Taco Tuesdays? 3 Easy Recipes for Taco Seasoning
Let’s be honest: the ready-to-use packets of taco seasoning you can buy at the supermarket are fine. But if you’ve ever bought a packet of taco seasoning, used it once and then let it sit in your pantry for months, you’re not alone.
That’s why I’m sharing three easy recipes for taco seasoning that you can make yourself with ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Best of all, each recipe makes enough to season one pound of meat, just like those store-bought packets do. And they’re easy to adjust if you like your tacos more or less spicy!
Classic Taco Seasoning
The first recipe is classic taco seasoning: a combination of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder and salt. To make this classic blend, all you need is a tablespoon each of chili powder and ground cumin plus 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, paprika and salt. That’s it!
Ingredients
Taco Tuesdays just got a whole lot easier!
Spice up your Taco Tuesday with 3 easy recipes for taco seasoning. This post will walk you through making taco seasoning out of ingredients that you already have in your pantry.
Making homemade taco seasoning is significantly cheaper than buying the pre-packaged ones, but it’s also more flavorful. Taco seasoning is a great way to add flavor and spice to any Mexican dish, including tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, and fajitas. I recommend making a large batch of one of these recipes and using it throughout the week so you can save time and money on your midweek meal.
taco seasoning is easy to make at home with simple ingredients. this recipe will be sure to please even the pickiest eater.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Store any leftovers in a sealed glass container in a dark pantry for up to 6 months.
As I was making some taco meat for dinner, I realized that I was bored with my current taco seasoning. So, I decided to do a little research and create my own. After looking up several different recipes, I realized that there are many different ways to season taco meat. Some of them have ingredients that are not so common in the average spice cabinet.
So, here are three recipes using spices and herbs that most people keep on hand… plus one more ingredient that is only slightly out of the ordinary. You can even double or triple the recipe and store it in your pantry for next time.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons chili powder
4 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt (or less)
1 teaspoon pepper (or less)**
The best taco seasoning is a blend of spices that you can customize to your taste. Homemade taco seasoning is so much better than the packets you buy in the grocery store, and it’s one of those things that I like to keep on hand.
I use this in my recipes for taco meat, chicken tacos, or even sprinkled on grilled chicken. You can also use it as a base for other Mexican-inspired dishes like fajitas, quesadillas, nachos, etc.
Yes, taco seasoning is probably one of the most common and well known spice mixtures in existence. It’s great for tacos, of course, but also good for so much more! I like to store a large batch in a mason jar, and keep it on my kitchen counter so I can use it whenever I need some Mexican spice in my life.
I have included three different mixtures here: one version that is very standard, one that is a bit hotter, and one that has a bit more depth to its flavor. You may find that you like certain ones better than others depending on your mood/what you are eating. I will also include substitution ideas below the recipes if you don’t have the exact ingredients listed or just want to tweak things to your liking.
Standard Taco Seasoning (makes about 1/2 cup)
Take your Tuesdays on a trip south of the border with this blend of Mexican spices.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months.
