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I’ve been making my own homemade taco seasoning recipe for a long time (most often for taco salad), but prior to that, I searched for them in stores. Unfortunately, the options I found were filled with chemicals and sugar, and the few that weren’t were expensive. So, to learn how to make my own taco seasoning, I looked at the packaging of several store-bought brands to identify common themes. Then I came up with the best DIY taco seasoning ingredients below!
This recipe also holds a special place in my heart: It’s the first one I published after I left my software engineering job (back in 2018) to work on Wholesome Yum full-time. I also loved it so much that I included it in my first cookbook. Years later, I’m still so grateful that I get to call this my job.
I’ve used this taco seasoning mix in dozens of recipes since then — see ideas for using it below! And if you’re a fan of homemade healthy seasonings like this one, don’t miss my zesty lemon pepper seasoning (great for chicken), Montreal seasoning for steak, Cajun seasoning, and homemade fajita seasoning.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
- Warm, spicy, and smoky
- Simple seasoning with common ingredients
- No artificial ingredients, starches, fillers, and preservatives
- Takes just 5 minutes
- Easy to store for a long time
- Naturally gluten-free
- More affordable (and I’d say more delicious) than store-bought taco seasoning
- Perfect for all kinds of Mexican recipes
What Is In Taco Seasoning?
This section explains how to choose the best DIY taco seasoning ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Chili Powder – The main ingredient in this seasoning blend.
- Ground Cumin – Adds an intense, smoky flavor. It works to balance the sweetness and heat of the other spices.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Smoked Paprika – I have not seen smoked paprika in a store-bought packet, but always use it in mine because I believe it tastes better. Feel free to use regular sweet paprika if you want to.
- Dried Oregano – You can replace this with Mexican oregano, dried coriander, or dried cilantro if you prefer those flavors.
- Garlic Powder – Enhances the savory flavor.
- Onion Powder – Gives an earthy, slightly sweet flavor and adds depth to the mixture.
- Cayenne Pepper – The level of pepper in this mix is mild overall. If you like a spicier blend, you can double the amount or add 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
Does taco seasoning have salt?
Yes, taco seasoning blend does include salt.
Because most store-bought mixes have salt and I wanted it to replace those 1:1 in any recipe, I included salt in my homemade version of this spice mix. If you are trying to reduce your sodium intake, you can omit the salt or reduce the amount.
How To Make Taco Seasoning
Stir all the taco seasoning recipe ingredients together in a small bowl, then transfer to an airtight container or small glass jar.
TIP: Shake right in your storage container to save on dishes.
If you don’t want to dirty extra dishes, you can place the seasonings right into a mason jar, cover it, and give it a good shake.
How Much Taco Seasoning Per Pound Of Meat?
Use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning per pound of ground meat, such as ground beef or pork, shredded chicken, or shrimp.
Most pre-made packets recommend this, and I developed this homemade taco seasoning recipe to match, so that you can easily replace store-bought in any recipe.
Storage Instructions
My easy taco seasoning recipe makes a fairly large batch, because I think it’s annoying to make it every time I need it. It makes enough for 3 pounds of meat, which is usually three separate meals at our house. If you have a larger family, or if you want to make it even less often, feel free to double, triple or even quadruple it.
Store this mix in a cool, dry place in an airtight container, such as spice jars with lids or a small multi purpose jar. It will last 1-2 years, but is best used within a year for the best flavor.
What Is Taco Seasoning Used For?
Taco seasoning can add zesty flavor to many Mexican dishes, including taco meat, chicken, shrimp, vegetables, and more.
Here are a few ways to use it:
- Ground Beef – The most common way to use taco seasoning is for ground beef tacos! Brown a pound of ground beef in a skillet, then add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water. Cook until the extra liquid absorbs into the meat. Warm your favorite tortillas (I prefer almond flour tortillas or even cheese taco shells), then stuff them with the taco meat and toppings, like fresh salsa, shredded cheese, avocado (or guacamole), shredded lettuce, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.
