Name: Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 8 (Makes about 1 cup)
Cuisine: American, Mexican, Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons chili powder; 2 tablespoons cumin; 2 tablespoons smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon salt; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 teaspoon black pepper

The smoky, earthy flavors of thisHomemade Taco Seasoning Mixmeld to make a heavenly addition to any Mexican-style dish, plus it’s a fantastic gift!

small clear glass bowls with different colored spices in each set in metal pan on top of blue and white striped towel.

We’ve all grabbed a bag of tortillas, some ground beef, and a packet of taco seasoning at the store when we’re in a crunch forquick dinner ideas. What if I told you that you couldmake your own taco seasoning that takes only 5 minutes and can be stored to use for meals over and overagain?

The best part about myHomemade Taco Seasoning Mixis that you know everything that’s in it, so you can adjust to your own family’s tastes. It’s a great meal prep item to have on hand for aneasy taco casseroleortaco zucchini boatsfor summer zucchini season. This will beyour new go-to flavoringfor quick and easy meals!

round clear glass jar with spice mix of multiple colors on a white background.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Elevate Taco Tuesday with thisway-better-than-store-bought flavorcombo!
Aquick meal prep solutionfor last-minute Mexican-style dishes like these family favoritecrunchy baked chicken tacos.
Never again buy store-bought taco seasoning—skip the additives and save money.
This is a funmeal preptask that even younger kids can help tackle.

Recipe Ingredients

Chili powder –use a basic chili powder or find your favorite specialty flavor
Cumin –again, basic is okay!
Smoked paprika –Pleasedon’t substitute regular paprikafor the smoked. It’s important for elevating the taste to the next level!
Salt –omit the salt if you’d like
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Oregano –the dried leaves,notthe powder
Black pepper

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

This is seriously so simple!

Put all the ingredients in a jar.
Add the lid and shake.

Or mix in a bowl with a whisk.

Recipe FAQs

What is taco seasoning made of?

Every taco seasoning is a little different. I’m a big fan of smoked paprika and the earthy cumin and chili powder flavors. Those are the three main ingredients in my mix, along with salt, onion and garlic powders, dried oregano, and black pepper. You can adjust any flavors or add cayenne, turmeric, or extra herbs, like dried cilantro.

When does taco seasoning go bad?

The great thing about taco seasoning is that it’s a dry mixture that’s basically self-preserving! If stored in a cool, dry area in a sealed container, it can last 2 to 3 years. However, if yours sticks around that long, you might just need to be making tacos more often!

Can taco seasoning be used on chicken or other non-taco meals?

One-hundred percent! You can use taco seasoning on various meals, and it doesn’t have to be just tacos. Use it as a dry-rub for chicken, pork, or fish. Throw it into a queso dip for an added kick and amped up flavor. Season fajitas, rice, beans, or any other Mexican dish with it. The options are endless!

Expert Tips

New to smoked paprika? It’s a HUGE favorite of mine, and that smokiness is what elevates this seasoning mix!
You can omit the salt if needed and then just salt dishes to your liking when cooking.
The best part of making it at home is that the batch islarge enough to use in several meals.About two tablespoons of the mix are equivalent to one store-bought package.
This mix is also a great gift idea! Make a few jars of it, and give it away to teachers at the end of the school year or to friends at the next get-together you host.

Recipes to Use Homemade Taco Seasoning

This seasoning mix is perfect for classic taco night and even makes a fantastic dry rub for any type of meats. But in case you need more inspiration for Mexican-inspired dishes, here are some of my family’s favorites!