Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

You will want to have a jar of this Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix in your pantry at all times. It is a staple in so many Mexican-inspired recipes and so much better than the store bought variety!

It has been well over 20 years since I mixed up my first batch of this Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix and since that time, I haven’t purchased one single packet or jar of pre-mixed taco seasoning from the store. Whenever I run low, I make a point to mix up a new batch. It is on constant rotation.

It is such a staple, in fact, that this is the second recipe that was posted to this blog almost 10 years ago. It inspired me to branch out to create other seasoning mixes that I love dearly, like my Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix.

It is so worth it to make your own taco seasoning at home. The flavor is so much better than the premixed, store bought variety which I think tends to give off a somewhat artificial taste. A homemade blend is pure and simple and easy to customize to your liking. It is also less expensive to make your own instead of buying spice blends at the store.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix Ingredients

All of the spices in this seasoning mix are pantry staples in my kitchen so it’s easy to whip up a new batch at any given time.

• I prefer fine ground sea salt in most of my seasoning mixes. I buy a large container from Costco and always have it on hand. You can substitute regular table salt if you’d like. As written this recipe has FAR less sodium than store bought blends but feel free to reduce the amount called for if you are watching your sodium intake.
• Crushed red pepper adds a little zing. Add more or less depending on your taste.

The Difference Between Chili Powder and Chile Powder

You might be surprised to learn that their is a difference between chili powder and chile powder. There is a significant difference in flavor and heat between the two so be careful when shopping and be sure to pick up chili (with an “i”) powder for this recipe.

• Chili powder contains dried chili pepper and a variety of other ingredients. It is commonly used to season chili and other similar dishes. I keep a large container of chili powder in my pantry at all times (again, thanks Costco) and it is what is used in this recipe.
• Chile powder is made from dried ground chiles with few or no other additives and depending on the variety, it can be very spicy. If you were to use it in place of chili powder you could end up with an exceptionally spicy blend.

How to Store Spice Blends

So, you’ve mixed up a fresh batch of Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix and used some of it to create something delicious. Here are some tips on how to best store the rest.

• Keep spice blends in an airtight container in a cool, dark place like your pantry. Avoid any area that gets a lot of light, heat or moisture. Small mason jars or cute glass spice jars with labels are the best choice for storage. If you already have jars and just need labels there are lots of fun preprinted spice labels available. I love these chalkboard style labels.
• Spices can lose potency over time so use homemade spice blends within a few months for the best flavor.

How to Use Taco Seasoning Mix

For traditional ground meat tacos, use 1 to 2 tablespoons per pound of meat, to taste. I like to add a small amount of water and sometimes about 1/2 cup of tomato sauce for a saucier taco filling.

But, there is far more you can do with this versatile spice mix! My collection of recipes is always growing. Here are some of my favorites.

• Shredded Mexican Beef
• Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
• Mexican Stuffed Peppers
• Chicken and Veggie Baked Tostadas
• Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
• Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
• Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Dip

This post was originally published on August 14, 2011. It has been updated with new text and images.

Adapted from Allrecipes