- Chicken – Sprinkle it on before baking chicken breasts or season shredded chicken before using in other dishes.
- Taco Salad – My most popular recipe that uses this spice mixture! Tens of thousands of readers have made it and it gets rave reviews.
- Other Taco-Flavored Dishes – Of course, you can use this recipe for any taco inspired dishes such as layered taco dip, 5-ingredient taco soup, slow cooker taco casserole, or swap out the fajita seasoning in shrimp fajitas (or any kind of sheet pan fajitas).
- Vegetables – Give your veggies a taco kick. Try this taco seasoning recipe on your sauteed broccoli, garlicky sauteed zucchini, or crisp-tender air fryer cauliflower.
More Easy Homemade Seasoning Recipes
Taco meat seasoning is just the beginning! There are plenty of other homemade seasoning recipes to try:
Taco Seasoning Recipe
Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe (5 Minutes!)
Learn how to make homemade taco seasoning in 5 minutes! This taco seasoning recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and tastes better than store-bought.
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Stir all ingredients together. Store in an airtight container.
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How to use taco seasoning mix:
Brown the ground beef (or other meat) first. Then, add 2 tbsp (28 g) seasoning and 1/2 cup (120 mL) water per pound of meat. Simmer until the extra liquid evaporates or absorbs into the meat.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
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Related Easy Recipes
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/2 tbsp
- Recipe from The Easy Keto Cookbook.
- Recipe makes approximately 6 tbsp total. Use 2 tbsp per 1 lb meat, with no additional salt – more details in the post above. Serving size is for enough seasoning for 1/4 lb of meat, which would be 1/2 tbsp seasoning.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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94 Comments
Cara B.
0Just used this for lunch. WAS AWESOME! I swapped the cayenne for chipotle seasoning and it was incredible. I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to heat, lol. It was the same as the cayenne and did not change the nutritional information. Seriously loved this. Thanks!
Sandra
0Maya: Ever since I’ve learned to cook & beyond that, I’ve been hearing this “rule” about storing all red spices in the refrigerator. You won’t find this on any red spice containers, though. This is even said in some spice stores, so I have no idea where this originated from. I do store the red pepper & cayenne pepper spices in the refrigerator. They do keep their aroma in there. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Sandra W.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Sandra, I don’t follow this rule about red spices.
Linda Kern
0It was good but a little hot for my taste (and I didn’t use ANY cayenne pepper in it), so I think next time I may take the chili powder to 1.5 tablespoons. Otherwise, it tasted great!!!
Jim Lee
0This recipe is FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Lynn
0Will come back after I make it, to let you know , How it was, ,,,
Penny Bobincheck
0I don’t understand how to pin a recipe & how to get it back. Same is true with saving a recipe. Thank you Penny
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Penny, Pinning a recipe saves it on your Pinterest account. You will need a free Pinterest account to be able to save pins to refer back to for later use. If you would like to mark a favorite recipe on this website, log in to the Members Area. Once you are logged in you can return to browsing for recipes. Using the ‘Save’ button at the top of the page will keep your saved recipes in the member’s area for you to refer back to at any time. I hope this helps!
Ruth
0LOVE this recipe!
I use it over and over and over again. My boys, who are not Keto, adore Taco Tuesdays … made possible by this recipe.
Thank you for sharing it.
Ruth
Tonya
0Absolutely delish!!! I cut up all the bell peppers really small. My husband has a thing with them but I did leave the onions like the direction said. Then we eat the casserole with low carb tortillas. Needless to say we both loved it. Oh and your right the smoked paprika made a huge taste difference.
I did have a problem printing the recipe. I couldn’t find a print button but it would let me pin it to Pinterest or post it to FB.
