Homemade Taco seasoning - Skip the store bought packets

nonrg
nonrg Posts: 73 Member
in Recipes
I started making my own taco seasoning to stay away from the MSG and other crap they add to store bought packets. I make a batch and keep it in a tupperware. Makes one ounce of mix

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (omit for a mild blend)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a tupperware and store. Add to taste to your favorite mexican dishes. 1 1/2 tblsp is about as much as a single packet.

Replies

  • rainbow198
    rainbow198 Posts: 2,245 Member
    Great recipe! I make something similar. I got tired of the price of the small packets going up and up so I decided to search for recipes and make it myself especially since I had all of the seasonings.

    Thanks for posting.
  • smilezishere
    smilezishere Posts: 106 Member
    Yup, the packaged ones have too much sodium.
  • cross2bear
    cross2bear Posts: 1,106 Member
    That was my rationale too for making my own - too expensive for what you get, too much salt and so easy to put together at home!
  • nonrg
    nonrg Posts: 73 Member
    smilezishere wrote: »
    Yup, the packaged ones have too much sodium.

    I also don't like seeing "natural flavor" in ingredient lists. It could be anything random found in the natural world that is made into a flavoring extract.
  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    Oh yes, I never buy packaged seasoning anymore! I used to when I was first learning to cook, but now I don't even measure - good sized sprinkle of chili powder, a little less cumin, and then a little less than that garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano, and then some S&P (so ultimately almost exactly like yours, haha). If it was just me I'd put in a pinch of cayenne, but the kids don't appreciate it ;). Splash of water, and it's done, tastes as good as/better than the packet, and costs only pennies! I also like to dice up peppers and onions to cook with my taco meat - adds great flavor, stretches the meat, and adds the vitamins and volume that come along with veggies :).
  • mjbrowne
    mjbrowne Posts: 172 Member
    THANKS!!! I use it tons to season venison...and have been telling myself for a year I need to figure out the amounts for a comparable taste. You just saved me lots of time! THANK YOU!! Have a great day!
  • nonrg
    nonrg Posts: 73 Member
    @mjbrowne no prob!

    Sounds tasty on venison
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Wouldn't all those spices be more expensive than taco seasoning though? I buy the big containers of it on Amazon.
  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    edited January 2016
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Wouldn't all those spices be more expensive than taco seasoning though? I buy the big containers of it on Amazon.

    No, you might be right, when you buy the taco seasoning in bulk, or at least it would probably be close - I know, I got a container at Costco once and it was like 40 servings for $6, and I almost peed myself :lol:. But it's a TON cheaper than the $0.69-$1.29 individual packets. Then it becomes about taste preference and sodium content (for me, at least). Plus, I've got all those spices anyway, already paid for and taking up room in my cabinet and spice rack, so it's nothing additional for me to sprinkle them on my taco meat instead of overpaying for a packet or buying yet another container that takes up a ton of room in my (literally) 3 total kitchen cabinets that I have for food storage. If you went out and bought cumin ONLY for taco seasoning...it might not make sense for you. YMMV :smiley:
  • nonrg
    nonrg Posts: 73 Member
    edited January 2016
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Wouldn't all those spices be more expensive than taco seasoning though? I buy the big containers of it on Amazon.

    I guess it depends on how much you're paying for your spices.

    Was a little off on calculation, looks like 1 1/2 tbsp. serving is less than a packet (packets are 1.25oz, but contain fillers like potato starch). Recipe packs just as much flavor though.
  • smilezishere
    smilezishere Posts: 106 Member
    nonrg wrote: »
    smilezishere wrote: »
    Yup, the packaged ones have too much sodium.

    I also don't like seeing "natural flavor" in ingredient lists. It could be anything random found in the natural world that is made into a flavoring extract.

    LOL good point.
  • aerochic42
    aerochic42 Posts: 843 Member
    Read the side your chili powder. Many brands (at least in the US) of chili powder actually include other spices as well which might impact the overall flavor of your seasoning. If you want the seasoning to thicken some like pre-made packages, you can include some cornstarch.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    edited January 2016
    My husband and I have about a million spices and people are constantly giving us gift cards to spice stores and/or rubs/seasonings from around the country (and outside of the country!) because we cook/smoke so much.

    I always make my own because I just have the ingredients on hand and because those packages taste like pure salt to me - and I LOVE my salt.

    We use this recipe Taco Seasoning and I cut the salt down quite a bit.
  • Claps1775
    Claps1775 Posts: 47 Member
    Wife made some Monday but the flavor is weak. Missing something but not sure what.
  • grinning_chick
    grinning_chick Posts: 765 Member
    Claps1775 wrote: »
    Wife made some Monday but the flavor is weak. Missing something but not sure what.

    To make tacos? It's missing tomato base (sauce/paste), a bit of broth for moisture, sugar, and vinegar.
  • suzannep281
    suzannep281 Posts: 13 Member
    nonrg wrote: »
    I started making my own taco seasoning to stay away from the MSG and other crap they add to store bought packets. I make a batch and keep it in a tupperware. Makes one ounce of mix

    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (omit for a mild blend)
    • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper

    Mix all ingredients together in a tupperware and store. Add to taste to your favorite mexican dishes. 1 1/2 tblsp is about as much as a single packet.

    <3
  • nonrg
    nonrg Posts: 73 Member
    edited January 2016
    Claps1775 wrote: »
    Wife made some Monday but the flavor is weak. Missing something but not sure what.

    Hmm, I just posted this on Thursday (yesterday), sure it was the same recipe?

    I do just use this as a base seasoning, would still need any additional touches to the recipe like chicken stock and such like @grinning_chick suggested
  • Praying_Mantis
    Praying_Mantis Posts: 239 Member
    Thanks OP. Saving now!
  • rhtexasgal
    rhtexasgal Posts: 572 Member
    I have a similar recipe and sometimes I will tweak it a bit using chipotle chili powder or using jalapeno salt instead of regular ... things like that.
  • nonrg
    nonrg Posts: 73 Member
    edited January 2016
    rhtexasgal wrote: »
    I have a similar recipe and sometimes I will tweak it a bit using chipotle chili powder or using jalapeno salt instead of regular ... things like that.

    Chipotle or Ancho chile powder go great to mix things up!

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