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How to Make Taco Seasoning Mix and What to Do With It

/Updated /7 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt
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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 $1.11 to $1.61 for a 1-oz packet!

I hate to pay that 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.

A plate of food on a table, with Taco and Beef

The recipes that follow call for the amount of seasoning you would find in the typical supermarket seasoning packet—about 4 1/2 tablespoons 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!

A plate of food on a table, with Taco and Beef

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.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Make Your Own, seasoning mix, spice mix
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Cost: Varies

Ingredients

  • 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

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients together and store in a small airtight container.
Tried this recipe?Mention @EverydayCheapskate or tag #EverydayCheapskate!
A plate of food on a table

Restaurant-Style Taco Beef

Taco meat to fill tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or simply mixed with rice for a yummy entree
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Anytime, Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 26 minutes
Servings: 12 tacos
Cost: Varies

Ingredients

  • 4 ½ tbsp Taco Seasoning Mix 1 packet of mix or you can make this yourself. SEE NOTE 1
  • 1⅓ pound lean ground chuck
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  • 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.

Notes

Here is the recipe to make it yourself for pennies, not dollars! Taco Seasoning Mix
Tried this recipe?Mention @EverydayCheapskate or tag #EverydayCheapskate!
A plate of food on a table

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

Chicken to fill tacos, burritos, enchiladas
No ratings yet
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Course: Anytime, Dinner, lunch
slow cooking: 4 hours
Servings: 12
Cost: varies

Ingredients

  • 1 16-oz jar salsa
  • 4 ½ tbsp Taco Seasoning Mix SEE NOTE 1
  • 1 juice from one lime
  • 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breast

Instructions

  • 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.

Notes

Here is the recipe to make it yourself for pennies, not dollars! Taco Seasoning Mix
Tried this recipe?Mention @EverydayCheapskate or tag #EverydayCheapskate!

First published at Everyday Cheapskate: 1-21-16; Updated with Recipe Cards: 1-20-22

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7 replies
  1. Lynette says:

    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.

    Reply
  3. TwiggyB says:

    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.

    Reply
  4. holly says:

    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.

    Reply
  5. N Dekker says:

    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.

    Reply
  6. tboofy says:

    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!

    Reply
  7. Bookworm says:

    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.

    Reply

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