Name: Homemade Taco Seasoning for Ground Beef
Prep time: 8 min
Total time: 8 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional); 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

There’s no need to purchase taco seasoning when it is so easy and inexpensive to make it at home with spices you likely already have in the cabinet.

Want more great homemade seasonings? Try this Homemade Cajun Seasoning and our Perfectly-Balanced Homemade Dry Rub.

I’ll admit that I bought taco seasoning in the packet for a long time, even though I knew it would be easy to make it at home. It was simply habit. It wasn’t until I couldn’t find a packet once that I decided to just bite the bullet and start making it at home.

I’m really glad I did, because now I don’t even have to think about adding it to my grocery cart. I always have some mixed up at home, ready to add to ground beef when ever the mood for tacos or burritos strikes.

And at our house, that’s often. We love tacos in just about any form: taco pizza, taco stuffed peppers, taco-stuffed shells. You name it.

What You’ll Need To Make Taco Seasoning

All of the ingredients in this taco seasoning are spices that you likely already have around the house. If you don’t, I’d recommend buying them in bulk at the grocery. I buy big bags of spices at Whole Foods so I can fill a container with this taco seasoning and not have to mix it up very often.

What You’ll Need Are:

Chili Powder (mild)
Cumin
Paprika
Salt & Pepper
Brown Sugar
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Oregano
Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
Cornstarch

How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning

Mixing this seasoning is as easy as combining all the ingredients into a bowl and mixing. Super simple.

The addition of cornstarch to the mix is what gives the seasoning the ability to thicken and coat the ground beef properly. It’s not necessary to add it, if you’d rather not, but it’s what makes this seasoning similar to the store packet.

This recipe makes enough seasoning for 1 pound of ground meat. I almost always make double or triple the amount so I can store the taco seasoning in an air-tight sealed container that I keep in the cabinet. Then I can use however much I need for the purpose at hand and then store it away again.

When you’re ready to use the seasoning, just brown the meat and drain any excess oil. Then add all of seasoning and 1/4 cup water. Stir it well. Then let it simmer for about 5 minutes before serving.

Other recipes to try

Like this recipe? We’d love for you to share it on your Pinterest board! Click to follow our Pinterest boards so you can find all our recipes!

Instagram it! If you try this recipe please tag #AFoodLoversKitchen on Instagram or Twitter. We love to see your photos of our recipes! Also follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep up on what we’re cooking up.