Seasoning packets from the supermarket may be convenient, but they have drawbacks—not the least of which is they’re relatively expensive! I just checked several brands including Lawry’s Taco Spices and Seasonings Mix both online as well as the prices today at the two supermarkets in my community. Prices range from $1.39 to $1.61 for a 1-oz packet!
I hate to pay so much for so little. And I don’t have to, thanks to a great recipe to make taco seasoning mix myself, using ordinary spices I have already. As a bonus, I know exactly what’s in it, and how old the ingredients are, too.
The recipes that follow call for the amount of seasoning you would find in the typical supermarket seasoning packet—about 4 1/2 teaspoons of mix.
While you could make the amount you need as you need it, a better idea is to make a bunch while you’re at it, then keep it tightly sealed in your spice rack. It’ll come in handy more times than you can imagine. The recipe multiplies well.
Enjoy this simple mix and the family-friendly recipes that use this Taco Seasoning Mix (including printable recipe cards when you scroll down to the bottom) for both beef and chicken tacos. Yum!
Taco Seasoning Mix
Seasoning packets from the supermarket may be convenient, but they have drawbacks—not the least of which is they’re relatively expensive! And we don't have to do that thanks to this recipe to make taco seasoning mix ourselves, using ordinary spices we may have already. This recipe makes the amount of seasoning you would find in the typical supermarket seasoning packet—about 4 1/2 tablespoons of mix. The recipe multiplies well.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Total Time5 minutes mins
Course: Make Your Own, seasoning mix, spice mix
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4
- 1 ½ tbsp cornmeal (maize or corn flour)
- 4 ½ tspn chili powder (more or less to taste)
- ½ tspn onion powder
- ½ tspn garlic powder
- ½ tspn seasoned salt (seasoning salt)
- ½ tspn paprika
- ¼ tspn cumin
- ½ tspn garlic salt
- ½ tspn sugar
- 1 tspn dried minced onion
- ½ tspn beef bouillon granles
- ¼ tspn cayenne pepper more or less to taste
Restaurant-Style Taco Beef
Taco meat to fill tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or simply mixed with rice for a yummy entree
Prep Time1 minute min
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Total Time26 minutes mins
Course: Anytime, Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 12 tacos
- 4 ½ tspns Taco Seasoning Mix 1 packet of mix or you can make this yourself. SEE NOTE 1
- 1⅓ pound lean ground chuck
- 1 cup water
Crumble the ground chuck into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until browned.
Remove from heat, rinse meat with hot water, and drain water and grease from beef.
Return meat to skillet, and pour in seasoning. Stir in water.
Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until most of the liquid has cooked away, about 20 minutes.
Yield: Meat for 12 regular-size tacos.
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
Chicken to fill tacos, burritos, enchiladas
Course: Anytime, Dinner, lunch
Servings: 12
Calories: 131kcal
- 1 16-oz jar salsa
- 4 ½ tspns Taco Seasoning Mix SEE NOTE 1
- 1 juice from one lime
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 3 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breast
Place salsa, taco seasoning, lime juice, and cilantro in a slow cooker and stir to combine.
Add chicken and stir to coat.
Cover slow cooker, set to High, and cook until chicken is very tender about 4 hours.
Optional: Set slow cooker to Low and cook for 6 to 8 hours.
Shred chicken with 2 forks to serve.
Fills 12 regular-size tacos.
Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.4g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 78IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.4mg
First published at Everyday Cheapskate: 1-21-16; Updated with Recipe Cards: 1-20-22
Everyday Cheapskate participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.
More from Everyday Cheapskate
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240502-prescription-drug-costs-.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-05-02 00:05:342019-09-09 21:11:45A Quick, Easy, Legit Way to Cut Prescription Drug Costs
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240501-hot-deals-may-2024-billboard-next-exit.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-05-01 00:04:472024-05-03 13:33:02Hot Deals • May 2024
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240501-news-you-can-use-top-news-articles-may-2024.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-05-01 00:00:032024-04-28 18:34:15News You Can Use • May 2024
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240430-how-to-cook-eggs-fried-poached-hard-boiled-scrambled.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-30 00:01:062024-04-20 16:27:40How to Cook Eggs: Fried, Poached, Scrambled, Boiled
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240428-dream-car-saving-money-big-ticket-purchase.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-28 00:01:382024-04-20 14:23:56Saving Money for Big-Ticket Items (with Free Savings Goal Calculator)
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240427-iphone-with-power-bank-and-EC-home-screen.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-27 00:31:552023-04-11 12:24:36Best Inexpensive Portable Battery Chargers and More to Keep You Powered Up
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/Rum-Cake.jpg
663
1000
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-25 20:10:522024-05-03 09:01:53Caribbean Rum Cake (Yum!)
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240422-best-inexpensive-belgian-waffle-machine-.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-22 00:11:292024-04-21 17:35:41Best Inexpensive Belgian Waffle Machines
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/20240421-a-homemade-frittata-in-a-cast-iron-skillet.png
800
1200
Mary Hunt
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-content/uploads/EC-Logo-by-Mary-Hunt-Tagline-Trimmed.png
Mary Hunt2024-04-21 00:40:452024-04-09 12:56:11What’s Better and Cheaper Than Eating Out? A Fabulous Frittata!
Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines
Caught yourself reading all the way 'til the end? Why not share with a friend.
Could Masa Harina be used in place of the cornmeal or cornstarch?
Have never tried that, but let us know how it works for you!
Thanks for the recipe. We’re trying to cut back on sodium so its great that we can use this recipe and just leave out the salt.
Great recipe! I’ve found that 1/4 cup of bottled taco sauce works well too as a replacement for a packet of seasoning.
This recipe looks GOOD! Can’t wait to make a batch this summer. YIPPEE! Saves me a ton of money in those stingy little packets.
I am anxious to try this. I have all the ingredients in my cabinets. I use a lot of spices etc. Hope this is as spicy as what I use. But if not I can probably increase or decrease something.
I have a similar recipe with different amounts of the same spices but use some oregano and turmeric in the mix. For those that are sensitive to corn products, arrowroot makes a good substitute for the corn flour or corn starch.
We use taco seasoning a lot, so I buy giant containers at Sam’s. Definitely cheaper than the packages. I’d have to go out and buy about half the ingredients in the homemade stuff (no, I’m not much of a cook), then make it. This works for me. I’d never pay the better part of $2 for one packet!
Thanks, Mary! Since I’m allergic to corn, I can’t use the store-bought packets. I’ll use this recipe and add another thickener as needed.