• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Slow Cooker Gourmet

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Find a Recipe
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Dietary Concern » Dairy Free Recipes » The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning

    Published: Nov 16, 2021 by Jennifer · This post may contain affiliate links

    The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning

    27031 shares
    • Facebook79
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Taco seasoning packets are convenient, but they're loaded with preservatives and salt. Making your own taco seasoning is easy, affordable and much healthier than the store-bought kind. Plus you can customize it to suit your tastes (and what's in the pantry). 

    I've got a delicious recipe that will help you make restaurant quality tacos at home in no time! Here's how to make it...

    scooping a tablespoon of taco seasoning out of a glass jar

    What you need to make taco seasoning

    To make this taco seasoning, you'll need a variety of spices. I've tested out various ratios, and find the measurements listed in the recipe to provide the best results, but feel free to experiment with them to find the flavor that's perfect for you.

    • chili powder - this is typically the more confusing one. There is a difference between chili powder, chile powder and chili seasoning. The chili powder that we are using is a blend of ground chili peppers and other seasonings, but doesn't have as many ingredients as chili seasoning and doesn't include the thickeners. Chile powder is more pure and only consists of ground chili peppers.
    • garlic powder - dehydrated and ground garlic, not to be confused with garlic salt which also contains salt
    • onion powder - dehydrated ground onion
    • kosher salt - coarsely ground salt usually without additives
    • cumin - toasted and ground cumin seeds that adds a sweet warm flavor
    • oregano - dried
    • paprika - ground from red peppers
    • pepper - regular ground black pepper
    tiny bowls of seasoning to make homemade taco seasoning

    How to Make Taco Seasoning

    To make the taco seasoning, you'll simply measure out the spices and add them to a bowl. Mix everything well to combine.

    Store them in a jar with an airtight lid for best results. Ensure the jar is completely dry before adding the spices so that you don't end up ruining the spice blend.

    a glass bowl filled with separate seasonings ready to mix

    A Few Notes on Buying Spices

    When you choose spices for this recipe, make sure they're not too old (if it's been sitting on the shelf in your pantry for months or years, it will have lost its flavor), and that they haven't been exposed to humidity or other conditions that can compromise their quality.

    You'll want to consider whether budget or quality is most important to you. I've made this taco seasoning with many types of spices, and it turns out well either way. Higher quality spices will often have better flavor and may even be organic, but the difference in taste is small so use whichever you have access to.

    overhead view of glass bowl with taco seasoning mixed up

    How Do You Use Taco Seasoning?

    When we make taco seasoning, I like to add 2 tablespoons per pound of meat if cooking ground meat.

    For other uses, 1 -2 tablespoons is typically enough to spice up most dishes and is particularly delicious when mixed with beans, tofu and veggies.

    There are tons of possibilities for how you can use this tasty taco mix!

    glass jar filled with homemade taco seasoning

    How long does taco seasoning last?

    Well, I've never made a batch that didn't get used up pretty quickly! It's best if you use this taco seasoning within 3 months.

    However, as long as you store it properly, it will last as long as the expiration of the individual spices you've added.

    How do you store homemade seasoning?

    The most important thing is to store the taco seasoning in a completely dry container with an air-tight lid. I prefer either a

    black tablespoon filled with taco seasoning on blue backdrop

    How much homemade taco seasoning equals one packet?

    For this taco seasoning, I replace one packet of traditional store bought with 2 tablespoons homemade. Adjust to taste.

