You can always go to the store and grab a packet of your favorite taco seasoning – but if you don’t feel like going to the store or just want to customize your seasoning the way you like it, try this blend and add your own favorite variations!
I’ve tried making a lot of different things from scratch just to see if they’re tastier or more affordable that way. Sometimes, the answer is a hard no (homemade ketchup is just not worth the time, IMHO). But in the case of spice blends and extracts (check out my homemade vanilla extract here), I do like to make a lot of my own.
A lot of it is convenience. I use very similar blends to this taco seasoning for a lot of my California-Mexican dishes, so it just makes sense to whip up a whole batch of it for faster use later. And that allows me to customize it for the flavors I want and not have to re-blend.
You don’t have to stick with my ingredients here, but this is what I use as the basis for a delicious taco seasoning blend with just a bit of bite!
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp dried cumin
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- pinch of red pepper flakes
Either place in a bowl and blend or – what I do when I’m not trying to photograph pretty spices – put everything into a salsa jar or one of those perfect little Bonne Maman jam jars I save just for this purpose – and shake it up to blend.
