Homemade Taco Seasoning

Make your own taco seasoning from scratch with this recipe that combines basic herbs and spices for a flavorful blend to be used in a variety of dishes.

I used to buy taco seasoning packets at the store like most people do. Then I started just sprinkling in a little of this and that on the ground meat for tacos. After awhile, though, I wanted a simpler process that didn’t require me to dig out several seasoning containers every time. That’s when I started making this taco seasoning blend ahead of time and keeping it in its own container.

We add it to tacos, of course, but also to other Mexican-inspired dishes (e.g., quesadillas and breakfast burritos) to add the signature flavors. I ended up simplifying the combo for my Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas and Mexican Casserole recipes since there are a lot of other flavors going on. For this spice blend, though, I wanted the full experience.

Look at the spices above and I bet you could guess at least most of what’s included. Taco seasonings are all pretty similar, using a lot of the same ingredients. It’s the ratio of those (and an extra ingredient here or there) that really sets recipes apart.

There are 9 spices in my version (if you count salt and pepper), all of which I always have on hand, making this blend easy to throw together when it’s running low.

Adapted from Allrecipes.

You can adjust the measurements based on your preferences. If your family is big into spicy food, you can use more cayenne pepper. I like to keep my blend pretty mild and add spice in the form of Sriracha because it completes me.

The original version of this recipe was published on January 25, 2016.