Authentic Taco Seasoning Recipe - 730 Sage Street (2024)

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4.80 from 5 votes

This simple, authentic taco seasoningis fantastic on ground beef, flank steak, veggies, and even soup! It only takes about 5 minutes to make, and you only need a combination of common ingredients you already have in your spice cabinet. Making delicious meals jam-packed with flavor has never been easier.

Authentic Taco Seasoning Recipe - 730 Sage Street (1)

This authentic spice mix is perfect fortaco soupand otherMexican recipes. And if I had it my way, every day would be Taco Tuesday. This easy taco casserole is a fantastic way to combine this taco seasoning in a quick and easy family meal.

Contents
  • 🧂Why this taco seasoning?
  • 🍽What you need
  • 🔪How to make Authentic Taco Seasoning
  • 🥗Combine this with
  • 🥫 How to store
  • 🍳More Seasoning Recipes to Try!
  • 👪Serving Size
  • 📋 Recipe
  • ⭐What do you think?
  • 💬 Comments

🧂Why this taco seasoning?

I know this resonates with a lot of people out there. Cause seriously, what's there not to like about homemade tacos? They don't require many ingredients or spices, are easy to make, and kids love them. Most likely, you'll have the spices you need in your pantry. And if not, you can get them from a local corner store.

My authentic taco seasoning is super easy to make, rich in flavor, and insanely delicious. Plus, you can customize it by making simple swaps to match your preferences.

We all know the secret behind delicious tacos is the taco seasoning mix. I know it can be used in many other ways and not just taco meat, fajitas, and Mexican dips. I especially season my veggies and black beans with some homemade taco spice blend for that extra punch. It's also fantastic as a meat rub for chicken, pork, fish, and all cuts of beef. Ever tried it on soup? Oh, so good!

Forget using a commercially sold taco seasoning packet full of sodium, fillers, and worse. I've been making my seasoning for years. And once you start, trust me, there's no going back to the store-bought stuff. It's just that homemade taco seasonings are cheaper and tastier with no added preservatives.

🍽What you need

As mentioned earlier, most of the taco seasoning ingredients are pantry staples. So most likely, you won't have to make that trip to the grocery store or supermarket.

Equipment

  • mason jar or small container
  • measuring spoons

Ingredients

Authentic Taco Seasoning Recipe - 730 Sage Street (2)
  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 6 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 4 teaspoons sea salt
  • 4 teaspoons black pepper

🔪How to make Authentic Taco Seasoning

This authentic taco seasoning mix is one of the easiest things you'll ever make. You'll forget all about those little taco packets from the store.

  • Add all the ingredients in a jar or small container. Shake well until well combined.
  • That's it; your taco seasoning is ready for use.

Quick tips

When it comes to homemade seasonings, it's all about balance, as you don't want to end up with a mix that is off balance.

Keep in mind, the art of balancing is not all about ratios but flavors as well. That's why I feel this is an authentic taco seasoning recipe.

  • You can get as creative as you'd like. If you want a little more heat, add more red pepper flakes. Or swap with cayenne pepper if you wish. But if you like your taco seasoning mild, leave this out.
  • Sweet or smoked paprika works just fine. I love the delicious, subtle smoky flavor smoked paprika adds to the taco mix.
  • When it comes to seasoning taco meat, use the same amount of homemade mix as directed in the taco seasoning packet. So this means 2 tablespoons are enough to flavor 1 pound of ground beef.
  • Feel free to make a big batch if you and your family like spicy dishes. I love this homemade spice mix, so I usually triple the recipe. Besides, I bet nobody wants to be measuring out spices every time the mood for tacos, enchiladas, and other tasty meals.
  • If you don't have dried oregano on hand, dried cilantro or coriander should do the trick.
  • I used the American chili powder, which is a blend of chili and other spices and herbs. Some blends contain salt, while others are salt-free. So if there's salt in your chili powder, cut back on salt in the taco mix and keep the feisty and bold chili flavor profile. It would help if you also kept this in mind when using chili powder for seasoning other meals.

🥗Combine this with

Besides ground beef and chicken, this authentic taco seasoning can add great flavor to so many easy recipes. It's simply delicious in casseroles, soups, veggies, as a rub, and pretty much any meal that requires a flavor boost.

Anything crispy and roasted with a dab of taco seasoning on top is pure bliss. You should try it!

🥫 How to store

Making a big batch of taco seasoning makes perfect sense cause you can cook it in just about any meal. Just store it in an airtight mason jar and keep it in a cool, dry place.

Authentic Taco Seasoning Recipe - 730 Sage Street (3)

I typically use airtight spice jars with rubber gasket and hinged lid. And for general storage I'm in love with Good Grips pop containers.

Your recipes don't have to be bland, boring, or blah! Spice them up with this homemade taco seasoning. Ditch the store-bought taco seasoning packets full of carbs, sugar, and other fillers, and make your taco at home.

🍳More Seasoning Recipes to Try!

If your looking for seasoning recipe ideas for your next dish, try one of these fantastic recipes.

Check my collection of easy sides for tacos to make in your next taco tuesday gathering!

👪Serving Size

You'll end up with just over 10 tablespoons of the best authentic taco seasoning. The average recipe calls for 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning for an entire meal.

📋 Recipe

Authentic Taco Seasoning Recipe - 730 Sage Street (8)

Authentic Taco Seasoning

This simple, authentic taco seasoningis fantastic on ground beef, chicken, flank steak, veggies, and even soup! It only takes about 5 minutes to make and tastes amazing.

4.80 from 5 votes

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Course: Seasonings

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 tablespoon

Calories: 19kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 6 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 4 teaspoons sea salt
  • 4 teaspoons black pepper

Instructions

  • In a jar or small container add all the ingredients together and stir or shake until combined.

  • Season to taste for your dish.

Notes

To make beef taco mix I use 1 lb of ground beef. I brown the beef with 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning, drain the grease, then add another tablespoon of taco seasoning. Then I simmer with ½ - 1 cup of water until most of the water has absorbed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 19kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 989mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1228IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg

⭐What do you think?

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to pin and share a try on Pinterest. We love seeing what you come up with. Cheers, friends!

Authentic Taco Seasoning Recipe - 730 Sage Street (2024)

FAQs

What brand of taco seasoning is authentic? ›

For more than 80 years, Old El Paso has been bringing families and communities together to celebrate old and new traditions around delicious, Mexican-inspired flavors. We believe that any night can be a taco night, and we're here to help make it a little easier and a lot more delicious.

What's the difference between Mexican seasoning and taco seasoning? ›

Ultimately, the difference between these two comes down to the composition of spices. Taco seasoning is usually milder than Mexican seasoning. Mexican seasoning contains ancho powder and chipotle chile pepper, both of which give it a little more of a kick.

Do you brown meat before adding taco seasoning? ›

To use the seasoning mix, brown 1lb ground meat then add 2 – 2-1/2 Tablespoons seasoning with 1/3 cup broth or water, then simmer until the liquid has thickened and reduced, 1-2 minutes.

What is the natural flavor in McCormick taco seasoning? ›

McCormick Taco Seasoning is crafted with a premium blend of zesty herbs and spices including chili pepper, paprika, oregano and garlic. Blended especially for chefs, McCormick Taco Seasoning gives chefs an all-in-one, ready-to-use mix to deliver intense, concentrated flavor to Mexican-inspired dishes and beyond.

What is the difference between McCormick taco seasoning mild and original? ›

Our Original Taco Seasoning Mix is spicier than our Mild Taco Seasoning Mix.

What are authentic Mexican seasonings? ›

With garlic and onions as the savory cornerstone, the most common Mexican spices and herbs are coriander, allspice, cloves, thyme, Mexican oregano, Mexican cinnamon (ceylon), cumin and cacao which showcase the breadth of Mexican food.

What is the difference between authentic Mexican taco and American taco? ›

American tacos use flour tortillas or crispy, hard-shelled corn tortillas. You'll find that authentic Mexican tacos use soft corn tortillas as the wrapper. Next comes the toppings. Tex-Mex tacos are filled with shredded cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes and sour cream.

What is a famous Mexican seasoning? ›

Tajin (pronounced "ta heen") is a well-known Mexican seasoning made with a combination of chili powders, lime and sea salt with a few other ingredients.

Why do you put water in with taco seasoning? ›

Water is added to taco meat when you use a packaged seasoning packet. Those seasoning packets contain cornstarch, which helps to create a viscous sauce when water is added to the meat. The sauce helps carry more flavor with every bite.

Why is my taco meat bland? ›

The number one reason why people end up with bland tacos is because the meat wasn't seasoned properly. Luckily, that isn't an issue with this dish. However, if you find that your tacos aren't spicy enough for your liking, feel free to adjust the seasoning as needed or add a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce.

Why do you add water to tacos? ›

Turns out it's essential for giving the proper consistency to the taco meat because those seasoning mixes contain cornstarch, which requires water and heat to create a sauce. What you're doing when you add water is helping the cornstarch create a smooth sauce flavored with the spices.

What's in Lawry's taco seasoning? ›

Ingredients. Spices (Including Paprika, Cumin, Oregano, Chili Pepper), Onion, Salt, Lactose (Milk), Sugar, Garlic, Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Cocoa Powder Processed with Alkali and Natural Flavor.

Does McCormick Taco Seasoning have cumin in it? ›

Tacos are tortillas curled into shell shape and fried. It is filled with ground meat sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and topped with cheese. McCormick Taco Seasoning Mix is a special blend of Herbs & Spices with prominent cumin flavor & aroma, intended to impart a unique flavor to meat dishes.

What is the difference between original and premium McCormick Taco Seasoning? ›

The major difference between McCormick's 'Original' and their 'Premium' Taco Seasoning is that Premium also contains Smoked Paprika, Dehydrated Red and Green Bell Peppers, some Cocoa Powder and Black Pepper.

What is the difference between McCormick Original taco seasoning and McCormick Premium taco seasoning? ›

The major difference between McCormick's 'Original' and their 'Premium' Taco Seasoning is that Premium also contains Smoked Paprika, Dehydrated Red and Green Bell Peppers, some Cocoa Powder and Black Pepper.

Who makes Old El Paso taco seasoning? ›

Old El Paso is a brand of Tex-Mex-style foods from American food producer General Mills. These include dinner kits, tacos and tortillas, taco seasoning, sauces, condiments, rice, and refried beans. Pet, Inc. Old El Paso products are marketed across the globe.

Does taco Bell use high quality ingredients? ›

We Use High Quality, Sustainable Ingredients.

For us, it's not enough to offer affordable, craveable, innovative choices. It also has to be food you feel good about, made with ingredients you can understand. Over the years, we've made significant improvements to our food to offer you just that.

Is there such a thing as an authentic taco? ›

In Mexico, tacos don't have lettuce on them. Or tomatoes, Or cheese. Authentic tacos are filled with high-quality marinated meats (or vegetables), & are delicious as they are. They don't need extra trimmings that you find on less traditional tacos.

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