Forget buying store bought seasoning packets filled with unnecessary ingredients and create your own DIY homemade mild taco seasoning mix. This taco seasoning mix recipe couldn’t get any easier and you can make it at a fraction of the cost of those store-bought packets of taco mix.
It’s not just great for making tacos but works as a delicious seasoning you can use on your favorite meat, seafood, soups, salads, vegetables, rice, beans and more.
Homemade Mild Taco Seasoning Recipe
Making your own taco mix is a great way to use seasonings that you already have on hand as well as to save some money.
It’s also nice to be able to quickly whip up some taco seasoning for those time when you don’t have a store-bought taco mix and just don’t feel like making a trip to the grocery store for this one missing ingredient. It’s easier than you think. And you won’t have to miss out on tacos on Taco Tuesday or another other taco night when you can quickly make your own seasoning mix.
Don’t be worried about some of the ingredients. You can easily increase the amounts of other ingredients in place of the missing ones. Check out the list of substitutions. The flavor will basically be close enough to the original recipe that the dish you use it in will still taste great.
What is this homemade mild taco seasoning mix made of?
- Chili Powder – chili powder is the base of this taco seasoning mix. Chili powder is actually a blend of spices that includes powdered chili. For those looking for delicious flavor but not a lot of heat try using McCormick brand chili powder. It’s available in most grocery stores and isn’t very spicy. There are many other chili brands out there so check your local grocery stores to see what is available for you.
- Ground Cumin and Ground Coriander – to me this is what gives tacos their distinct flavor along with the chili powder. Don’t have ground coriander and you don’t want to purchase this spice? Then simply increase the ground cumin by a teaspoon.
- Garlic Powder or Granulated Garlic – use either garlic powder or granulated garlic for this recipe. Both can be used. Do not use garlic salt. It doesn’t have enough garlic flavor and the added salt will make this seasoning mix too salty for many people.
- Smoked Paprika – if you don’t have smoked paprika you can also use regular paprika.
- Salt – use fine salt, sea salt or your favorite type of salt.
- Black Pepper and White Pepper – both types of peppers are used in this recipe. White pepper is a bit milder than black pepper. If you don’t have any on hand don’t worry. Just increase the amount of black pepper to 1 1/2 teaspoons.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – this adds a bit of heat to your tacos. Not much heat. Sort of a hint of heat. Leave it out if you prefer a milder seasoning. Don’t have red pepper flakes? You can use a pinch of cayenne pepper in its place.
How to make taco seasoning mix:
To make this taco seasoning simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Place in a sealed jar or container and use within 6 months for best flavor.
How to store this taco seasoning mix:
Store your extra taco seasoning mix in a covered jar, small mason jar or airtight container. I like to use small jelly jars or canning jars told hold my seasoning mixes instead of plastic containers or storage bags. These types of jars seem to keep the seasoning mix fresher then a storage bag. Plus it’s easier to stack them in my spice cabinet.
A good rule of thumb is to try to store your homemade taco seasoning mix away from the heat of the stove and in a dry place. This also will help to extend the shelf life of DIY taco seasoning.
How do I make this less spicy?
If you want to cut back on any heat in this seasoning mix then leave out the crushed red pepper flakes. You can also make sure to use a mild chili powder. The heat level varies from brand to brand with some being much spicier than others.
If you still find the taco seasoning too spicy in your recipe then try some of these tricks to cut the heat. They will change the pH level of the recipe and this helps to make the dish have less heat. What you add in will depend upon the recipe and the flavors already in the dish:
- Add a squeeze of lime or lemon juice.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar.
- Add several tablespoons of tomato sauce.
- Add several tablespoons of pineapple juice or even crushed pineapple.
How much taco seasoning for a pound of meat?
You can easily use this taco seasoning to flavor just about any type of ground meat. You can also sprinkle it over diced, sliced or shredded meat such as steak or chicken. How much you ultimately use will depend on your personal preferences. But a starting guide it to add about 2 tablespoons of seasoning per pound of meat. From there you can add more to suit your own tastes.
For milder flavored meats, such as ground chicken, turkey or pork you might be able to use a little less per pound. For ground beef or diced/sliced steak you might want to use a bit more.
You can even use this seasoning to flavor fish. Sprinkle the seasoning over the fish filet and then cook. If you have sliced or diced the fish simply sprinkle it over the pieces, mix, cook and make some delicious fish tacos!
What kinds of meat can I use this taco seasoning in?
Just about any type of meat! We love mixing it into a pound of ground beef, turkey, beef and pork. I’ve used in to flavor sliced steak and chicken for fajitas. Let’s not forget about fish for fish tacos.
You can even use it to flavor plant based meat replacements such as Beyond Meat or Gardein beef crumbles.
Do you season the meat before or after draining?
I prefer to drain any excess fat off of the cooked meat before adding the seasoning. Adding the seasoning while it cooks down means I’m draining off the seasoning with the fat. I want to keep all the seasoning flavor on the meat so I wait until after I’ve drained off the fat.
Do you need to add water to the taco seasoning?
You don’t have to add water but I find that my family likes their taco meat to be a bit saucy. Plus adding in a bit of water helps the seasoning to coat all the cooked crumbles and spreads the flavor around to all of the meat.
Once I have cooked and drained off the excess fat I add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of water to the pan. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over the meat and mix in well. Simmer the meat until some of the water has evaporated.
If you are using the seasoning to flavor soup or a casserole just add it to the recipe when you add any other seasonings.
Recipes to make with this easy homemade seasoning mix:
Now that you’ve made your homemade taco seasoning try using it in some of these soon to be favorite recipes:
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken – make this shredded chicken and add taco seasoning blend to it. Use it to make tacos, fajitas, enchiladas or taco bowls.
You can also use this mix to flavor your favorite Mexican rice, add a bit to homemade or store bought refried beans or black beans, as well as mix it into your taco soup or enchilada casseroles.
Looking for other homemade seasoning recipes? Check these out:
Copycat McCormick Spaghetti Seasoning Mix
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Taco Seasoning
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin ground
- 1 teaspoon coriander ground
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
- To make this taco seasoning simply combine all the ingredients. Place in a sealed jar or container and use within 6 months for best flavor.
Nutrition
You might also enjoy some of these recipes for dessert:
Mexican Horchata – delicious vanilla flavored drink to enjoy with your tacos
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