Home » Blog » Course » Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix (Mild or Spicy)Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix (Mild or Spicy) Pin RecipeRate RecipePublished: Dec 19, 2022 by Marlene Wallace · This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our full Disclosure Policy for details. Amazingly delicious taco spice that can be made mild or spicy and will add immense flavor to your taco meat. Jump to Recipe If you are looking for a great way to make your next taco Tuesday extra special, try our easy recipe for homemade taco seasoning mix. This homemade taco spice is the perfect blend of chili powder, spices and dried herbs. It is ready in only 5 minutes and incredibly versatile. Moreover, our taco seasoning recipe does not contain any sugar or flour and is therefore keto friendly and gluten free. All you need is a pound of ground beef (or other meat of choice) and you are ready to make the best taco meat you have ever tasted. Table of Contents What is Taco Seasoning? Why You’ll Love This Ingredients Recommended ToolsInstructionsStef says…. Recipe Tips What To Make With Taco SeasoningMore Homemade Spice Blend RecipesHow To StoreAndrea says….Common QuestionsHomemade Taco Seasoning Mix (Mild or Spicy) What is Taco Seasoning? This Mexican inspired spice blend consists of chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt and black pepper. For a spicy seasoning, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or spicy chili powder are added. Even though it is called taco seasoning, this flavorful spice blend can be used in many dishes. Season fajitas, chili, burritos as well as Mexican inspired casseroles and bakes with traditional taco spice. Why You’ll Love This Notable: this is the absolute best taco seasoning that will take your favorite taco recipe to the next level, it’s ready in only 5 minutes and you can make it as mild or spicy as you like Main Ingredients: chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper (optional) Cooking Method: no bake Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time Pairs well with: taco meat, Mexican casseroles, fajitas, chilis Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan Special Equipment Needed: small bowl, small whisk Ingredients You may have all of these ingredients for this authentic taco seasoning recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this homemade taco seasoning mix you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients. Mild Taco Seasoning Ingredients 2 teaspoon red chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon dried oregano ½ tsp salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper Variations and Substitutions Make it Spicy : Add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or chipotle powder to this homemade taco seasoning for a spicy kick. Moreover, you can also add some red pepper flakes to taste. Paprika: In case you like a bit of a smokey flavor, use smoked paprika instead of regular. WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this amazing taco seasoning mix recipe, try our Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells. Carnitas and cheese stuffed into tender pasta shells and cooked in an air fryer to crispy, flavor-bursting perfection. Recommended Tools Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale. Mixing Bowl — For best results use a clean and dry glass or porcelain bowl to mix your own homemade taco seasoning mix. Instructions This section shows how to make this mild or spicy homemade taco seasoning mix, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. MIX SPICES: Firstly, add all the spices to a dry glass mixing bowl and then whisk until blended. Afterwards use directly in a recipe or store in an airtight container or spice jar until ready to use. WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Mexican inspired dishes then you’ll love our Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole. It is everything you love about tacos in a quick and easy Mexican lasagna with ground beef. Stef says…. Instead of a store-bought taco seasoning packet I use about 2 tablespoons of this taco mix recipe for my Taco Salad Shells. They are just to die for! Recipe Tips Follow these tips to make the best substitute for taco seasoning. Tip: Make sure your spices are fresh. Older spices often lose their flavor. In case your spices are discolored or have lost their aroma, toss them and buy new ones. Tip: Measure amounts carefully to create the perfect combination of flavors. Tip: Store homemade taco spice in a dry, airtight container, so it stays fresh for a long time. What To Make With Taco Seasoning We love using our own taco seasoning mix for making Ground Beef Taco Filling, Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole, Frito Pie with Ground Beef, Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells or Stef’s Crockpot Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup. In case you are looking for the best side dishes to serve with these scrumptious dinners, try one of these delicious recipes: Sides: We love serving Mexican dishes with homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Instant Pot Black Beans, or Instant Pot Refried Beans. Our delicious Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice can also be served alongside Mexican dinners. Dips and Sauces: Pair your favorite Mexican recipes with our homemade Guacamole, Mild Pico de Gallo, Salsa with Canned Tomatoes, Mango Habanero Salsa, Queso Blanco,or Cilantro Lime Sour Cream. Easy Guacamole Recipe (No Onion) Ground Beef Taco Filling Mild Pico de Gallo Salsa (Chipotle Copycat Recipe) Instant Pot Black Beans More Homemade Spice Blend Recipes It is surprisingly easy to make the most delicious homemade spice blends with pantry staples that you probably already have at home. They are so much better than store-bought versions. Here are some of our favorite seasoning blends: How To Make Homemade Apple Pie Spice Italian Seasoning Substitute How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Homemade Ranch Seasoning How To Store Room Temperature: In case you are not using your substitute for taco seasoning right away, store your own spice blend in an airtight container, ziploc bag, small mason jar, spice jar or other tightly sealed container until ready to use. We recommend keeping your own taco mix in a dry place such as a spice rack or a dark place such as a spice cabinet or spice drawer. If the spices you used for this recipe were fresh, the diy taco seasoning mix will last for up to 6 months. Andrea says…. I always make my own taco seasoning. Having this on hand makes taco night even quicker! We use our Taco Filling recipe with this taco seasoning every week! Common Questions How many tablespoons of seasoning are in store-bought packets of taco spice? Generally, there is 1 ounce or about 2 tablespoons of store-bought taco seasoning blend in those little packets. Our recipe yields about 2 ½ tablespoons of homemade seasoning and can therefore be substituted for 1 packet. Is taco seasoning healthy? While there are no considerable health benefits from eating taco spice, making your own taco seasoning undoubtedly has its advantages. Firstly, there is way less added sodium in this homemade mild taco seasoning, and secondly there are no added preservatives. Our homemade taco seasoning mix is also gluten free, dairy free, vegan and keto friendly. Can you use taco seasoning for fajitas? This Mexican inspired blend of spices does not only taste great with taco meat. You can in fact use it for all your favorite Mexican recipes, such as fajitas, chili, or burritos, for example. How do I use this Mexican blend of spices to make taco meat? It doesn’t matter what type of meat you like to use for your taco night. Simply brown a pound of meat (ground beef, chicken, turkey…), then add ¼ cup of water and one batch of your own seasoning. Cook until the meat is coated and cooked through. How do I store spices to keep them fresh longer? We recommend storing common spices as well as diy blends in an airtight container in a dry, dark spot like a spice cabinet. It is important to protect spices from direct sunlight, to prevent discoloration. 5 from 1 vote Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix (Mild or Spicy) Author Andrea + Stef Course recipe staple Cuisine American, Mexican Prep Time 5 minutes minutes Total Time 5 minutes minutes Print Pin Rate 3 tablespoons Amazingly delicious taco spice that can be made mild or spicy and will add immense flavor to your taco meat. Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark Equipmentsmall bowlsmall whisk Ingredients 1x2x3x▢ 2 teaspoon chili powder▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder▢ 1 tsp garlic powder▢ 1 teaspoon paprika▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano▢ ½ teaspoon salt▢ ¼ tsp black pepperOptional:▢ ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or chipotle powder InstructionsCombine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whisk together until evenly combined. Then use immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. NotesThis recipe makes about 2½ tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning mix, which equals approximately one packet. To Use: Cook meat (ground beef, chicken, steak) in a skillet. Add ¼ cup of water and 1 serving of taco seasoning. Stir to combine over medium heat for a few minutes until the meat is coated. NutritionCalories: 16kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 606IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg Did you create this? Share it on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest for more cleverly simply recipes. Email Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe PinShareTweet