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    Home » Cooking basics

    Homemade Taco Seasoning (mild & kid-friendly)

    February 13, 2021 by Agnieszka 14 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Homemade Taco Seasoning is a mild, kid-friendly, easy and flavorful spice blend that comes together in less than 5 minutes. It's a great, clean spice mix that can be used in tacos, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas and other Mexican inspired recipes - the possibilities are endless.

    a close up of taco seasoning spices in a white bowl on black background with a small spice jar on top

    Taco Tuesday is everyone's favorite dinner at our house. We love all kinds of tacos, fajitas, burritos and enchiladas - basically anything you wrap into a tortilla. To keep things interesting, we rotate between different proteins but whether we use ground meat, shredded chicken, fish, shrimp or vegetarian options, such as cauliflower or sweet potatoes, a good homemade taco spice blend is the foundation of great taco flavor. 

    Taco seasoning packets are full of starch and mystery ingredients and to be honest, I usually don't like the taste of it. Making your own seasoning is not only healthier, but also fast, cheap and more flavorful. 

    For this recipe, I am using staple spices that most of us have on hand. The foundation of this blend is good chili powder and paprika. I love the bright red color of this blend and the taste cannot be beat by any store bought taco spice packet.

    MILD & KID-FRIENDLY TACO SEASONING INGREDIENTS

    8 spoons with taco seasoning spices on black slate

    Chili powder: use good quality chili powder, preferably fresh and organic. A good indication of chili powder's quality is color - brighter red usually means it is fresh and tastes great.

    Paprika: I like using Hungarian paprika such as this one  because it is just the best but any paprika will work. If you like smoky flavor, you can also use smoked paprika or swap one tablespoon of regular paprika for smoked. 

    Cumin: cumin is a staple Mexican flavor with a wonderful earthy flavor.

    Oregano: though typically associated with Italian and Greek cuisine, oregano is also widely used in Mexican dishes and most taco and chili blends contain dried oregano.

    Garlic & Onion Powder: make sure to use powdered garlic and onion, NOT the coarser dried garlic or onion, such as garlic or onion flakes. 

    Salt: fine salt will work best for this seasoning mix as its powdery texture will blend well with the rest of the spices

    Cayenne: the amount of cayenne pepper will depend on your preferences. Since I have a toddler and young kids, I only use about ¼ teaspoon because the kids are not fond of spicy foods. However, feel free to increase the amount to ½ teaspoon or more if you're into heat in your Mexican dishes. 

    HOW TO MAKE DIY TACO SEASONING

    All you need to do is place all dry spices into a bowl, give it a stir and transfer to an airtight container or a small jar. This recipe yields a little less than ½ cup of seasoning. If you'd like to make a bigger batch, simply double or triple the recipe. 

    HOW TO USE THIS SPICE MIX VS. STORE BOUGHT PACKET

    Since the store bought packets usually contain a lot of starch that thicken the ground meat mixture and make it somewhat saucy, you will want to use about half of the amount of homemade seasoning. A typical taco packet contains 2 tablespoons of spice, so for 1 lb of ground meat, start with 1 tablespoon of the DIY seasoning. For shredded chicken, fish, shrimp and veggie "proteins" such as cauliflower or sweet potatoes, I use the mix as it. Just toss with the protein and cook it in your favorite way. For ground meat or plant-based equivalent, I like it to be a little more saucy so I recommend adding a splash of water and 2 tablespoons or so of tomato sauce or puree. If you like more intense flavors, feel free to increase the amount of seasoning. 

    a closeup of taco seasoning 8 spices in a white bowl, unmixed

    WHY MAKE YOUR OWN MILD TACO SEASONING

    Most store bought taco or fajitas seasoning has a myriad of not-so-great ingredients. If you follow a clean diet, it's almost always better to make your own version.

