Homemade Taco Seasoning: Make a Jarful for Your Pantry

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Hello friends!

One evening, Sarah and I were having tacos for supper when I reached for my taco seasoning and found an empty jar. Time to mix up another batch!

I haven’t bought those little seasoning packets in many years. I find it easy to use the herbs and spices I have on hand and make my own.

This isn’t a recipe for just one meal. I make a jarful to keep on the shelf, then use enough to suit our taste whenever we’re having tacos or chalupas.

My Homemade Taco Seasoning Ingredients

I’m not one to measure everything perfectly. These approximate amounts give you a starting point, and you can adjust them to suit your family’s taste.

• ½ cup cumin
• ½ cup chili powder
• 1 heaping tablespoon salt, or less if you prefer
• 1–2 teaspoons black pepper
• About 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• About 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 heaping tablespoon Italian seasoning
• A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
• About 2 teaspoons flour, for thickening when cooking
• Onion powder, optional, to your preference

I love cumin! As soon as I open that jar, it smells like taco night.

You can use oregano instead of Italian seasoning, but I like the whole Italian seasoning blend in mine. If you enjoy a little heat, add some crushed red pepper flakes.

And if you don’t have onion powder, you can leave it out. I’ve done that myself. Use what you have!

Mix Up a Jarful

Add everything to a bowl and stir it together, breaking up any lumps.

Some people like to use a blender or food processor for a finer texture. My family doesn’t mind the little pieces of herbs, so I just mix mine with a spoon.

Then transfer the seasoning to a clean, completely dry jar with a tight-fitting lid. Label it and keep it with your pantry seasonings, away from heat and moisture.

Because this mixture contains flour, it’s meant to be cooked into your food—not used as a ready-to-eat sprinkle.

You can cut the batch in half or double it. Whatever works for your family!

You Know I Love My Jars!

An old cheese dip jar makes a handy home for my taco seasoning. I also use a salsa jar for black pepper and a baby food jar for crushed red pepper flakes.

Of course, I have plenty of canning jars, too!

Your pantry doesn’t need matching containers to be useful. I like giving a jar another job instead of buying something new.

Season It the Way Your Family Likes It

Once you have your jarful made, use as much or as little as you prefer when you cook.

I don’t tie it to a certain amount of meat. Some meals need a little more seasoning, and some need less. When the grandkids are coming over, I may use less than I would otherwise.

You know your family’s preferences. That’s one of the nice things about making your own—you can adjust both the mixture and how much you use.

Ready for the Next Supper

I like having a jarful ready for taco night. It’s one less thing to think about when we’re getting supper on the table. And when it runs out, I can mix up another batch with the spices I already have.

I like having those basic herbs and spices on hand. When the seasoning jar runs out, I can refill it without making a special trip to the store.

That’s part of strategic shopping for me: stocking ingredients I actually use and putting what’s already in my pantry to work.

Watch Me Make It

Come join me in the kitchen as I mix up homemade taco seasoning:

• How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
• Let’s Make Homemade Taco Seasoning

Do you make your own seasonings, or do you usually buy the packets? Let me know if you’re going to try making a jarful!

Keep Building Your Pantry

A jar of homemade taco seasoning is one small way to have what you need ready for supper. Want to keep going? Take a look at my Build a Better Pantry ebook!

Explore Build a Better Pantry