Homemade Taco Seasoning. Easy to make. Easy to store in the pantry. And much more flavorful and fresh than store bought. Homemade is always better.
Ever since I discovered smoked paprika a few years ago, I’ve gone crazy using it. And sprinkling some in taco seasoning is no exception.
How to use homemade taco seasoning
If you’d like substitute this homemade mixture for any Mexican recipe, just use about 3 tablespoons instead of a store purchased packet. It brings a whole new level of earthy depth to any Mexican dish. And just look at that bold color.
When using this for tacos, just add 3 tablespoons of this seasoning to one pound of browned ground beef. Add a cup of water and simmer for about 20 minutes. Taste and add more seasoning if desired.
The seasonings that make this a special blend of flavor
The secret that makes this a great seasoning is Mexican Oregano and a good quality Hot Smoked Paprika.
And of course, my favorite ingredient, New Mexico Red Chile Powder. That one you may not have on your shelf, so just substitute cayenne pepper or Ancho Chile Powder.
I’d advise against Chipotle Chile powder due to it’s smoky flavor. The smoked paprika is already taking care of that.
Store in a Mason Jar or a good sealing baggie. Let’s take a look:
Recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning
I hope you give this simple Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating. Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes.
And if you make this taco seasoning, please let me know how you used it, I’m always looking for new ideas.
Use this taco seasoning to make this super easy Taco Soup Recipe
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- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds freshly toasted and ground, or 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoons hot smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion power
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Mexican Oregano
Put all the ingredients in a small jar and shake to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
To use, break up 1 pound of ground beef in a wide skillet over medium heat. As soon as it starts to sizzle, sprinkle on 2-3 tablespoon of this taco seasoning and add 1 cup water. Continue stirring. As moisture cooks out of the meat and simmers, it will be thickened by the cornstarch.
Looking for other ways to use this seasoning other than for ground beef tacos?
Ground Beef Mexican Casserole.
Roasted Green Chile Chicken Soft Tacos
Or, the most popular post on my site:
How to Make Hatch Green Chili Colorado Style
Larry says
April 8, 2017 at 11:21 amHard to beat those homemade seasonings
jolanda penistan says
April 28, 2019 at 11:13 amThanks so much for your extremely fast response! I’m thinking of freezing this in small increments in waxed paper packets. Will that increase it’s shelf life? Thanks for sharing your amazing recipes!
Lea Ann Brown says
May 2, 2019 at 12:06 pmAbsolutely. I’m keeping some of my chile powder in the freezer for just that reason.