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authentic taco seasoning in jar with label crop.
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5 from 59 votes

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Skip the store bought packets of taco seasoning to make your own with these authentic spices. It's great in so many dishes and can be changes to fit your desired flavors and heat level.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Seasoning, Spice mix
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 4 1-tablespoon servings (total yield: ¼ cup)
Calories: 20kcal
Author: Toni Dash

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper optional
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt optional
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper chili flakes

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients to a shallow bowl or a plate.
  • Mix to combine all the ingredients.
  • Transfer to a closed glass jar/container and store away from direct sunlight in a cool temperature.

Notes

Variations
Cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper can bring a lot of heat when its used but if you love a spicy Mexican food a bit of cayenne pepper is an easy way to heat up this spice combination.
Adding salt. If you know you'll use the taco seasoning in dishes where you would rather not salt them separately you can add ½ teaspoon of sea salt or kosher salt to the easy homemade taco seasoning. You can even add ½-1 teaspoon of black pepper too.
How much to use?
Use around two tablespoons of taco seasoning per pound of meat. You'll want more for a pound of ground beef than you will for ground turkey or chicken. Or sprinkle into other dishes as desired.
How to Store
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark location with other spices. Use within 3 months for best flavor. Spices don't go 'bad' in the traditional sense but their flavors become dull if stored too long.

Nutrition

Calories: 20kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 1354IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg