Ultimate Taco Seasoning Recipe

So you’re looking for a good taco seasoning recipe? Maybe a variation with some spicy chile pepper kick to it? Well, my fellow foodie and internet traveler, you’ve come to the right destination!

How I came to creating this particular taco seasoning spice mix is as follows. Please bear with me.

“Mexican night” around Casa Del Roberts is a frequently-occurring and much-anticipated occasion. Naturally, whether our main vessel of holding and consuming taco meat comes in the guise of crunchy tacos, soft tacos, burritos, nachos, enchiladas, taco burgers, or even the odd Mexican pizza, the constant need for taco seasoning is mammoth. Sure, I could stock up on a handful of those decent-tasting taco seasoning pouches from my local supermarket, but sometimes I do run out of the processed stuff in the packets and need to throw something together in a pinch.

Hence this simple recipe for taco seasoning powder works wonders and tastes great!

This recipe makes about a 1/2 cup of seasoning, so you should have plenty that is leftover after making tacos; enough for several more applications. Just do basic math if you wish to double or halve the amounts listed below.

The majority of you probably have most if not all the ingredients already in your kitchen you will need for this.

Taco Seasoning Recipe

This is a milder version that is safe for most people. This recipe does have a touch of warmth, but nothing too drastic. For a spicier version, see Scott’s Spicy Taco Seasoning Recipe Variation below.

Yield: Approx 1/2 cup of taco seasoning

INGREDIENTS:
2 TBSP chili powder
5 tsp paprika
4 1/2 tsp cumin
1 TBSP dried onion
2 1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp sea salt
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Scott’s Spicy Taco Seasoning Recipe Variation

Love hot foods? Are you a chilehead? Want your Mexican to have a little kick to it? Try this spicier version. It’s not only hotter from a chile pepper perspective, but has a bolder overall flavor, too.

INGREDIENTS:
2 TBSP chili powder
5 tsp cumin
5 tsp paprika
1 TBSP garlic powder
1 TBSP dried onion
2 tsp sea salt
2 1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or 1/2 to 1 tsp of habanero powder (depending on your heat tolerance)

DIRECTIONS FOR BOTH VARIATIONS:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Store in an airtight container along with your other spices.

2. Use 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning and 3/4 hot cup of water to every 1 pound of cooked meat you need (I’ve found that one pound of taco meat is enough for a normal family of four). Add taco seasoning, hot water, and ground beef together in a saucepan, thoroughly blend together, and bring to a gentle boil on your stovetop. Turn the heat down to low and simmer until most of the water has evaporated.

NOTES: You can also use this taco seasoning recipe as a seasoning for homemade chili if you don’t have any handy, or use my basic chili powder recipe.