Tonya
0I guest I should state what recipe I made. I made your Philly Cheesesteak Casserole. Definitely a 5 star.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Tonya, There is a ‘Print it’ button in the recipe card. So glad you enjoyed your meal ❤️
Jennifer
0Literally just made and used for tacos in the past hour…so good! Didn’t have onion powder but did have onion flakes and that didn’t (don’t think it did) deviate from the taste. Thanks for another keeper!
Holli
0Hi do you use dry ground oregano or dried oregano leaves? What works best? Thank you!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Holli, I used dried ground oregano, but feel free to use dried oregano leaves if you don’t mind the texture in your spice mix.
Lex
0I tried this recipe to make the seasoning for Wholesome Yum’s taco soup. I have to say that you don’t need all the preservatives, yeast extracts, MSG, sugar, HFCS or a truckload of salt to make a great taco seasoning. After trying this one, I have vowed I will never go back to that ancient Texas city brand ever again. It’s just too easy to make your own and store it in a spice shaker called, “Taco Seasoning”.
sheila haliotis
0Excellent!!
Andrea
0Can someone please tell me what in here gives it carbs?! Lol. I’m so confused! Is there no such recipe with zero carbs? Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Andrea, The nutrition for this recipe is located in the recipe card, under the measurements. This seasoning is 1 net carb per 1/2 tablespoon.
Joe
0Andrea – both garlic powder and onion powder have very small amounts of carbs in them.
Lynda Pedersen
0I make tacos fairly often and have always bought the premixed taco spice. I tried your recipe for the first time tonight and it is way better than the store bought stuff. I used about half the salt called for and it was perfect!
Jill Fuller
0You inspired me. I had all the ingredients and it was delish!!! Thank you!
carmenahanna@gmail.com
0I use this taco seasoning all the time! Thanks for the great recipe!
dana
0I would like sodium count in the nutrition information
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Dana, I’m sorry, I don’t track the sodium content of my recipes. If you are interested in knowing this information, feel free to enter the recipe in an online recipe calculator!
Sarah
0From what I understand of gluten, it is that anti-caking agents are made from gluten. And many spices have anti-caking agents in them. So it is important to either read the label or look up the brand ingredients to be sure. Otherwise you will have a gluten reaction without knowing why.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Sarah, Most commonly with seasonings, the problem is with cross-contamination. So the seasonings may not disclose that they contain wheat flour, but there may be trace amounts from the manufacturing process, or yes, anti-caking agents.
Deb Seeley
0Thanks for this. I use it regularly.
Shirley
0I just made this as I was craving soft tacos. This is some awesomeness. Thank you!
Cindy Wuer
0This is a fantastic recipe however, it was a little salty for me (and I do like my salt). I use Kosher salt so that was not the problem. Next time I will cut it back to 1/2 or 3/4 TB. If you use the full 2Tb seasoning per pound it will be pretty strong, so it you want a milder flavor don’t use the full 2T all at once. I will definitely be making this again. Better than what you can buy and KETO! BTW, if you want it to thicken like the store-bought packets add a pinch of xanthan gum.
Carri
0I made up my own taco seasoning / taco meat recipe years ago. I don’t care for the taste of chili powder, so I omit that. I use most of your other seasonings but I also fry up some onion and garlic. Add white pepper, 2 to 3 heaping tbsp tomato paste and 1 to 1 1/2 cups water. Mix it all in with the cooked hamburger and let it simmer down about 15 minutes so the sauce cooks down but not dry. I like it somewhat saucy but not too much. Love beating the system and not having to buy seasoning packets that usually contain MSG and other junk.
Pauline Ondrajka
0Best taco Seasoning ever, I add it to chili and soups as well! My daughter is now hooked on it too! I usually do 36 servings at a time. I have given this to my friends as gifts as well. I’ve been using this for a couple of years and thought I would come leave a review, as I am printing this to put in my book in the kitchen for most used and most delicious recipes! Thanks for sharing!!
