Do you want all the simplicity of a ready-to-go spice blend without all the added junk? Then this recipe is for you!
Why Make Your Own Taco Seasoning?
I grew up on taco seasoning packets, and when I started cooking, those were my go-to for taco night. But as I gained more experience in the kitchen and grew more particular about the quality of my food, I left those packets in the dust and started to make my own seasoning blend.
A Cheaper and Healthier Seasoning Option
Making your own taco seasoning can be far cheaper and healthier than buying the packets at your local grocery store.
For starters, many brands of taco seasoning contain heavily processed ingredients like maltodextrin and modified corn starch plus anti-caking agents like silicon dioxide. No thank you!
Brands that bypass all of the weird ingredients cost as much as just buying a jar of cumin or chili powder. So I like to make my own taco-seasoning blend using ingredients I keep stocked on the spice rack and none of the extra junk.
The Best Taco Flavor
This seasoning blend is something I've fiddled with to create my ideal taco flavor; It is flavorful, a little spicy, and has just a little bit of salt. It gives me the freedom to season everything to taste.
With my own blend, I can add as much or as little taco seasoning as I want to any recipe; I'm not tied to the amount in a packet. And with all the components of this seasoning readily available on my spice rack, I can customize the flavor of whatever I'm making. Some days I want a little extra paprika, and certain foods might be calling for extra garlic powder. I can adjust for that.
In the same vein, this blend doesn't have a ton of salt because I like to season to taste. I include a little bit of salt in the seasoning mix, and then add more to each, as needed.
With just a quick mixing of spices, this recipe gives the simplicity of a ready-made spice blend with the flexibility to personalize the flavor. It's the ideal situation.
Stay riled up and keep the joy in cooking <3
Taco Seasoning Recipe
- 4 Tbsp Cumin
- 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 2 tsp Ancho Chili Powder
- 2 tsp Chipotle Chili Powder
- 1.5 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
Measure all the spices, mix them together, and store the blend until you're ready to use it!
Modifications & Substitutions
- For a milder seasoning, leave the cayenne pepper out. You can also start with half the amount of chili powder (1 tsp ancho + 1 tsp chipotle or just 2 tsp chili powder) and add more as you feel comfortable.
- Salt can be omitted if you'd like. I like to add this small amount to my taco seasoning and then add more salt to taste when I'm cooking.
- You can substitute regular paprika for smoked paprika if that's what you have on hand
- Ancho & chipotle chili powders could be replaced by regular chili powder. "Chili powder" will contain a mixture of different chili peppers and sometimes other spices.
Uses for Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Use to make taco meat ( whether that's ground beef or other recipes like my slow cooker salsa chicken)
- Add flavor to soup or chili
- Season scrambled eggs for breakfast tacos
- Throw on roasted veggies or seeds for a Tex-Mex kick
- Mix with plain, non-fat greek yogurt to make an easy, healthy dip
- Anything else you like with taco seasoning!
Comment below and let me know what you're making with this taco seasoning!
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