizable Ingredients: One big name brand includes corn maltodextrin as its top ingredient, as well as whey, non-specific “flavor enhancers”, yeast extract, and other ingredients that are hard to pronounce and/or unrecognizable.
• Sweetener & Surprising Add-Ins: Sugar is a natural ingredient included in most taco seasoning mixes. In one brand’s spice packet, sugar is listed as a top ingredient above spices like garlic. Some mixes feature potato starch and turmeric.

🛒 Ingredients

For cost-effective DIY taco seasoning, purchase small quantities of loose spices in the bulk-spice section of your local market. If you prefer using all organic spices, you can do that with this recipe!

These are the dried spices needed for the best taco seasoning mix:

• Chili powder
• Paprika
• Cumin
• Dried oregano
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Red pepper flakes
• Sea salt
• Black pepper, freshly-ground
• OPTIONAL: Granulated sugar

🌮 Taco Seasoning Recipe

This quick easy recipe provides enough spices to flavor to 1 pound of meat. Here’s how to make the best taco seasoning at home!

1. Pull out all spices needed for this recipe. If you normally use grocery-store seasoning blends for tacos, they often have sugar. If you’d like a similar taste, I highly recommend adding this ingredient!
2. To stay organized in a busy kitchen, line up the containers in a row on the left-hand side of your work surface. With measuring spoons, measure out quantities of each spice. Add ingredients to a spice jar or ramekin. After using a spice, transfer the container to the right side of your work space. This helps keep track of things!
3. After all spices have been added to the jar, close it and shake well, or mix with a spoon.

SECRET MEXICAN INGREDIENT: Looking for an authentic Mexican touch? Add a pinch of unsweetened cocoa powder to this DIY taco seasoning. It’ll take the flavor of this recipe to the next level!

🧑🏼‍🍳 Recipe FAQ

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• How to use taco seasoning for ground beef: Add 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil to a small pot or pan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup diced onion. Sauté onion for 20 seconds. Add lean ground beef. Break meat apart with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks. There should be no pink. If needed, drain off excess fat. Add taco seasoning to the beef. Mix until incorporated. If more moisture is needed, add a drizzling of olive oil.
• How to make taco meat saucier:Drain the fat off 1 pound cooked ground beef. Add taco spices, 1 tablespoon corn starch, and 3/4 cup water to the meat. Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.
• How to make taco meat more savory:While cooking the ground beef, add in 1 teaspoon beef or chicken bouillon paste. This will up the flavor profile of your meat!
• How many ground beef tacos for 1 pound of meat? One pound of meat is enough to make 8 tacos. But you can stretch it 10 tacos by adding an array of delicious toppings: shredded iceberg lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, diced avocado, and sour cream.
• More ways to use taco seasoning: This spice mix is very versatile! Sprinkle it on salads. Add this tasty blend to tortilla soup, Mexican rice, and black-bean recipes. Use the mix as a delicious rub for shrimp, chicken or steak! Add a few teaspoons of the seasoning to melted butter. Drizzle the warm mixture over popcorn or saltine crackers.

🍽 More Delicious Mexican Recipes

If you love easy Mexican recipes, you’ll enjoy these delicious meals and sides.

• Taco Bell Crunchy Beef Tacos
• Steak Fajitas
• Chicken Taquitos
• Authentic Mexican Salsa
• Authentic Mexican Guacamole
• Baja Fish Tacos
• Crispy Pork Carnitas

Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This tasty recipe delivers the perfect blend of warm savory spices. If you agree this is the best taco seasoning, give it a 5-star rating in the comments!

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Taco Seasoning

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5 from 12 reviews

• Author: Denay DeGuzman
• Total Time: 5 Minutes
• Yield: 4 Servings 1x

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Description

This tasty taco seasoning recipe is perfect for one pound of taco meat. It replaces one packet of taco seasoning mix. Assemble this DIY spice blend in 5 minutes with common pantry ingredients!

Ingredients

Scale

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt (or 1/2 teaspoon table salt)
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly-ground
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• OPTIONAL: 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

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Instructions

1. Pull out all spices needed. If you normally use grocery-store seasoning blends for tacos, they often have sugar. If you’d like a similar taste, I highly recommend adding this ingredient!
2. Line up spice containers in a row on the left-hand side of your work surface. With measuring spoons, measure out quantities of each spice. Add ingredients to a spice jar or ramekin. After a spice has been used, transfer the container to the right side of your work space.
3. After all spices have been added to the jar, close it and shake well, or mix with a spoon. You’re ready to flavor 1 pound of taco meat!

Equipment

Boos Blocks

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Measuring Spoons

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Mini Glass Spice Jar

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Recipe Box

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Recipe Cards

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Notes

• How much taco seasoning in a packet:Grocery-store packets contain between 2-3 tablespoons of spice mix. This recipe replaces one packet of prepared taco seasoning for 1 pound of taco meat.
• How to use taco seasoning for ground beef tacos: Add 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil to a small pot or pan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup diced onion. Sauté onion for 20 seconds. Add lean ground beef. Break meat apart with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks. There should be no pink. If needed, drain off excess fat. Add taco seasoning to the beef. Mix until incorporated. If more moisture is needed, add a drizzling of olive oil.
• For an authentic Mexican touch:Add a pinch of unsweetened cocoa powder to this DIY Taco seasoning.
• Ways to use taco seasoning: This spice mix is very versatile. Sprinkle it on salads. Add this tasty blend to tortilla soup, Mexican rice, and black-bean recipes. Use the mix as a delicious rub for shrimp, chicken or steak! Add a few teaspoons of the seasoning to melted butter. Drizzle the warm mixture over popcorn.
• How to store dry spices: Place the dry mixture in a clean spice jar or small container that has a good seal. Label the jar including the date. Store the mix in a cool dry space. For short-term use, a small zip-top bag will work well.
• How long will homemade taco seasoning stay fresh:This depends on the expiration date of the individual spices used. But in general, when stored correctly the flavor quality should last for up to 6 months, with peak potency between 2-3 months.

• Prep Time: 5 Minutes
• Cook Time: 0 Minutes
• Category: DIY Seasoning Mix
• Method: Mixing Bowl
• Cuisine: Mexican

Homemade Taco Seasoning 👉🏻 Join the Conversation

Do you enjoy making DIY spice blends? What do you think about this homemade taco seasoning? Share your thoughts on this easy recipe.