Homemade Taco Seasoning

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Homemade Taco Seasoning is easy to make and will last you a long time.

Mexican and Tex-Mex is probably our most favorite cuisine to eat and cook at home. This homemade taco seasoning is so versatile and perfect for dishes like Authentic Tex-Mex Beef Tacos and Best-Ever Chicken Quesadilla. It’s amazing in our Chicken Flautas, too! Make a big batch and store for future use!

Homemade Taco Seasoning
Homemade Taco Seasoning

HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING IS EASY TO MAKE

It’s good to know (as best you can) what exactly is going into your recipes.  This recipe is packed with flavor, a little less on the sodium, and no preservatives.   Use it whenever you want to spice things up a bit…oh, and don’t worry, it’s not too spicy.  

But if you do want it spicier, increase the cayenne.  

IDEAL FOR TEXMEX TACOS

Did we mention how amazing this seasoning is when you’re making homemade taco meat for beef tacos?

The flavor is so deep and really delivers that authentic Tex-Mex flavor that we all love so much.

Just look at these tacos and tell us you’re not getting excited about making a batch for you and your family!

Tex-Mex Beef Tacos recipe

This recipe is so good and really easy!  

Double or triple the recipe to keep on hand.  If using to make taco meat…cook the meat first, then add the seasoning (usually 1 ounce, then add 1 tablespoon of flour, then 1 cup of liquid, ie, stock).   NOTE:  This makes 2 ounces of seasoning (about 4 tablespoons).  The store-bought packets usually are 1 ounce (2 tablespoons).

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Homemade Taco Seasoning

This homemade taco seasoning is so much better than the packet variety, easy to make...and you control the ingredients. Adjust to your liking!
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Seasoning
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 15 people
Calories: 7kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp Adobo seasoning
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp Kosher salt
  • 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients until fully mixed.
  • Store in air-tight container.

Notes

Be careful with your salt levels. Many adobo seasonings include salt. 

Nutrition

Calories: 7kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 37mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 376IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

 

 

20 Comments

  • 5 stars
    Hi Kris

    I’ve made this wonderful dish before with store bought taco seasoning but this time wanted to make your seasoning to kick it up a notch. I mixed up all the spices but 2 Tablespoons cumin seems like a lot. Is it supposed to be 2 teaspoons?

    Thank you for sharing your talents and laughter with the
    rest of us. Love you guys, have a Merry Christmas!

    • Hi Darlene!! So very sorry for the extra-delayed response. We like 2 tbsp of cumin, but, it does give it somewhat of a pronounced cumin taste (which we enjoy with our taco seasonings). But, pulling back to 2 tsps is perfectly fine, and may even be better! I changed the recipe to 2 tsps.
      We hope you had an absolutely wonderful Christmas and we wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year and a spectacular 2024!!

      • 5 stars
        Hi Kris
        Thanks for the reply. I made Mexican lasagna for Christmas this year and everyone loved it and asked for the recipe! I made your taco seasoning and used 2tsp cumin. Personally I love cumin and would have used more but I was unsure of my guests tastes. Anyway, fantastic recipe and I believe using your seasoning mix is a must!

      • Yay! We are so so happy it all turned out well and you had such great success! Thank you for letting us know and for the great review! That means a lot to us! Happy New Year!! xoxo Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    Great recipe. Have made it a couple of times with chicken quesadillas and beef tacos. But have a question about the Adobo Goya. Is it gluten free? Would like to make some for a friend of mine who cannot eat gluten products. Have checked Adobo’s website and have found nothing about gluten there. Also know some other spices would have gluten in them and will be purchasing those. But Adobo is the only thing I am not sure of.

  • 5 stars
    I have used this recipe several times when making chicken quesadilla. My family says they’re the best quesadillas they’ve had. Gotta be the seasoning! Thank you for sharing!

    • Hi Mary!! You have no idea how happy that makes to hear! The seasoning is good, but the cook who’s making those quesadillas is the real star!! Thank you so much for letting us know and for the wonderful review. That means the world to us! Please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  • I ran across you website while looking for Bahn Mi recipes which led me to your chicken quesadilla recipe and taco seasoning recipe. Looking forward to trying some of your dishes. In the taco seasoning you use Adobo seasoning as one of the ingredients but all the ingredients that are in Adobo seasoning are already in your taco seasoning recipe. So I was wondering why do you use Adobo instead of just increasing the other ingredients? Thanks.

    • Hey Rusty!! Feel free to tweak this recipe to your own tastes. We worked with many different spices and amounts. Hope you enjoy the recipes and please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley

  • 5 stars
    I made this seasoning and cooked with the chicken and added the flour & stock. The seasoning is amazingly tasty but extremely salty (I am a salt lover). I purchased Goya Adobo seasoning for it and that by itself is very salty. Did I buy the incorrect item, do you think?

    • HI Bonnie! Yes, the adobo has salt. I’m sure you did it all right. We need to add a side note about the salt levels. It’s easy to pull back, if too much. I’ll update the recipe accordingly. Thanks so much and please stay in touch!! Kris & Wesley

  • Hey, Kris,
    My loon gave this taco seasoning a thumbs up. Hooray! We’re done with pricey packets, AND I had adobo seasoning I didn’t know what to do with. I hope to try some other recipes. You rock.

    • Hey Amanda!! Sorry for the delayed response. We’ve been in the midst of a move and things have been crazy. So glad you guys liked my taco seasoning a thumbs up!! We love it, too, and agree, so much better than the packaged stuff!! Thanks again!!!!! xoxox

      • Absolutely. Best wishes with your move. I hope you’ve had access to a kitchen the whole time. 🙂

  • Hi Kris,

    This sounds really yummy!!
    I also make my own taco seasoning but I have never thought to use adobo seasoning. What a great idea! I am going to try using it when I make my next batch.
    Have you ever tried “True Lemon” or “True Lime”? I always use True Lime in my taco season mix and it tastes great.

    • Hi Cyndi! I don’t think I’m familiar with ‘True Lemon’ or ‘True Lime’…I’m going to check that out. I agree that lime adds such a nice depth to Latin dishes. Now I’m on a mission!! Thank you!

  • Kris – out of curiosity, if used with taco meat – how much chopped meat does one portion (1 oz.) of the seasoning make? How much stock?, lets say per pound of meat..

    • Hi Mitch. I would use 1 ounce (about 2 tablespoons) of the taco seasoning for 1 lb of chopped beef. To that I would add 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of flour (for thickener), stir to incorporate, then add about 2/3 cup of stock (or water). Cook until liquid has fully reduced down (shouldn’t be runny). Hope this answers your question. If not, let me know! Kris

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