Homemade Taco Seasoning

The easiest, most foolproof way to upgrade your Mexican food? Use a homemade taco seasoning. Trust me—it’s quick and easy to throw together, and once you make it, you can use it on practically everything (it’s not just for tacos!). Made from pantry staples, you most likely have these spices on hand, making it too easy to throw together and experiment with based on your ideal balance of flavors. Spicy, smoky, and packed with flavor, this seasoning will transform your taco Tuesdays (and beyond!).

What People Are Saying:
“Solid recipe. Simple as that. Easy to tweak and change to your individual liking.” - scotty795

“Talk about seasoning making the dish! I used just a dash of this taco season on just a taco wrap and some pre-made beef and it tasted amazing. Definitely a quick, delicious, and easy recipe!” - JanelleM

How To Make Homemade Taco Seasoning

INGREDIENTS

• Chili Powder: Chili powder is relatively mild, so you don’t have to worry about it bringing too much heat. It will add just a kick, and some earthy flavors.
• Ground Cumin: Cumin adds heaps of warm and savory flavor. If you’re not a big fan, you can cut it down.
• Smoked Paprika: This adds a (you guessed it!) subtly smoky flavor to the mix.
• Black Pepper: We’ve got lots of seasonings and flavors going on here, but a bit of black pepper adds that sharp note that balances it all out.
• Garlic Powder: If you really love garlic, you can add a bit more here.
• Kosher Salt: We use kosher salt at Delish, so if you use another kind of salt, you’ll need to taste and adjust.
• Onion Powder: This will add a slightly sweet flavor to our mix.
• Dried Oregano: Dried herbs like oregano will add an earthy, woodsy flavor.
  

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

All you need to do to make your own homemade taco seasoning is toss everything into a bowl, give it a good mix, and that’s it! Seriously, that’s it. If you taste it and find you want to make any adjustments, feel free to switch the amounts.

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

Why make your own taco seasoning?

I get it—in a pinch, I’m a huge fan of the premixed stuff. But a homemade seasoning truly does make a difference in the flavor department. You know exactly what you’re putting into your seasoning (no additives or preservatives here), and it’s completely customizable. You get to be the master of your own destiny here. Don’t love cumin? Take it down a bit! Want to kick up the heat? Add some cayenne to feel the burn.

Storage

If you have any left over, store in an airtight container, and this should keep for about a year or so from when you bought the oldest spice used in the mix.