Diane
0Wonderful flavor! Plus, I didn’t need to buy any special ingredients since I happened to have everything including the smoked paprika on hand (just bought that a few weeks ago when it was used in a Publix demo). I may never buy taco seasoning again. Thank you for doing all the experimentation for us, Maya!
Karla
0Omg!! I just made the taco seasoning, and then made tacos with it. I used the Mission low carb soft tortillas. This was amazing! I heartily recommend it!
Patti
0This is DELICIOUS!!!!! I went extra heavy on the Cayenne Pepper since we love spicy. It was very flavorful in our low carb Taco Skillet. Thank you!!!
Kim Hunt
0If you are using sea salt or iodized salt instead of kosher, it will taste saltier.
Mary C Ekroos
0thank you for this recipe! I plan to make it for many applications! Chili, Taco Meat! But I also make an Egg Fast Dish with hardboiled eggs with spices and Parmesan cheese, so I plan to make this & sprinkle on the egg halves before I put the Parmesan on them and crisp them up in a skillet! so glad to see this recipe! Thank you!
Charlie Gilliam
0I really like using Mexican oregano. It has a distinct flavor difference compared to Italian oregano.
Mike
0I’d just like to make sure that the recipe is correct where it asks for 1 TBSP of sea salt and it’s not 1 TSP. Also, if I’m understanding this correctly, I can use kosher salt instead of sea salt and be fine, just don’t use fine salt?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Mike, The amount listed is correct. Kosher salt will work fine. Alternatively, you can omit the salt completely and season the final dish to taste.
Tom
0This was great. Can I leave onion powder out. Having a party and some people are allergic
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Tom! Yes, feel free to leave it out.
Susan
0I absolutely LOVE your taco seasoning recipe!
Sue M
0I made this recipe and it is very tasty. I prefer low sodium, so I reduced the salt to 1/2 teaspoon. Perfection. It also saves me money by not having to buy low sodium taco seasoning. Thank you for the recipe.
Jessie Davis
0Thanks for this. I’m prediabetic by redospostional genetic gene. I saythisbcozI run and eat healthy anyways…but. Now… I count every carb and this so much better than a packet
Caroline Shaw
0I haven’t had taco seasoning before so looking forwards to giving it a try. Plan on making a Taco Pie using this spice mix. Silly question… what do you serve with it to make it a filling family meal for working men with big appetites? We are still feeling our feet with a Keto lifestyle. Thank you for any help and advice given x
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Caroline, Taco pie is a great idea! One of my other go-to’s is taco salad. You can also make tacos with jicama tortillas or coconut tortillas.
Diana
0I made a recipe for a taco bake tonight and needed a fast and easy recipe for taco seasoning. Found this one in my online recipe book. It is a winner! This is THE best taco seasoning I’ve ever made/used.
Thank you for sharing this!
Kim Parker
0Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!! This recipe is perfect, wonderful taste, husband approved and no junk ingredients. When I looked at store bought taco seasonings, I couldn’t believe how much “other” stuff was in it. Thank you so much for taking time to post this.
Chrystal Myers Patterson
0Did I miss the ratios? I don’t see how much to add of each ingredient.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Chrystal, Ingredient amounts don’t show up properly in Safari reading mode. If you turn that off you should see them.
Barsillae
0The BEST taco seasoning recipe I’ve found ANYWHERE. Keto or otherwise. 10/10 would recommened, tastes better than some of the package mixes.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much!! That really means a lot!
Eryn
0I don’t use sea salt – but I use kosher salt. Do you know if it would still be a tablespoon of salt with kosher? Or should I come off of that a bit? I know it’s different to cook with and different amounts.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Eryn, The same amount should be fine since they are similar size granules.
Heather Kuhn
0That probably depends on what brand of kosher salt that you’re using. There are two major brands, Morton and Diamond Crystal, and their crystals are sufficiently different enough to have a major impact on food.
