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    Home » Recipes » Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe for Ground Beef

    Published: Mar 14, 2023 · Updated: Mar 14, 2023 by Sharon Garofalow | This post may contain affiliate links. See the privacy policy linked in my footer.

    Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe for Ground Beef

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Text - best ever mild taco seasoning in it.

    This Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe for ground beef will make your weeknight dinner prep even faster!

    A large batch of DIY taco seasoning ensures you can put any Mexican-inspired dinner like tacos or casseroles together quickly without the preservatives you find in pre-made mixes. Keep a batch in your spice cupboard for your next taco night!

    Glass jar filled with seasoning on a towel next to a measuring spoon.
    Let's make easy homemade taco seasoning.
    Jump to:
    • The Best Taco Seasoning Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to make your own taco seasoning
    • To use the homemade mild seasoning
    • Give it as an edible gift
    • More easy dinner ideas
    • Best Taco Seasoning Recipe

    This mild taco seasoning recipe is my hack for making your life easier in the kitchen.

    The Best Taco Seasoning Recipe

    Mmmmmm, Taco Tuesday. While we don't eat tacos every single week and most of the time it doesn't end up being a Tuesday, we eat a lot of tacos. Or a variation of the taco.

    But I use the same taco seasoning each time. After years of making it as needed, I decided to make a bunch to keep on hand for even speedier meal prep.

    I make my own to stay away from preservatives and extra sodium of the packaged kind. And the mild flavor is so good.

    With this done ahead of time, you just have to brown the meat with a few tablespoons of this seasoning recipe and dinner is almost done.

    No matter if you are making tacos, taco bowls or even Sheet Pan Nachos, this easy taco mix will get dinner on the table faster.

    Printable pages on top of an image of kitchen gadgets with text next to it.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for making homemade taco seasoning at home on a table.
    What you need to make homemade taco seasoning.

    Making homemade taco seasoning is as easy as mixing together spices that you have in your cupboard.

    There are just four ingredients in my recipe. You probably have them all on hand.

    These spices are probably the ones that I use most often when I'm cooking. Chili powder adds tons of flavor without too much heat which is a must if I want my kids to eat it.

    Cumin is essential. It has such a unique flavor and instantly gives tons of flavor to any dish you add it to.

    I try not to use too much salt but this is a personal preferance. So just adjust it to your liking.

    The garlic powder gives me flavor (without being too garlic-y) and rounds out this recipe perfectly.

    There are other spices you can add like paprika and onion powder, but this is my basic recipe that is super versatile.

    I don't add any thickeners to my mix or add water to the meat as I'm cooking. I don't like saucy taco meat. But do what feels right to you.

    How to make your own taco seasoning

    Glass canister with seasonings layered inside.

    Step 1

    Simply measure and add all chili powder, cumin, salt and garlic powder into a small mixing bowl or right into your storage jar.

    Note: I like to use a small air-tight container.

    It keeps your mix fresh and has a large mouth for your measuring spoon. Plus it will look cute on your counter or in your cupboard. And that is always the most important part of cooking, right? 

    Close up of taco seasoning in a glass canister.

    Step 2

    Use a spoon to stir up your seasoning or just close the lid and shake. Shake, shake, shake your groove thang to get it all mixed.

    Small glass canister with seasonings inside on a towel next to a measuring spoon.

    To use the homemade mild seasoning

    Add 1-2 Tablespoons of this taco mix to your ground beef as you break it up in the pan to brown it.

    Then use the seasoned meat for whatever your dinner or recipe calls for!

    • Tacos in hard or soft shells
    • Burritos with some cheese and green chiles
    • Taco bowls over rice with guacamole and sour cream
    • In quesadillas
    • Browse even more ways to use taco meat

    Give it as an edible gift

    Not only does this make delicious family meals but this mild taco seasoning would also make a great gift for new neighbors, families who have just had a baby or even teachers.

    I mean, taco 'bout a great year! Cute, right? OMG, I'm SO going to do that!

    You could even add a measuring spoon and some cute hand towels to round out the present.

    More easy dinner ideas

    • If you love pizza as much as I do make this Salami and Pepperoncini Pizza! I took my favorite sandwich and turned it into a pizza.
    • Chicken Eden Isle is my FAVORITE dinner of all time. With cream cheese, sour cream and dried beef, it's not great on the waistline but your mouth will love it.
    • How to Jazz up a Rotisserie Chicken
    • Manwich Style Enchilada Casserole
    • Sheet Pan Dinners to Make for the Family
    • Chicken Skillet Dinner Ideas
    Glass jar filled with seasoning on a towel next to a measuring spoon.

    Best Taco Seasoning Recipe

    This quick and easy taco seasoning is mild yet full of flavor. It's a time-saving trick for your Taco Tuesday or any other Mexican inspired weeknight dinner idea.
    No ratings yet
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    Course: Uncategorized
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 38kcal
    Author: Sharon Garofalow

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup chili powder
    • ⅛ cup cumin
    • ⅛ cup garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoon salt
    • Optional 1-2 tablespoon Cayenne for heat, if you like that sort of thing

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients to a bowl or storage jar.
    • Mix well.
    • Use about 2 tablespoon of the spice mix per 1 pound of ground beef.

    Notes

    Feel free to make this recipe your own by adding more spices like cayenne for heat or paprika and onion powder for more layers of flavor.
    While I like this recipe for ground beef, you can also use it for chicken or ground turkey.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 935mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @CupcakesCutlery or tag #cupcakescutlery!

    Pin to save this Easy Taco Seasoning for later.

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    About Sharon Garofalow

    Sharon lives in Southern California with her adorable family. She loves to share ideas to make mom life easier and encourage busy gals to make time for themselves too! Sharon's "me" time often includes watching Hallmark Channel movies, sipping sauvignon blanc, trying not to eat Salt and Pepper potato chips, and planning girlfriend getaways.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anita says

      June 03, 2015 at 1:52 pm

      You must have been reading my mind, Sharon... I got some delicious organic, grass fed bison yesterday that I'm dying to make a taco salad with, but didn't have a recipe for the seasoning! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! XO

      Reply
      • Sharon Garofalow says

        June 04, 2015 at 7:00 am

        So glad I could help! It sounds like you are going to have a delicious bison taco salad very soon!!

        Reply
    2. Melissa says

      May 29, 2015 at 4:11 am

      Totally going to use this recipe! I've been wanting to try something that wasn't a packaged flavor thing.

      Reply
      • Sharon Garofalow says

        June 02, 2015 at 3:43 pm

        That is why I created it! I didn't want all that extra sodium. It's really tasty!

        Reply

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    Based in Southern California, I am the mom to two amazing boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. Cupcakes and Cutlery is your resource for simple solutions to help you be an awesome wife and mother and not lose yourself in the process. Email me at [email protected]

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