I discovered that I could make my own taco seasoning mix at home rather than using those little packets a couple of years ago and I’ve never looked back. I love that I get to know exactly what’s in it and I can adjust it to what my family likes. I’ve been playing around with different formulations for the last couple of years and this is what I’ve come up with that seems absolutely perfect to me. I like that this recipe has just a bit of a thickening agent in it too so it seems to make my tacos (or whatever I use it in) work out perfectly every time. Here it is!
I like to make this up in a big batch so that I can just scoop a little out whenever I need it. I just store it in a lidded container (like an old sour cream container or something) and it lasts for months. Actually, I think the last batch I made was probably last year, and it was still fresh tasting, so it lasts a really long time.
In an appropriately-sized bowl, combine:
-6 tablespoons of chili powder
-2 tablespoons of cumin
-2 tablespoons of paprika
-2 tablespoons of garlic powder
-3 tablespoons of onion powder
-1/2 tablespoon of black pepper
-1 tablespoon of salt
-2 tablespoons of oregano
-a healthy pinch of red pepper flakes
-3 tablespoons of cornstarch
Mix everything together.
Done! 🙂
I usually like to use about 2 tablespoons and maybe 1/2 a cup of water when I add it to browned ground beef for tacos.
It’s so fun to me that I can whip up something with such a great, vibrant flavor using just things that can be found in any standard spice rack. It really does taste so much fresher than the packaged stuff even though it’s all just dried spices and herbs.
Try this mix out next time you make a batch of easy baked tacos or 5 minute crock pot chili!
Hope your family likes it as much as mine does!
Don’t forget to save this recipe to your Pinterest boards for later!
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.