    Top reasons why homemade is better:

    • It is cheaper! Those store bought taco packets are not expensive but they are enough to make one batch of taco protein. If you make tacos a lot, it all adds up!  
    • No Preservatives or Iffy Ingredients. Since you are only using dried spices, you know exactly what's going into your seasoning. 
    • It Will Save You Time. As long as you have all 8 ingredients on hand, it will only take a couple minutes to make. No need to get in the car to buy a packet because you just ran out. 
    • It's Food Allergies Friendly. If you, a family member or a guest has any food allergies or sensitivities, the taco packets can be a hazard. Homemade taco seasoning will give you peace of mind because you know what's in it. Just be mindful to check the label on your chili spice because it's a blend and ingredients may vary. 

    MY FAVORITE RECIPES USING THIS TACO SEASONING

    • Blackened Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
    • Shrimp Quinoa Fajita Bowls
    • Loaded Mini Pepper Nachos (low-carb)

    No time to make it now? Pin this recipe for later!

    8 spoons with dry spices and a caption "How to make homemade taco seasoning"

    Print
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    Kid-Friendly Taco Seasoning


    ★★★★★

    5 from 13 reviews

    • Author: Agnieszka
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Homemade Mild Taco Seasoning is an easy and flavorful spice blend that comes together in less than 5 minutes. It's a great, clean spice mix that can be used in tacos, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas and other Mexican inspired recipes - the possibilities are endless.


    Ingredients

    Scale

    2 tbsp paprika
    2 tbsp chili powder
    2 tsp cumin
    1 tsp salt
    1 tsp garlic powder
    1 tsp onion powder
    1 tsp oregano
    ¼ tsp cayenne


    Instructions

    1. Place all 8 ingredients in a small bowl and stir well.
    2. Transfer to an airtight container or spice jar and store in a cool dark place for up to a year.

     

    Notes

    The amount of cayenne pepper will depend on your preferences. Since I have a toddler and young kids, I only use about ¼ teaspoon because the kids are not fond of spicy foods. However, feel free to increase the amount to ½ teaspoon or more if you're into heat in your Mexican dishes.

    Use good quality chili powder, preferably fresh and organic. A good indication of chili powder's quality is color - brighter red usually means it is fresh and tastes great.

    Homemade taco seasoning's flavor is more intense than the store bought kind so use less than you typically would. A store bought taco packet contains 2 tablespoons of spices, so for 1 lb of ground meat, start with 1 tablespoon of the DIY seasoning.

    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Category: kitchen basics
    • Cuisine: Mexican

    Keywords: taco seasoning, DIY taco seasoning, homemade taco seasoning, kid-friendly taco seasoning

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @whollytasteful — I can't wait to see what you've made!

    « Loaded Potato Cauliflower Soup (Instant Pot & Stovetop)
    Shrimp Fajita Quinoa Bowl »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cara

      April 26, 2021 at 4:14 pm

      I finished my last pack of old el paso seasoning this weekend. Never going back!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Marta

      April 28, 2021 at 4:17 pm

      This spice mix is just right for me, not too hot

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Jean

      October 04, 2021 at 12:11 am

      way cheaper than store-bought and this is tasty too, add great flavors to our tacos

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Andrea White

      October 04, 2021 at 12:16 am

      This seasoning is perfect and will save me so much money! Thanks for such a great and easy recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Agnieszka

        October 04, 2021 at 10:22 pm

        You are welcome, Andrea!

        Reply
    5. Sue

      October 04, 2021 at 8:38 am

      Perfect, II am always running out of taco seasoning and now I can make my own!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Kayla DiMaggio

      October 04, 2021 at 9:30 am

      Yes! I love that this is kid friendly! It was so delicious and not too spicy!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Amanda Dixon

      October 04, 2021 at 7:51 pm

      Seasoning is so much better homemade! It's super easy and flavorful.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Ashley

      October 04, 2021 at 10:03 pm

      Love knowing exactly what's in my seasoning and I can control the sodium!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Natalie

      October 05, 2021 at 4:28 am

      Perfect mix. I made a whole jar.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Nart at Cooking with Nart

      October 05, 2021 at 5:26 am

      So good!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/

      October 05, 2021 at 1:05 pm

      It is the perfect way to introduce kids to spicy foods!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Pam Greer

      October 05, 2021 at 1:44 pm

      Great for when my grandkids visit!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Linda

      October 05, 2021 at 11:40 pm

      Love this taco seasoning and now I can enjoy more taco nights at home

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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