Recipe

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Turn basic spices into an epic taco seasoning in minutes! This DIY mix has the traditional flavors and a little smoky, and 100x better than anything you'll find at the store.

Once you make this taco seasoning, you’ll want to sprinkle it over everything! It’s perfect for tacos, nachos, all proteins, and so.much.more!

a person showing a bowl with taco seasoning mix

Taco Seasoning Substitute

Whether you just ran out of taco seasoning or want a healthier mix made with real ingredients, this recipe is the BEST substitute for the store-bought version.

It’s super easy to make in 2 minutes and has less salt and non of those preservatives and other hard-to-pronounce ingredients you find in the one on the store shelf.

Simple spices turn out into a homemade taco seasoning mix that tastes better and yields a lot. Use it over tacos, of course, but also to make beef, chicken, and veggies taste ridiculously well!

Taco Seasoning Ingredients

Simple spices turn into this flavorful taco seasoning mix that will make you forget about the store-bought. What you need:

Chili powder: adds a mild spicy touch.
Ground cumin: adds a nice bitter flavor.
Ground paprika: for tangy and sweet vibes. Use smoked paprika for a smokier twist.
Salt and black pepper: what would we do without these two?
Garlic powder and onion powder: classic aromatics that make everything taste better!
Crushed red pepper flakes: more or less, depending on how spicy you want it.
Dried oregano: a strong herb that makes this seasoning even more epic!

You’ll find the measurements in the recipe card below.

a spoon with taco seasoning and more over a white surface

What is the Main Ingredient in Taco Seasoning

While the richness of this tasty mix relies on the epic combination of spices and herbs, chili powder and cumin are the main ingredients in taco seasoning. What varies by recipe and brand is the ratio of how much of each spice.

This taco seasoning was originally published in my first cookbook in 2014, and it’s so good that I included it in 3 other cookbooks. Yes, this simple mix has spiced up meals for quite a while!

How to Make Taco Seasoning

Making your own taco seasoning mix at home is so simple that only takes 2 minutes. Grab your measuring spoons, and let’s make it happen! All you do is:

Combine
In a bowl, combine all the seasonings.
Store it
Transfer the mix to a sealable container or lidded glass jar.
Season!
Use 2 tablespoons for every 1lb of meat.

Can’t believe is that easy? Let me show you how I make taco seasoning in this quick video:

How to Make it Spicier

Chili powder and red pepper flakes are two ingredients that can be adjusted to make taco seasoning spicier. Swap traditional chili powder for spicy Mexican chili powder and increase the amount of red pepper flakes. Adding more chili powder to the recipe will not make it spicier.

How to Make it Milder

Traditional chili powder is on the medium heat scale, but reducing the amount will not make it milder. Instead, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes of the spice mix. The recipe below is not very spicy; it’s rich in flavor and a little smoky.

How Many Tablespoons are in a Packet of Taco Seasoning

Each store-bought packet has 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning. One batch of this homemade seasoning is about 4 packets. Having it on hand is a great idea because you’ll want to sprinkle it on everything!

Recipes to Use Your Homemade Taco Seasoning

I promise you will open this seasoning mix jar not only on Taco Tuesday! I use this mix in so many dishes, including chicken, beef, fish, pork, and so much more! These are delicious examples:

The BEST Taco Seasoning Mix

Servings: 9 about ½ cup

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Turn basic spices into an epic taco seasoning in minutes! This DIY mix has the traditional flavors and a little smoky, and 100x better than anything you'll find at the store.

5 from 19 votes

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Ingredients

4 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground paprika
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes , or less if you don’t like it very spicy
1 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

In a bowl, combine all the seasonings. Transfer the mix to a sealable container or lidded glass jar.
Use 2 tablespoons for every 1lb of meat.

Notes

Make it spicier by using Mexican hot chili powder or ancho chile powder for some of the amounts of the traditional chili powder. You can also increase the amount of red pepper flakes.
Make it milder by omitting the red pepper flakes.