Homemade Taco Seasoning

This Homemade Taco Seasoning is a bold Southwestern blend I've tested and refined over the years specifically for flavorful taco meat for a deeper, more distinctive flavor than a typical store-bought packet. Keep a jar in your pantry and you'll always have homemade taco seasoning ready for taco night.

Course Mexican

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Total Time 10

Servings Tablespoons

Calories 34kcal

Author Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds freshly toasted and ground, or 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika hot or mild
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon New Mexico Red Chile Powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon Mexican Oregano

Instructions

Toast The Cumin Seeds: Heat a small fry pan over medium high heat. Add cumin seeds cooking for about 1 minute, shaking the pan every few seconds. Cook until you smell a fragrant toasty aroma.
Crush The Seeds: Use a mortar and pestle to lightly crush the seeds. I don't have one, so a hamburger press or a potato masher works well. You won't be able to completely crush the seeds, but they'll break apart to add flavor to the seasoning.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl using a whisk, or in a small jar and shake to combine.
To Make Ground Meat Tacos: Break up and brown 1 pound of ground beef, or ground chicken, in a wide skillet over medium heat. Then sprinkle on 2 tablespoons of this taco seasoning and add 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often. As moisture cooks out of the mixture, it will be thickened by the cornstarch.

Notes

Tips For Success

Large Batch:This recipe makes enough to season three pounds of meat. Which for us is 3 meals. If you make a lot of tacos like we do, this recipe is very easy to double or even triple, so you have a larger supply on hand.
Toasting Cumin Seeds: Watch those seeds when toasting. If you walk away and toast them to a burnt stage, it will ruin the flavor. Start over.

Nutrition