Homemade Taco Seasoning
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Leave the store-bought seasoning pouches on the shelf. Not only is this homemade taco seasoning recipe free of all the junk ingredients, it’s quick and easy to make AND it tastes better!
Use this homemade taco seasoning mix exactly as you would the store-bought stuff in any recipe that calls for it. It takes all of 2 minutes to make it. Make some ahead of time and keep it stored in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it. It also makes cute gifts to give away in little sachets!
This taco seasoning comes with just the right ratio of flavors. Feel free to substitute or add a particular chili powder of your choice. For example, depending on what I’m making, I’ll sometimes add additional ancho chili powder. Or if I want it spicier I’ll add some extra cayenne pepper. Feel free to make adjustments per your preference.
This taco blend is also perfect as a chili seasoning! Use one batch of this recipe as you would one pouch of chili seasoning for making your homemade chili. For a delicious batch of chili, tacos, burritos, Mexican-style casseroles, etc, this seasoning blend is fabulous.
Taco Seasoning Recipe
To make it simply combine all of the ingredients and grind them in a Coffee/Spice Grinder and store in an airtight jar, bag, or container until ready to use. You can double, triple, etc, the recipe to have it on hand whenever you need it.
This recipe roughly equals one pouch of store-bought chili or taco seasoning mix. Use one batch of this seasoning blend as you would one pouch of the store-bought mix.
Enjoy!
For more delicious homemade seasoning blends be sure to try my:
- Elote Seasoning
- Sazon Seasoning
- Carne Asada Seasoning
- Greek Seasoning
- Seasoned Salt
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
- Dukkah
- Za’atar
- Chili Powder
- Pizza Seasoning
- Pickling Spice
- Chinese Five Spice
- Curry Powder
- Pot Roast Seasoning
- Garam Masala
- Creole Seasoning
- Berbere
- Panch Phoron
- Mixed Spice
- Pumpkin Spice
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Homemade Taco Seasoning
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed dried red pepper or cayenne pepper (or more according to desired heat level)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon dried minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a coffee/spice grinder (optional but recommended), grind for about 30 seconds, and store in an airtight jar, bag, or container until ready to use. This recipe roughly equals one pouch of store bought chili or taco seasoning mix.
Originally published on October 27, 2014
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
I didn’t have my usual packets of taco seasoning on hand when my kids requested tacos for dinner so I found your recipe and am so glad I did. I had all the ingredients on hand and the flavor was fantastic. Using this from now on. Goodbye taco seasoning packets!
Yay! That’s fantastic, Cori, thank you so much for the feedback!
is the flour necessary? I have celiacs and can’t use gluten
Hi Diane, it’s in part as an anti-caking agent and in part for thickening. You can substitute GF flour.
Hi Kimberly
You mention in the header that the coffee grinder grinds up the oregano and gives the mix a super fine texture but I don’t see oregano on the list of ingredients? Should it have oregano in it.
Hi Kevin, sorry for the confusion. That’s a typo, this seasoning mix does not have oregano in it.
Hi KImberly, if I only have bouillon cubes, is 1 cube equivalent to 1 tbsp granules? Also, another question: to make tacos, would i sautee onions, garlic w minced meat, then add the seasoning package w 1 cup water?
Hi Jennifer, 1 teaspoon of granules is for 1 cup of broth. Bouillon cubes generally either come in 1 teaspoon or 2 teaspoon sizes. You’ll know by reading the directions on the box of cubes – if it says to mix one cube with 2 cups of water, then it’s a 2 teaspoon-sized cube, and in that case one cube is the equivalent of 2 teaspoons of granules. Yes, saute the onions/garlic/ground beef, then add the seasoning and cook for a minute just to bring out the flavors of the spices, add the water, bring to a boil and simmer for a few minutes. Use this mix in the same way you’d use the store-bought stuff in the envelope.