Homemade Taco Seasoning

This Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix is smokey and sweet with just enough heat.  You can use it to flavor ground beef for tacos, sprinkle it over quesadillas, add it to a pot of chili and so much more.

Love tacos? You can also try these Ground Beef Tacos, Chicken Tacos, or these Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

Considering how simple it is to throw together a batch of DIY taco seasoning, you’ll never want to go back to the store-bought packets again.  Not only do brands like Old El Paso contain ingredients like silicone dioxide, maltodextrin and far too much salt, the flavor also tends to fall pretty flat.  

One of the best things about making your own seasoning mixes, besides how little time it takes, is that you can adjust them to taste exactly how you like.  Want your seasoning mild?  No problem—just skip the red pepper flakes and reduce the chili powder.  Love smoked paprika?  Bump the quantity up a notch.

No matter what, be sure and make plenty, and let us know what you used it for in the comments.

How To Use Taco Seasoning

While you can obviously use this taco seasoning for ground beef, don’t limit your use to just tacos.  This tastes lovely sprinkled over quesadillas, added to a pot of chili, tossed with potatoes before roasting and so much more.  Here are a few of our favorite recipes to use it on:

• Pork Carnitas Nachos
• Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
• Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
• Homemade Taco Pizza
• Shredded Beef Tacos
• Oven-Roasted Red Skin Potatoes

Ingredients You Will Need

Ever wonder what spices are in taco seasoning? Here you go:

• Chili Powder – this adds some heat, so feel free to adjust this more or less depending on whether you like your Homemade Taco Seasoning mild or spicy.  You could also add a touch of cayenne pepper if you like your tacos extra spicy.
• Oregano – use dried oregano to give a sweet, earthy flavor.
• Cumin – ground cumin adds a distinctive flavor to the taco seasoning mix.
• Paprika – this has a nice smokey flavor and a beautiful bright red color.  You can use smoked paprika, sweet paprika or hot paprika.
• Salt – sea salt works, or else use your favorite kind.
• Garlic Powder – this adds a sweet garlic flavor.
• Onion Powder – it adds a great balance to all of the flavors and is very mild.
• Cocoa Powder – you’ll love the little bit of bitterness that cocoa powder adds to this spice mix.  
• Black Pepper – any kind of ground black pepper will work.
• Red Pepper Flakes – you can add more or less depending on the level of heat you are going for.

How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning

1. Mix spices.  In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cocoa powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
2. Use or store.  Mix well then use immediately or store in an airtight container in a cool dry place.  Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing Spices

Store your Homemade Taco Seasoning in spice jars, mason jars or any other airtight container that you have.  You’ll want to store them in a cool dry place where they will stay fresh for up to 1 year.

More of the Best Taco Recipes

• Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos
• Homemade Taco Pizza
• Easy Taco Soup
• Shredded Beef Tacos
• Creamy Taco Soup Recipe
• Beef Tacos
• Chicken Tacos
• More Mexican Recipes
• More Condiments and Sauces

You’ll love this smokey, spicy and super simple Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe. Use it to flavor tacos, quesadillas, soups, chili and so much more.