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Put away any spices you bought, we don’t need them anymore! make your own taco seasoning at home, this tastes just as good *if not better* than the store-bought kind. All you need is a few handfuls of Mexican seasonings, some salt, and yellow cornmeal. Perfect for Taco Tuesday, Crockpot Chicken Taco Meat, or Taco Rice!
The best copycat taco seasoning
Do you make tacos on Tuesdays? We certainly do and boy are we digging our way through tons of taco seasoning! But what happens when we go out? Why, I make mine myself of course!! I’ll admit that I try to keep at least a taco seasoning packet or two in my pantry for when I run out of homemade ones or don’t have all the ingredients on hand to make it. It’s definitely a lifesaver in a pinch, and there’s definitely no judgment here, but once you’ve made this homemade version, you really won’t want to go back to the store-bought ones. A quick look at the ingredients for pre-made taco seasoning packets can give you an idea of how to make your own. The recipe I’m sharing today is my favorite spice combo and I hope you love it as much as I do!
How to make taco seasoning
I think you will recognize all of these ingredients and most likely you already have jars in your spice cabinet waiting to be put to good use. All of these are common condiments…even smoked paprika is easy to find these days.
For a full ingredient list and measurements, see the printable recipe card below.
Combine ingredients + stir
That hardly needs to be said, but combine all ingredients together in a small bowl. Your homemade taco seasoning can be used in any recipe that you would use taco seasoning in!
How to use homemade taco seasoning
One recipe of this taco seasoning makes 1 pound of ground beef. Simply brown your ground beef, sprinkle in the spices and stir. Add 3/4 cup cold water and simmer until ready to serve.
If you’re buying lean ground beef, you don’t need to drain the fat, but if you have a fattyr type of beef, feel free to drain it before adding the seasoning and water. Also, your finished taco meat may appear a little saltier because you’ll have less meat left over after browning and draining the meat if you use a higher fat beef.
Can I make a large batch of this?
Yes, I would definitely recommend making a triple or quadruple batch (or even bigger!) of this recipe. You just have to remember that 3 1/2 tablespoons of this taco seasoning is the amount you sprinkle into your meat to really flavor it. I would recommend making a batch first to see how you like it and then going from there.
How to store taco seasoning
As with any spice or dried herb, these should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard or drawer. It will last for months as long as it is sealed well.
Do you love tacos? Try these delicious side dishes:
I would appreciate if you try this and give it a star rating! Make sure you save/tag/print/pin/share this recipe. I love it and think you will too.
Have a great day, friends! Happy taco making!
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Make your own taco seasoning at home that tastes just as *if not better* than anything you can buy at the store. Hello Taco Tuesday!
Remarks
One recipe yields 3 1/2 tablespoons of seasoning, enough for 1 pound of your choice of taco meat.
nutrition
Calories: 23kcal | Carbohydrates: 5G | Protein: 1G | Fat: 1G | Saturated Fatty Acids: 1G | Sodium: 600mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1G | Sugar: 1G | Vitamin A: 420ie | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg