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Home Collections 15 Minute Meals

Taco Seasoning

By Nagi Maehashi
81 Comments
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Published27 May '14 Updated1 Aug '25
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Recipe

Homemade taco seasoning is preservative free, doesn’t taste artificial, costs a fraction of buying store bought, and you probably have all the spices you need in your pantry. It tastes like the packet seasoning – minus the artificial flavour and not as salty. The bonus is that you can adjust the flavouring to your tastes as well – I like my Mexican hot so I up the chili!

RecipeTin Eats | Mexican Essentials | Homemade Taco Seasoning

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Taco Seasoning

Author: Nagi
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Total: 5 minutes mins
Spice Mix
Mexican
5 from 52 votes
Servings4
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  • 20
Homemade taco seasoning is so much healthier than store bought – it’s preservative free, less artificial tasting and is a fraction of the cost. This recipe makes enough taco seasoning for 1lbs/500g of meat. I also use this for Quesadilla Fillings.

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp cumin powder
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp chilli powder (adjust spiciness to taste)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
Prevent screen from sleeping

Instructions

  • Combine ingredients.
  • Store in an airtight container.
  • Makes 2.5 tablespoons. Combine with 1lbs/500g mince meat, 1/2 cup water, 1 diced onion and 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.

Recipe Notes:

1. If you are in the US, do not use what you know as Chili Powder. That is a spice blend, not pure ground chilies. If you can’t find pure ground chili, substitute with cayenne pepper. I like to make this Taco Seasoning with pure ground chili so I can control the flavour consistency – US Chili Powder is not available around the world and also even from brand to brand, the flavour differs. Using pure spice ingredients allows for better consistency.
Keywords: Taco Seasoning
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RecipeTin Eats | Mexican Essentials | Homemade Taco Seasoning

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81 Comments

  1. Hana Davison says

    March 24, 2026 at 5:50 pm

    5 stars
    Exceptional! Best taco mince I’ve ever made. It didn’t make it to a taco shell or a tortilla or even a bowl. I stood over the stove eating it out of the pan like God intended!

    Reply
  2. Jane Korner says

    February 28, 2026 at 2:15 pm

    5 stars
    Perfection! So much better than the store bought crap.

    Reply
  3. Jane Korner says

    February 28, 2026 at 2:14 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect, made exactly as written and so much better than the store bought crap. Nagi never fails!

    Reply
  4. Taylor Patrick says

    February 6, 2026 at 6:40 pm

    5 stars
    Tried this spice mix tonight and it’s a winner!

    Reply
  5. Leah Beatty says

    November 29, 2025 at 3:00 pm

    Hello! A question on quantities. How much of this would I use for 1kg ground beef?

    Reply
    • Lyndal says

      January 8, 2026 at 8:56 am

      5 stars
      This is great. So much better than the pre packaged mixes

      Reply
  6. Michelle says

    November 19, 2025 at 10:17 am

    5 stars
    Hi, just to point out an observation, this is not a criticism in any way but at the start of this recipe, you claim it is preservative free; this is not actually the case as salt is a preservative as well as a seasoning.
    Happy cooking 🤤

    Reply
  7. CSF says

    October 22, 2025 at 7:21 pm

    5 stars
    This is now our go-to recipe whenever we have tacos.
    Cheaper, healthier and tastier than a packet mix.

    Reply
  8. Rachel Kennedy says

    September 20, 2025 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    Just made a huge batch! It’s super tasty and way healthier than anything you’d find in stores.

    Reply
  9. Stacey says

    August 24, 2025 at 8:02 pm

    5 stars
    Hands down the best taco seasoning EVER! Thanks again Nagi for a wicked recipe x

    Reply
  10. Janine Wesley Bristowe says

    July 20, 2025 at 6:38 am

    5 stars
    Way better than store brought. Very tasty. 🤤

    Reply
  11. Sarah says

    July 11, 2025 at 7:40 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious

    Reply
  12. James says

    June 20, 2025 at 4:12 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you Nagisan, I’ve found this to be very useful.

    Reply
  13. Kath says

    April 13, 2025 at 6:09 pm

    5 stars
    Easy and delicious. Will be a very versatile spice mix. Not just for tacos but also can see it being used in crumb and batter mixes. Nagi is the bomb – simple and delicious recipes.

    Reply
  14. Kath Kelly says

    April 13, 2025 at 6:08 pm

    5 stars
    Easy and delicious. Will be a very versatile spice mix. Not just for tacos but also can see it being used in crumb and batter mixes. Nagi is the bomb – simple and delicious recipes.

    Reply
  15. Evelin says

    March 29, 2025 at 2:59 am

    I made this but cannot use it yet… 🙁 I have an unripe avocado! I will have to wait until it is ready for the guacamole! Will post the result soon… I also reduced the paprika by half as I am not a real big fan.

    Reply
  16. Kim says

    March 12, 2025 at 8:09 pm

    5 stars
    This was absolutely delicious, absolutely transformed the mince (even thought I was using a plant based mince). So simple, easy to make and incredible taste

    Reply
  17. Elisabete says

    February 18, 2025 at 5:27 pm

    5 stars
    Made this today and we are all very happy with it! No need to use store bought! Thank you!

    Reply
  18. Sharon says

    February 13, 2025 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    Loved the spice mix. Sautéed onion and garlic first then added lean mince, then seasoning then green pepper, El Paso refried beans and tomato purée and the water. Served with rice and nacho corn chips and sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. Yum!

    Reply
  19. Tracy Freeman says

    January 24, 2025 at 6:36 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent seasoning mix without the nasties

    Reply
  20. Sarah says

    December 28, 2024 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    Tastes divine! I made substituting garlic and onion powder with All Purpose seasoning, and chilli for chilli flakes. Cooked with Quorn for a taco bowl. Will never buy store packets again! Thank you ☺️

    Reply
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