    Recipes using Homemade Taco Seasoning

    • Slow Cooker Taco Soup
    • Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
    • Slow Cooker Verde Chicken Tacos
    • Slow Cooker Healthy Taco Casserole
    black tablespoon filled with taco seasoning on blue backdrop

    The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning

    Jennifer Draper
    Taco seasoning packets are convenient, but they're loaded with preservatives and salt. Making your own taco seasoning is easy, affordable and much healthier than the store-bought kind. Plus you can customize it to suit your tastes (and what's in the pantry). 
    4.73 from 22 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Course Seasoning Blend
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 12 tablespoons
    Calories 22 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup chili powder
    • 3 tablespoons garlic powder
    • 3 tablespoons onion powder
    • 3 tablespoons kosher salt
    • 3 tablespoons cumin
    • 1 tablespoon oregano
    • 1 tablespoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Mix all ingredients together
    • Store in a dry, airtight container
    • Use 2 tablespoons to replace 1 packet of store bought seasoning, adjust to taste

    Notes

    • be sure to store in a completely dry and clean container that is air-tight
    • best to consume within 3 months, but seasoning will last as long as the expiration of the individual spices used
    • use 2 tablespoons per pound of ground meat

    Nutrition

    Calories: 22kcalCarbohydrates: 4gSodium: 1749mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 315IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1.5mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @slowcookergourmet or tag #slowcookergourmet!
    Important nutritional disclaimer

    SaveSave

    SaveSave

    SaveSave

    « Slow Cooker White Turkey Chili
    Slow Cooker Hash Brown Casserole »
    27031 shares
    • Facebook79
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Donna L. Weible says

      March 22, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      Debated whether to venture out during this pandemic to try to find taco seasoning. Then decided to look for a recipe for homemade. Had everything I needed in my cupboard already! (Which is good because the store shelves have been pretty empty.) Thanks for coming to the rescue!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        March 22, 2020 at 3:32 pm

        Yay! I never could have imagined this scenario when I created this recipe, but I'm so happy it's helped so many avoid an extra trip to the store!

        Reply
    2. Mary says

      March 07, 2020 at 6:24 pm

      Do you still have to add 1/2 or 3/4 cup water and let simmer for 5 minutes like the packaged taco seasoning?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        March 08, 2020 at 2:11 pm

        Yes, for best results. I usually add 2 tablespoons or so to one pound of ground beef. Simmer with 1/4-1/2 cup of water.

        Reply
    3. Elizabeth says

      February 29, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      His is a great recipe thank you for sharing it.

      Reply
    4. Nancy Coley Wilson says

      February 11, 2020 at 10:59 am

      5 stars
      I am interested in trying this taco seasoning recipe, Jennifer. It looks really good and I love the amount it makes. However, I am concerned about the amount of sodium in the nutritional information. Is this amount for the 2 tbsp. that are equal to a store bought package or for the entire amount that you mix to use?
      Thanks!
      Nancy

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        February 11, 2020 at 11:44 am

        Hi Nancy! I hope you will try it! It's so tasty. Yes, 2 tablespoons is equivalent to one package in general. You could certainly reduce the salt or use a substitute as needed and still have plenty of flavor.

        Reply
      • Linda says

        March 07, 2020 at 6:06 pm

        I left out the salt, and it was good without it

        Reply
    5. SHEILA LININGER says

      November 12, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love tacos, but cannot stand the packaged taco flavoring. I cannot wait to try this. I now have high hopes of being able to create tacos - and this recipe - so that it tastes fresh and vibrant! (Or whatever, those words just jumped out of my fingers.)

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 12, 2019 at 2:03 pm

        Thanks Sheila!

        Reply
    6. Rachelle Nowobielski says

      October 31, 2018 at 12:31 pm

      If I'm trying to make a seasoning that's not mild but a little hot do i just add more paprika or would I add red pepper?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 01, 2018 at 5:12 pm

        You could add some cayenne, crushed red pepper or chipotle chili powder to taste.

        Reply
        • Pam says

          January 10, 2019 at 6:01 pm

          4 stars
          I like this mix because of the amount it makes but found it disappointing. Too much salt, not enough kick. Will add red pepper and try to fine tune it. Thanks. I strated making my own mixes last summer. It's so much cheaper and no preservatives.

          Reply
          • Jennifer says

            January 10, 2019 at 6:57 pm

            Hi Pam! Thanks for the feedback. It's definitely not meant as a spicy mix as I want it to be kid friendly, but you could add some cayenne and chipotle if you want to spice it up.