Kathy
0Its pickle time :>) and I like Bread & Butter pickles, BUT what do I use in place of brown sugar when making the brine? thanks
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kathy, You can use a sugar-free sweetener – read about them in my sweetener guide.
Sonya
0I love this seasoning recipe. It works great for chili too!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Yes, I love this seasoning in chili too, Sonya! Thanks for stopping by!
Teresa Rantanen
0We love this seasoning mix so much. I make 60 servings at a time so I don’t have to make it every week. My son puts it on everything but breakfast. But I have adjusted it a little and I thought you might want to try. I keep a star anise pod in the jar. It contributes that little something nutmeg is usually used for and is the thing my kids miss when they eat someone else’s food.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Teresa! Thanks for stopping by!
Debi
0Hi Maya,
This recipe sounds great. Quick question I have never tried cumin and I was wondering if it was on the spicy side, because I can’t eat very spicy food. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to try this taco seasoning mix.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Debi! No, cumin is not spicy hot at all. It just adds flavor. You may want to omit the cayenne pepper if you don’t want spicy hot.
Chantelle
0It’s Cinco De Mayo so I decide to make my own healthy version of tacos using this taco mix, let me say absolutely amazing!
Keep the recipes coming. This was easy for someone who doesn’t cook very often. Can you provide guidance on how to prepare chicken tacos?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy you liked them, Chantelle! Thanks for stopping by!
Gina C
0Very good taco seasoning. I like the option of making my own seasoning mix, because of high blood pressure I can adjust the salt content. It will certainly become part of my spice rack.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Gina! I am so happy you liked the taco seasoning! Thanks for stopping by!
Jules Shepard
0This recipe fits every bill and you can’t go wrong with Julia! Will definitely try!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, Jules! Agree, she would know. 🙂
Jeanette Clayton
0Looking forward to putting this in all of my mince dishes
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Jeanette! Hope you love it!
Nicola
0Hi Maya,
Congratulations on your career change.
We’ve never eaten tacos before.
The quantity of chili is a bit spicy for my family. If I reduce the amount to 1 tbsp, which of the other ingredients would you recommend adding to make the same quantity?
Would you suggest onion powder over garlic powder, for example?
Many thanks, in advance.
Nicola
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Nicola! If you don’t want spicy, I’d actually skip the cayenne pepper which is more spicy than the chili powder. The reason is because the chili powder provides a big part of the flavor. So, you could try it as written but with no cayenne pepper – in that case everything else can just stay the same. If you still want to reduce chili powder to 1 tbsp, I’d probably replace that with an additional 1/2 tbsp cumin and 1/2 tbsp smoked paprika. Let me know how it goes if you try something different!
Susan
0Can you make this without cumin? My younger daughter is deathly allergic to peanuts and awhile back there was a cross contamination.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Susan, Yes, you can. The flavor would just be a little different. If you omit the cumin, the right amount of seasoning mix to use per pound of meat would be 1 3/4 tbsp, which is 1 tbsp + 2 1/4 tsp. Otherwise, you could replace the cumin with more smoked paprika, if you like the flavor of that.
SUsan
0Thanks, Maya. I really enjoy your recipes! Thanks for the tip… I’ll definitely make this!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I hope you like it, Susan!
Malcolm
0Maya, I need a little help with the directions on How to Use the mix.
How to use taco seasoning mix: Brown the ground beef (or other meat) first. Then, add 2 tbsp seasoning and 1/2 cup water per pound of meat. Simmer until the extra liquid evaporates or absorbs into the meat.
What do I add the 2 tbsp of mix to? Do I simmer the mix and water in with the meat in the skillet, or is the simmering in a separate pan and then stirred in with the meat after the water evaporates? I can see doing it either way—the point is to get it into the meat. Thanks and congratulations on leaving the corporate rat race.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Malcolm, Great question, thanks for asking! Add both the mix and water directly to the meat in the skillet. You don’t need a separate pan. And thank you, I’m really grateful to be able to do this!