Enjoy this homemade, mild taco seasoning that is simple and easy to make. This recipe is the perfect addition to any south-of-the-border meal. DIY your own delicious spice mix today!

Homemade taco seasoning is 100% better than any store-bought mix that you could buy.
I discovered the magic of homemade taco seasoning a few months ago when I went to go make tacos… only to find out that I didn’t have any seasoning mixes on hand.
In a panic, I quickly looked up spice mix alternatives. That’s when I stumbled upon The Recipe Critic‘s Homemade Taco Seasoning.
I was instantly in love with this homemade mild taco seasoning. It was super easy to make, I already had all of the ingredients on hand, it was easy to customize to my exact liking, and it gave the taco a lovely light & fresh taste.
It only took one bite to decide that I was never going back to the store bought stuff!
Why should I make homemade taco seasoning?
There are a several reasons why you should ditch the premade taco seasoning packets and switch to homemade seasoning. Here are a few:
1) It makes your taco taste better. Homemade taco seasoning tastes fresher and it is lighter on the gut than pre-made taco seasoning.
2) The ingredients are simple. There is a good chance that you already have all of the ingredients on hand for homemade taco seasoning. That means there will be no more “I forgot to buy taco seasoning” panics.
3) It doesn’t take long to make. One of the conveniences of pre-made seasoning is that, well, it’s already made. However, I don’t think it’s much harder to make your own seasoning. Instead of sprinkling on a packet of seasoning over my browned meat, I now just sprinkle each individual spice over my meat (it really only takes 1 extra minute).
4) You can customize it to your specific liking. I got this seasoning recipe from The Recipe Critic (check out the original here). However, I did make one minor tweak to the recipe- being salt. I cut the salt in half; the original recipe was just a little too salty for me.
5) Homemade Taco Seasoning is healthier! (Hence it feeling lighter on your gut as mentioned above) Find out more by reading below.
Is homemade taco seasoning healthy?
Homemade Taco seasoning is healthier than pre-made taco seasoning. Premade taco seasoning typically has a number of chemicals in it that are doing more harm than good to your body.
One of the most notable ingredients in store-bought seasoning is Monosodium Glutamate (aka MSG). Only 2 tsp of pre-made taco seasoning contains approximately 560 mg of sodium that was derived from MSG.
Sodium itself isn’t bad, but sodium derived from MSG has been linked to causing health effects such as headaches, flushing, sweating, facial pressure, numbness, fluttering heartbeats, chest pain, nausea, & weakness to name a few.
Partially hydrogenated soybean oil is another chemical to be aware of in pre-made taco seasoning. Soybean oil is a type of seed oil- something that my family actively tries to stay away from.
Seed oils are overly-processed oils that have correlations to higher levels of obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more (see here).
This is just a couple of the not-so-good ingredients in pre-made taco seasonings. All of these harmful ingredients are easily avoided by using fresh spices in a homemade taco seasoning!
A more complete list and explanation of these harmful chemicals can be found on drcolber.com.
What’s in homemade taco seasoning?
A good homemade taco seasoning uses classic Mexican spices to create a combination of aromatic and warm flavors.
Cumin, chilly powder, and paprika are considered to be warm, Mexican spices that bring the ‘kick’ into the seasoning.
Meanwhile, spices such as garlic, onion, and oregano are considered to be aromatic spices. These spices create an earthy flavor that is essential to any good taco seasoning.
However, don’t forget the pepper & salt! These two spices add taste and bring both the aromatic and warm spices together wonderfully.
How do I make Homemade Mild Taco Seasoning hotter?
I can’t handle much spice (thanks to my good ol’ Midwest, German taste buds). My spice tolerance is so low that I have been found guilty of needing to put ranch on my Domino’s pepperoni pizza because it was “too spicy”.
With that in mind, I can easily eat this taco seasoning. So, I’d consider it to be pretty mild.
Add cayenne or red pepper flakes to make your taco seasoning spicier. Decrease the amount of cumin in it if you are looking for an extremely mild taste.
Go slow if you choose to increase the amount of spice. Add a little bit of the seasonings, stir, and taste. Repeat this until it is to your preferred liking.
How should I store Homemade Taco Seasoning?
You can easily make this seasoning in bulk and store it for later!
The seasoning can be stored in an airtight container with a best-buy date of 6 months. The spices will begin to mellow out after 6 months. So, the seasoning can be eaten after the 6 month mark, it just wont taste as fresh.
If you choose to make this recipe in bulk and store it for later, we should note that the amount of the ingredients don’t come out to equal an even cup or tablespoon. You will need to measure out 2 tbsp, 1 tsp, & 1/4 tsp of the spice mix. This should be the correct amount of spice to use with 1 pound of ground meat.
Want to make taco night even better?
Try the recipes below!

Homemade Mild Taco Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Chili Powder
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/4 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Mix all of the spices together in a small bowl. The seasoning mix can either be used immediately or stored in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
- To Cook: Sprinkle the seasoning mix over 1 pound of ground meat (already browned). Stir in 1/4 c water and allow to simmer until the sauce is thickened. Serve & enjoy!
Notes

