This is really the BEST homemade Taco Seasoning recipe! It is full of flavor and is perfect for making tacos with ground beef, ground turkey, chicken or even adding to soups, dips, and more. This taco seasoning is a staple in our home and used regularly to add flavor to our meals, snacks, and appetizers. As a bonus it is gluten free, dairy free, and low carb without sacrificing any flavor, so it is perfect for many special dietary needs and perfect for entertaining.
Taco Seasoning Recipe
I have to admit, I used to think making your own seasoning was a waste of time since it was so easy, inexpensive and tasty to get at the store . Then I started reading labels, paying attention to unit prices, and tasting the difference homemade can make. Then I started making almost all of my seasoning mixes at home. I have made ranch seasoning, greek seasoning, fajita seasoning, and barbecue seasoning, but I have to admit that this taco seasoning might just be my most used of any of them in my pantry.
First of all tacos are a staple for us. We love to eat them made traditionally or with pulled chicken and this recipe works well with both. Plus when you keep taco meat on hand, you can make so much more than just tacos. It is a leftover that reheats exceptionally well and you can dress up the leftovers into so many other meals so the time you spend cooking it can pull double duty into another easy meal for later in the week.
What is in Taco Seasoning?
Traditional taco seasoning, like this recipe, includes onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. You can use the amounts suggested below or play with the recipe to tweak it to bring out more or less of each flavor. Also if you get really creative you can add in other flavors to make a less traditional, but every bit as delicious seasoning.
What to use Taco Seasoning on
This taco seasoning is super versatile and can be used in so many Mexican inspired dishes. Here are some of my favorite things to use it on:
- Ground beef taco meat
- Ground turkey taco meat
- Pulled taco chicken
- Baked Chicken Fajitas
- Instant Pot Chili (or Crock Pot Chicken Chili)
- Chicken Tostadas
- Taco tortilla roll ups
If you have a favorite recipe that I missed that uses taco seasoning, leave me a note in the comments. I would love to try it!
How to make Homemade Taco Seasoning
This taco seasoning is super simple to make with just a handful of spices you should be able to buy at any store. I am going to walk through a few tips here to hopefully answer any questions you might have. You can skip down to the bottom for the full printable recipe card.
Ingredients
All of these should be readily available and easy to find in your local store or on amazon. You can make a large quantity of this and keep it stored in an air tight container for up to a year. Since it stays good so long, I like to buy the spices at wholesale stores and then make really big batches to keep on hand for cooking.
- 3 Tbsp dried onion- this will be the onion flakes not the onion powder. I prefer the way these incorporate flavor into the meat.
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp cumin- make sure to get ground cumin, not cumin seed
- 1 tsp smoked paprika- If you can’t find smoked paprika you can use regular paprika.
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
More Seasoning Mix Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my Easy recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite seasoning mixes recipes below.
If you do get a chance to try it, I would love it if you let me know! You can leave me a comment below, or if you post a picture on Instagram, make sure to tag me @easyfamilyrecipes so that I can see what you are cooking up! It makes my day to see others enjoying the recipes that I share!
Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp dried chopped onion
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Mix all spices together and store in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes
- All seasonings listed are dried.
- 2 tbsp = 1 taco seasoning packet.
- This taco seasoning is naturally gluten free, dairy free, low carb and compliant for Whole30, Paleo, and Keto diets.
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