This gluten-free Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe is the perfect balance of flavors. Control what goes into your food with this easy and mild seasoning.
A SIMPLE SEASONING BLEND
Once you start making your own taco seasoning, you'll see how easy it is to throw together and adjust the taste to your preferences!
CAN I MAKE THIS SEASONING MILD OR SPICIER?
You control how spicy or how mild you want this. My family prefers mild. Just use more or less chili powder depending on how spicy you want it. That is the benefit of making it yourself! No artificial additives or preservatives either. Also, my son loves to help make it and use it in our favorite Doritos Taco Salad or Taco Mac & Cheese.
HOW DO YOU STORE HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING?
It's really important to put your homemade taco seasoning in a zip-top bag or a lidded container. It will keep your spices as fresh as possible for a longer period of time.
HOW LONG IS HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING GOOD FOR?
Generally, the spices will last for 6 months. Check the expiration date on the bottles of spices you are using to make this taco seasoning mix. You'd be surprised how many of us are working with old spices! The fresher the spice, the longer this seasoning will last! Also, if you really love the idea of making your own seasoning mixes, you must try my Homemade Ranch Seasoning and
Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- chili powder
- onion powder
- ground cumin
- garlic powder
- smoked paprika
- kosher (or sea) salt
- black pepper
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING:
Measure all of the ingredients into a lidded jar (I love my mason jars!) Shake until all ingredients are combined.
It's a good idea to put a sticker or label on the jar that identifies the seasoning but also how to use it. So for one pound of meat, you would use 3 Tablespoons of seasoning plus about ⅔ cup of water.
WANT SOME RECIPES YOU CAN TEST OUT YOUR HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING IN? TRY THESE!
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- ½ cup chili powder
- ¼ cup onion powder
- 2 Tablespoons ground cumin
- 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 Tablespoons kosher salt or sea salt
- 1 Tablespoon black pepper
Instructions
- Measure all of the ingredients into a lidded jar.
- Shake until all ingredients are combined.
Notes
- This recipe makes about one cup of seasoning.
- Before each use, give it a good shake.
- 3 Tablespoons of seasoning = 1 packet
- For one pound of taco meat, use 3 Tablespoons of seasoning plus about ⅔ cup of water.
Nutrition
Here’s a free printable to attach to your jar. Just click HERE or on the photo below to print (double-sided).
Originally published: June 2015
Updated and republished: May 2019
Dundee
Thanks it was good !!!
NanaDiana
I love this taco seasoning recipe! I appreciate that it's mild but flavorful! Thank you!
Wendy Watson
I also make my own taco seasoning. I started because I realized that I had a cupboard full of seasonings yet I was still buying those little packets from the store and I thought, "I'll bet I've got all of these ingredients at home!" So the crazy thing was, the first time I made the seasoning from scratch, I noticed one VERY distinct difference: my meat didn't turn orange! THAT got my attention! What had I been stirring into my meat that was making it change color like that? Never mind. My taco meat is now a nice browned color w/ bits of (re-hydrated) onion in it and I can name every ingredient. 🙂
Kimberlee
Hello! I love this recipe I have made it before. I do have one question, though. How much does it make altogether? Because I am having a taco bar at my daughters graduation party and I need to know how much of this to make.
Thank you
Melissa Caknupp
How long can you keep this taco seasoning mix?
Michelle
I haven't tried this but am anxious to. I like that it doesn't have MSG in it. I get mixed reviews on MSG & if it is gluten-free and/or if it causes a reaction. As I'm reading your blog I'm pushing on the side of my face trying to eat cause my Sjogren's is acting up. I feel for you. And as you've probably learned, since this is an older post, there are LOTS of things that have gluten. I don't even try anything that has natural flavorings unless it specifies what it is or if it's gluten-free. Hope you're doing well.
Tabitha
Hi there! Did you use to have a different taco seasoning recipe? I have part of on screen shot and it shows a jar with a handwritten label that says 3 TBSP seasoning and 1/3 c H2O. I made that recipe and my family loved! I think it was a little different ratios that what’s is in this recipe. I made this recipe last night and it’s seemed spicier so I was just confused! The screen shot I took shows this is where I got the original recipe from!
Thanks!!