Why You’ll Love This Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Easy to Make—Just mix together all of the spices and use straight away, or store in an airtight container or jar.
- Flavorful—Bold, smoky, and mildly spicy, this seasoning blend will take your taco meat to the next level.
- No Sugar, No Preservatives, No Flavor Enhancers—Cut out all the preservatives and additives found in store-bought varieties when you make your own taco seasoning at home.
- Customizable—Want extra heat? Add some cayenne pepper. Looking for a low-sodium version? Leave out the salt.
Say goodbye to store-bought seasoning packets and hello to this homemade taco seasoning that’s packed with authentic, slightly smoky, mildly spicy flavor! Not only does it deliver the bold, yummy flavor we all love in our tacos, it also eliminates the artificial ingredients found in many pre-packaged mixes. With this easy DIY recipe, you can enjoy delicious tacos without the hidden extras.
What’s Really In Store-Bought Taco Seasoning?
Many store-bought taco seasoning packets contain more than just spices—they often include additives like maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, and artificial flavor enhancers. Here are some of the common additives in store-bought seasonings you’ll be avoiding when you make your own taco seasoning at home…
- Maltodextrin (filler and preservative)
- Dextrose (sweetener and preservative)
- Silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent)
- Monosodium glutamate (aka MSG—flavor enhancer)
- Artificial colors and flavors
- Sugar
- Vegetable oil
By making your own taco seasoning, you control the ingredients, allowing you to create a cleaner, healthier, and (in my opinion) even more flavorful seasoning mix.
Ingredients In My Favorite Homemade Taco Seasoning
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Chili Powder: Adds heat, flavor, and some color. I use a basic organic chili powder (not dark) that is a blend of paprika, sea salt, cumin, oregano, garlic, and ancho chile powder.
Masa Harina: Masa harina is a finely milled flour made from white corn kernels that have been cooked and soaked in a lime solution (a process called nixtamalization) before being ground into a powder. The corn flavor from the masa harina serves as the perfect base for the other spices—it really makes such a difference! I use this masa harina from Masienda.
Important Note—Do NOT sub in cornstarch or cornmeal in place of the masa harina. They are not the same thing and have very different textures and tastes.
Chipotle Chile Powder: Adds deep, smoky flavor and some spice.
Ancho Chile Powder: Adds smokiness and even more depth, along with a mild spice.
Garlic Powder: Enhances the savory, umami flavor of the taco seasoning. You can use granulated garlic in place of the garlic powder.
Onion Powder: Also enhances the savory flavor of the spice blend. You can use granulated onion, although I prefer the finer texture of onion powder.
Cumin: Adds a warm and earthy flavor.
Smoked Paprika: Adds a slightly sweet and smoky flavor, along with some bright red color. If you want to cut down the smoke in this seasoning, use plain paprika instead of smoked.
Oregano: Adds a savory, earthy, slightly peppery flavor that helps round out the heat and smokiness of the chile powders.
Salt: I use this Gustus Vitae smoked sea salt which adds a delicious smoky flavor to this spice blend. If you’re not the biggest fan of smoked salt, try pink Himalayan sea salt or plain old table salt.
If you’d like a low-sodium taco seasoning, simply leave the salt out and salt your meat (or other dishes you use this seasoning in) to your taste.
Note—This Taco Seasoning Is Relatively Mild!
It’s extra flavorful, smoky, and mildly spicy. If you want to add some extra heat, mix in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Taste and then add more if you’d like.
Chili Powder vs. Chile Powder: What’s the Difference & Why It Matters
You’ll notice in the ingredient list above that the terms chile powder and chili powder are both used—no, they’re not spelling errors! While they may sound the same, chili powder and chile powder are different—and using the wrong one can change the flavor of your taco seasoning. Chili powder (with an “i”) is a spice blend typically made with ground dried chile peppers, along with other seasonings—like cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and/or oregano. I use a basic chili powder in this recipe (not dark) but feel free to use your own favorite kind. Just keep in mind that the blend of spices may differ slightly depending on the brand and variety you use.
Chile powder (with an “e”), refers to ground dried chile peppers—those being ancho and chipotle peppers in this recipe. There are no other seasonings added—it’s just ground chiles.
In this recipe, chili powder will serve as a base of flavor, while ancho chile powder and chipotle chile powder add extra depth, mild heat, and a smokiness that elevates the taco seasoning.
Use This Taco Seasoning In…
Taco meat, which you can put in tacos (of course!), on taco salad, in these taco wonton cups, in these taco egg rolls, and more. I also like to add this seasoning to Mexican rice to serve as a side on taco night.
Read on for the full recipe for this homemade taco seasoning!
Once you make a batch (or two) and use it in your favorite taco meat, leave a rating and review down below to let me know how you like it!
The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp plus ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp chipotle chile powder
- ½ tsp ancho chile powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 3 tbsp masa harina (white corn flour)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder (or granulated garlic)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1½ tsp smoked or regular salt
Instructions
- Stir or whisk together all spices in a small bowl until well combined.2 tbsp plus ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp chipotle chile powder, ½ tsp ancho chile powder, 1 tbsp cumin, 3 tbsp masa harina (white corn flour), ½ tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp dried oregano, 1½ tsp smoked or regular salt
- Use this taco seasoning in your favorite taco meat, or add some flavor to your other favorite Mexican dishes. Store extra seasoning in an airtight jar or container in a dark, cool place for up to 6 months.
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