Homemade Taco Seasoning for ground beef. Easy to make. Easy to store in the pantry. And with a perfect blend of spices, this DIY version is much more flavorful than store bought. Use this homemade taco seasoning mix for beef, chicken, rice, and even soups. Let’s take a look.
How To Make Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Getting ready to make Mexican recipe and don’t have a packet of taco seasoning? Make you own, and better yet, keep a stash of this taco seasoning in the pantry – you’ll be glad you did.
Making homemade taco seasoning mix is such a breeze. Almost as easy as standing in front of the Mexican seasoning section at the store and trying to figure out which brand to buy, or which brand offers the best flavor.
Skip that and make your own stash for the pantry. It will last about a year if stored correctly.
And speaking of the pantry, you probably already have all the ingredients you need to make this recipe.
Just mix all of the ingredients together and store in an air-tight container = done!
You’ll find the full recipe below, but I want to address some of the key ingredients that will make a difference in the flavor.
- One of the secrets that makes this a great homemade taco seasoning mix is Mexican Oregano. Mexican oregano has a stronger flavor that Mediterranean Oregano, which is more readily available for purchase. It has a more earthy flavor which is better suited for Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines.
- A good quality Hot Smoked Paprika. 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. If you don’t have a good quality spice shop available to you, Simply Organic brand is a good choice. If you want less heat, use regular smoked paprika.
- And of course, my favorite ingredient, New Mexico Red Chile Powder. What’s so special about chile powder from New Mexico? It reliably delivers medium heat with earthy fruity undertones. 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.
Is there gluten in taco seasoning? Possibly in the packets you buy in the store, but this is a gluten free taco seasoning mix recipe. Store in a Mason Jar or a good sealing baggie.
How Long Does Taco Seasoning Last?
Here’s the good news. If stored in an air-tight container, I prefer a glass mason jar over a baggie, it will last 6 months to a year. Just store it in a dark dry place. Your pantry cabinet is perfect.
How to use homemade taco seasoning
Substitute this homemade taco seasoning for a packet from the store for any Mexican recipe. How much taco seasoning is in a packet? Usually about 2 – 3 tablespoons, depending on the brand.
Use about 3 tablespoons instead of a store purchased packet.
Homemade taco seasoning brings a whole new level of earthy depth to any Mexican dish. And just look at that bold color.
When using homemade taco seasoning for 1 lb. ground beef, just add 3 tablespoons of seasoning and 1 cup of water and simmer for about 20 minutes. Taste and add more seasoning if desired.
But don’t stop with beef. Use this taco seasoning for ground chicken tacos, ground pork tacos, or use it as a rub for roasted chicken, or even seafood.
Homemade Taco Seasoning For Ground Beef
I hope you give this simple Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix 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 mix to make:
And if you love Mexican food as much as we do, don’t miss my Mexican Southwestern Category. You’ll find plenty of great recipes including the most popular on my site for Hatch Green Chili Colorado.
Homemade Taco Seasoning For Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
Notes
Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix … It’s Whats for Tacos
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Thanks 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!
Absolutely. I’m keeping some of my chile powder in the freezer for just that reason.
Hard to beat those homemade seasonings