DIY taco blend can be used in several Tex-Mex or Mexican recipes. From fajitas to enchiladas, a pinch of this seasoning is a great way to add a boost of flavor to your dishes!
So much better than store-bought!
Story of my life: plan to make a recipe, gather all the ingredients and realize I’m missing a key component. Thankfully, this time it was only taco seasoning. A quick rummaging through my spice drawer and this homemade taco seasoning was born! And the best part? I get to make it as mild or as hot as I want. I’m also a bit of a spice snob, and I try to buy the best quality spices I can afford, so there’s no doubt this taco blend is much better than the one I’d get at the store! Easy to make with pantry staples that you might already have on hand! No need to ever buy the pre-packaged stuff again.
Why make your own taco spice blend?
I know whatcha thinking…Why make homemade spice blends when you can buy them at the store? Well, there are a few reasons:
It tastes better. You’ll have the satisfaction that comes from knowing exactly what went into your spice blend. It’s gluten and sugar free. The store version often has some kind of starch and/or sugar. You get to play mad scientist and add or omit whatever you want! Sometimes you save money. That doesn’t always happen, especially if you – like me – invest in good quality spices. You need to because you want to make a recipe and you have no taco seasoning in your pantry plus no desire to do a grocery store run just for that!
Ingredients
To make mild taco seasoning, you will need:
Chili powder Dried oregano Sweet (or smoked) paprika Onion powder Garlic powder Cumin Black pepper Salt
To make hot taco seasoning, you will need:
All the ingredients for mild taco seasoning Cayenne pepper
How to make taco seasoning from scratch
Once you make this taco blend, you will question why you ever bought the grocery store version in the first place. It’s so easy! Just combine everything and it’s ready to be used in your favorite recipes. I usually make a small batch of about 1/3 cup, but you can easily double, triple or quadruple if you use a lot of taco seasoning! Likewise, if you don’t use a lot and just need it for one or two recipes, you can halve the recipe to make about 2.5 tablespoons (most recipes ask for 1 tablespoon). Recommended tools: small bowl, spoon, airtight jar. Here’s how I make this homemade taco seasoning recipe. As always, you will find the printable (and more complete) version of the recipe at the end of this post! You can also just combine everything in the jar where you plan on keeping it and shake until combined.
Substitutions and add-ins
This DIY taco blend is easily customizable. You can alter the quantities, omit what you don’t like and/or add other spices and herbs.
Dried herbs: Dried parsley or basil can be used with or instead of the dried oregano. Sweet Paprika: Smoked paprika can be substituted. I wouldn’t recommend using hot paprika or the blend will be too spicy, especially if using cayenne. Cayenne: You can use red pepper flakes instead or omit for a mild version. Thickeners: For a seasoning that also acts as a thickener, add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch or 2 teaspoons of flour. Want a touch of sweetness to balance out the spiciness? A teaspoon of brown sugar can be added. Tomato powder: Add 1-2 tablespoons of tomato powder if you want your seasoning to be tomato-y like some store-bought versions.
How long does homemade taco seasoning keep?
When stored in airtight containers in a cool and dry place, homemade spice seasonings last just as long as the spices you used in the blends. Since I’m bad at keeping track, I usually use mine within 6 months.
How to use taco seasoning?
Homemade taco seasoning can be used to spice up Mexican or Mexican inspired recipes. Think tacos, burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, nachos, burgers, soups and salads. You can even use to rim the glass for your tasty Margaritas! I use 1 tablespoon for 1 pound of ground beef or chicken.
If you like this DIY Taco Seasoning, you might also like:
