In our quest to get healthy, I’ve been cooking and baking much more at home. It’s such a joy to bless my family with healthy food. I think I might get addicted to healthful cooking! 
As y’all know, we love Mexican food. I frequently purchased Old El Paso taco seasoning mix because of it’s convenience and gluten-free benefits. After more carefully reading the ingredients {MSG, soybean oil and two preserving chemicals that I can’t pronounce}, I knew I could do better. So, I decided to experiment with my own homemade taco seasoning recipe.
Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning
- 1 t. garlic powder
- 1 t. onion powder
- 1 t. sea salt
- 1 t. cumin
- 1 t. paprika
- 1 t. chili powder
I use this amount of taco seasoning per pound of meat. Typically when I brown my ground beef, I add fresh onion and garlic to cook with it. Fresh onion and garlic have wonderful healing properties too!
Quick Tip: You can make this taco seasoning in bulk and store it in the freezer.
What is your favorite spice to cook with?
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Ironically, my husband was just asking me about this tonight (we had tacos). I can’t wait to try this out!!
I’ve always made my own… you should try adding some cilantro and freshly ground black pepper (for a little bite). Makes it a little more like authentic Mexican.
Doesn’t MSG have gluten?
@Carolyn,
http://www.glutenfreeliving.com/ingredient.php#msg
MSG
Monosodium glutamate is a flavoring made through the fermentation of corn, sugar beets, or sugar cane. It is gluten-free
If a product with MSG is of a foreign source, it would have to comply with FDA Regulations, disclosing “wheat”. If Chinese, (if I’m not mistaken) it may be derived from seaweed, and not one of the eight allergens.
Kelly´s last [type] ..Lilys Fishy Vitamin
@Kelly,
Thank you for clearing that up. I, too, was curious about whether or not MSG contained gluten.
i have been using this wonderful recipe and i make up enough to taco night about 4-5 times i have found some wonderful recipes for home made mixes @ budgeting101.com and can say and pronunce all spices involved no msg or mons…….. digli…….
THANK YOU!! I purchase those seasoning packets too, but always with a grimace b/c I hate all the chemically things. :s Bookmarking this one!
Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last [type] ..DIY Monogram Garden Flag
Thank you for posting this! I have been making my own taco seasoning for the last year or so, but it still isn’t just right. I’ll give yours a try!
Brook´s last [type] ..Lemon Buttermilk Cake aka Masters Degree Celebration Cake
It’s so yummy!! I think I’m going to make up a bunch to have on hand!
Kelly´s last [type] ..Lilys Fishy Vitamin
Thank you for this! I’ve been wanting to find a recipe for exactly this.
Deborah
Homemaker Honey
homemakerhoney.com
homemakerhoney @gmail .com
Consider using a meat blend to cut down on some of the “red” meat and calories. Blend 1# ground turkey and 1# hamburger, cook as usual (with spices for 3# meat), then add 1-2C of refried beans (I have to admit, sometimes cop out and use a can of FF refried beans). I like lots of seasoning in my meat, so I will def have to try this out with your spice blend!
One thing that might be yummy is to add Cilantro to your meat mixture (along with onions) and make into enchiladas or burritos.
Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Yay yay yay yay yay!!! I just hate buying those packets, knowing they’re so bad for us. Wonder if I can make this fly with my family
YES! I’ve been looking for this! Knew it couldn’t be too difficult. Thanks, Sweet Myra!
QuatroMama´s last [type] ..4 Park Hoppers
I’m so gonna make up some of this! When I already have all the ingredients on hand who needs the package! Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you!! I’ve been wanting to get my hands on this recipe. Can’t wait to try it (=
Myra, I use a similar concoction. Few tips I’ve picked up: If you miss how the Old El Paso thickens the consistency of the taco meat, you can use a teaspoon or so of arrowroot powder plus a 1/4 cup of water or (better yet) broth. And if you want a little smokey twist to things, try using smoked paprika (Soooo yummy). I also use it often on leftover roasted chicken, to remake it into something different. (chicken tacos, quesadillas, chicken fajita salad).
Good for you. You’ll also save money making it yourself. Instead of garlic powder and onion powder, I prefer to add fresh onions and garlic to my meat or beans as they cook. (A whole bag of onions is about the same price as a little bottle of onion powder. And it’s way healthier since it’s not processed.) That way you get all the nutrition and fiber in those vegetables plus the flavor. I then add cumin and chili powder.
I also cook my meat with fresh onion and garlic! Love it!
I also add an 8 oz can of tomato sauce with my homemade seasoning. That gives it a little bit of “sauciness” and extra flavor. Your spice blend sounds delicious–and cumin makes all Mexican food better
I too have pretty much put the kabosh on buying premade spice mixes. There are actually a great many recipe sites thathave just about anything you can think of . Just search sice mixes and you’ll see. Just last week my mom googled Arby’s BBQ Sauce and came up with one that’s as close to the real thing as you could imagine.
Thanks so much for the recipe. I really wanted to make tacos, but realized I was out of taco seasoning packets. I was a little nervous about using a recipe to make my own at home, but this was easy to make and delicious. I will be using this again in the future.
Thanks!!! We love seasoning in this house, and I’m just starting to take over the cooking duties. Can’t wait to try it!
Heather´s last [type] ..I am able
This was excellent and tasted just like Old El Paso packaged seasoning. I mixed all seasonings in a small dish. The package mix calls for 2/3 c water as well. So to help it thicken, I stirred in 2 tsp corn starch to the water and mixed with a fork until smooth. Then I stirred in the seasonings into the water and poured all into the ground beef. I couldn’t tell the difference! Thank you so much!
Quick question … when using the prepackaged Taco seasoning one would add water as well as the spices. Is this so with the homemade version? Do you still add water?
Hi,
I just made this tonight and it was AMAZING!!! The consensus by everyone in the family was to NEVER buy the prepackaged again
I sauteed some onion & garlic along with the meat as per your suggestion when browning it. Then I simply added your Taco Spice mixture and that was it…NO water required!
Thank you SO much for sharing this recipe. Being recently diagnosed and trying to find GF alternatives has been challenging, but at least I can stop looking for this. Since Tuesdays is our Taco night, this will now be our Go-to
Old El Paso Taco seasoning (including reduced sodium version) is most certainly NOT gluten free. (source Pilsbury parent company).
Great to know! Also a good reason to make your own!
This looks great and will be on my to-do list. Just wondering why this would have to be refrigerated when making in bulk since all of the ingredients are found stored in the pantry?
It doesn’t have to be refrigerated necessarily. Just long term, the spices will stay fresher, longer.