            Reply
    7. Rena says

      August 19, 2018 at 2:12 pm

      I'm so happy to hear that you're a fan of making your own seasonings mixes. I'm living outside the US right now and am desperately seek a chili powder blend. I've found a lot of recipes for taco seasoning but all of them call for chili powder (which my research shows is a spice blend). Do you have a recipe for chili powder????

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        August 21, 2018 at 2:39 pm

        From what I understand, there is chili seasoning (which has other stuff like cumin, etc. and is for making chili) and then there is chili powder, which should just be chili powder. That is what I use, and I know you can order it from Amazon too if that helps?!

        Reply
        • Rena says

          August 22, 2018 at 11:20 am

          Jennifer, thanks so much for the prompt reply. I found this on the McCormick spice website... https://www.mccormick.com/spices-and-flavors/herbs-and-spices/spices/chili-powder
          "You might be surprised to know that chili powder is actually a blend of herbs and spices. Ours begins with whole, ripe chili peppers, toasted and mixed with ingredients including cumin, oregano, garlic and salt. " So I'm back trying to get a basic "chili powder" recipe - and again chili powder, as it's known in the US, is not available here.

          Reply
          • Jennifer says

            August 22, 2018 at 4:17 pm

            good to know and thanks for sharing this!! I think you'd be totally fine to use the blend. If needed you can adjust the additional herbs and spices to taste.

            Reply
    8. Lindsay says

      June 12, 2018 at 5:14 pm

      Is that the amount of salt for one serving?

      Reply
    9. Sharon says

      July 25, 2017 at 11:28 am

      Is this a mild, medium, or hot mix? I only use mild.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        July 25, 2017 at 9:05 pm

        Very mild!

        Reply
    10. Prudy Blank says

      July 25, 2017 at 11:14 am

      Craziest...craziest thing. So, I'm sitting at my desk at work right now, debating whether I wanted to run to the store to grab taco seasoning, because I totally forgot to buy it when I picked up all of the ingredients for tacos for tonight's dinner. I was just about to grab my purse to run out, when this email pops up. I am SOOOO trying this tonight! Hahaha! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        July 25, 2017 at 9:06 pm

        That's awesome! How did it turn out for you?

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I love creating fresh recipes that are quick and simple to make so that I can help you get dinner on the table without the fuss!

    More about me →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • How to make The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork! Everyone is sure to love this amazing slow cooker pulled pork.  The perfect blend of spices make it tender and bursting with flavor!
      The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili is delicious, simple and award winning! This is the go-to when you are tired of boring chili recipes!
      Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
    • Slow Cooker Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
      Slow Cooker Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
    • ladle in a slow cooker with butter chicken
      Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

    As seen on...

    Simple Seasoning Blends

    Make these simple homemade seasoning blends using spices you probably have on hand! Use their amazing flavors in many of my delicious and easy recipes!

    • 7 small bowls filled with spices
      Ranch Seasoning
    • tiny bowls filled with spices to make curry seasoning on a blue backdrop
      Curry Seasoning
    • homemade cajun seasoning in a jar
      Homemade Cajun Seasoning
    • jar of homemade chili seasoning
      Chili Seasoning Recipe

    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I love creating fresh recipes that are quick and simple to make so that I can help you get dinner on the table without the fuss!

    More about me →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • How to make The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork! Everyone is sure to love this amazing slow cooker pulled pork.  The perfect blend of spices make it tender and bursting with flavor!
      The Best Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
    • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili is delicious, simple and award winning! This is the go-to when you are tired of boring chili recipes!
      Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
    • Slow Cooker Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
      Slow Cooker Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
    • ladle in a slow cooker with butter chicken
      Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

    As seen on...

    Simple Seasoning Blends

    Make these simple homemade seasoning blends using spices you probably have on hand! Use their amazing flavors in many of my delicious and easy recipes!

    • tablespoon full of moroccan spice blend
      Moroccan Spice Blend
    • Homemade Seasoning Mixes
      Homemade Seasoning Blends

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Nutrition Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 My Gourmet Creations, LLC by Spark Media Concepts, LLC

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    27031 shares
    • 79